Force claim first home victory since 2017 in after-siren thriller win over Waratahs
The Western Force’s finals hopes are still alive after Argentinian flyhalf Domingo Miotti nailed a penalty after the final siren to lift his side to a 31-30 victory over the NSW Waratahs in Perth.
The Waratahs were on track for their first win of the Super Rugby AU season when unheralded flyhalf Ben Donaldson nailed his sixth kick of the night to give the visitors a 30-21 lead.
But the Force refused to give up, with a Jordan Olowofela try in the 72nd minute and a clutch Miotti conversion from the sideline reducing the margin to two points.
The Waratahs lost a line-out with just seconds remaining to give the Force one final chance of victory.
The Force unleashed phase after phase after the final siren in a bid to find the winning points, and they got their chance when NSW were penalised for offside.
Miotti stepped up to the plate and calmly slotted the 21m penalty from straight in front to send the 9,253 crowd into raptures.
The result lifted the Force into third spot, three points clear of the Rebels.
But given the Rebels have two games to play and the Force just one, the Melbourne-based franchise is still a good chance to snare third spot.
The Rebels take on the Brumbies on Sunday, before rounding out their season against the Waratahs.
The Force play the ladder-leading Reds in Perth next Friday night.
The win was the Force’s first Super triumph in Perth since they beat the Waratahs 40-11 in 2017.
But the victory came at a cost, with lock Jeremy Thrush limping off in the 47th minute with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
The Waratahs were on the back foot early after flanker Lachie Swinton was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle in the third minute.
Inside balls don't work so well when you run straight at 2 x 120kg international second rows
Credit: @StanSportAU #FORvWAR pic.twitter.com/3WArR3ygq4
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The Force scored almost immediately when prop Tom Robertson barged through two players to cross.
Waratahs No.8 Will Harris pulled a try back in the 16th minute, and flyhalf Dona ldson faced an embarrassing moment when he continuall y tried and failed to get the ball to balance on the tee for the conversion attempt.
With his allotted time running out, Donaldson had no choice but to unleash a drop kick, and he nailed it through the middle.
If you haven't watched Major League Rugby yet this season, you're seriously missing out ?
Amazing! @ryanwilson89 @ChristinaMahonx @SimonZebo pic.twitter.com/B9T2i0z1sH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 15, 2021
Force hooker Feleti Kaitu’u put the home side ahead again in the 25th minute when he ripped the ball out of teammate Santiago Medrano’s hands while the prop was being tackled, and then sprinted 33m to the line.
Miotti made it 18-10 heading into the break when he nailed a 35m drop goal.
NSW came out firing in the second half, with fullback Jack Maddocks and former Force winger Alex Newsome crossing within minutes of each other to give the visitors a 24-18 edge.
But a late rally from the Force got the home team over the line, despite the heroics of Donaldson who nailed a perfect three-from-three penalties, and three-from-three conversion attempts.
Comments on RugbyPass
One tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to comments