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Force pay heavy price in Hurricanes blow-out in Perth
The Western Force have been made to pay dearly for a woeful first half in a 44-14 Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Hurricanes at Perth’s HBF Park.
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The Hurricanes shot out to a 22-0 lead by halftime in Friday night’s match, and they were able to overcome a Force fightback to secure the bonus-point win.
The Force’s starting XV featured a total of six club debutants, led by Wallabies halves duo Nic White and Ben Donaldson.
But star Wallabies lock Izack Rodda missed the match after injuring his quad at training on Wednesday.
The Force were their own worst enemies in a one-sided first half in front of 7855 fans.
By the 20-minute mark, the Force were already on the wrong end of a 5-1 penalty count, with a number of handling errors also proving to be their downfall.
Winger Harry Potter was handed a yellow card in the third minute for accidentally taking out Ruben Love while the Hurricanes fullback was airborne.
The Hurricanes scored the opening try of the match six minutes later when Jordie Barrett’s precise kick was caught by winger Josh Moorby, who shook off Max Burey to touch down in the corner.
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A bullocking run from Love in the 21st minute set up Hurricanes debutant Jordi Viljoen for his team’s second.
Alarm bells were ringing in the 37th minute when Hurricanes lock Caleb Delany was able to pick up the ball from a ruck and cross over untouched.
The Hurricanes also displayed determination in defence, holding the Force up multiple times after the half-time siren despite outside centre Billy Proctor being yellow carded.
The Force had 15 missed tackles in the first half, compared to the Hurricanes’ two.
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But Simon Cron’s men came out with renewed vigour in the second half in an attempt to reel in the deficit.
A powerful run from Potter with two defenders hanging off him eventually resulted in a White try in the 45th minute.
Force winger Chase Tiatia then pulled off a try-saving ankle tap to deny Josh Moorby as he was weaving his way to the line.
Force prop Marley Pearce was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle in which he clashed heads with Barrett, with the Hurricanes scoring via Asafo Aumua a short time later.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Force kept pushing, and were rewarded when they swung it wide for Tiatia to zoom over to make it 29-14 in the 57th minute.
It would prove to be the Force’s last joy of the match, with the Hurricanes running in their fifth and sixth tries to secure the bonus-point victory.
The Force’s line-out fell to bits in the latter part of the match, with a host of other unforced errors allowing the Hurricanes to finish with six tries.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to comments