Force sink Reds at Ballymore while Brumbies outlast Fiji Drua
Life on the road is already looking brighter for the Western Force after a late penalty earned them a 21-19 pre-season win over the Queensland Reds at their Ballymore heartland.
The Force (5-9) missed finals by one victory last Super Rugby Pacific season, despite not registering a win away from Perth.
But coach Simon Cron said the recruitment of Wallabies five-eighth Ben Donaldson, who controlled play in a 46-minute stint on Saturday, and veteran halfback Nic White among others had already made an impact.
Cron joked that touring had already become easier because, unlike last season, “everyone gets on”.
“We had to make a lot of changes in the organisation and … a lot of that’s been done now,” he said.
“It’s a completely different culture.
“The way we play, he (Donaldson) will get a lot of touches.
“But it’s combinations of players that change it, we can’t pin it on one guy.”
Skipper Michael Wells, who took over the role last season immediately after departing the Melbourne Rebels, said the victory in Brisbane was “the first step”.
“Credit to how Donno (Donaldson) ran the game and the standards Whitey’s driving, even though he’s at home (with a shoulder injury), it’s hard to replace,” he said.
“In terms of bringing respect to the Force … the best way to do that is winning games.
“I don’t want to be a comeback team, I want to be a team that wins from the front.”
The Force were forced to come back on Saturday after a bright start, wing recruit Harry Potter crossing twice in the first of three 30-minute periods.
The Reds ate up a 13-3 deficit with tries to Harry Wilson, Tim Ryan and Joe Brial to lead 19-13.
But the Force held them scoreless in the final period, Chase Tiatia’s left-foot cross-field kick hitting try-scorer Ronan Leahy on the chest, before Ian Prior’s 88th-minute penalty put them ahead.
“There’s a lot we learnt, that’s for sure,” Reds coach Les Kiss said, lamenting some poor execution and turnovers.
Irish lock Cormac Daly played 80 minutes for the Reds, Connor Vest played his first minutes since fracturing his neck last season, and back-up scrum half Louis Werchon was sharp.
Kiss was pleased with fullbacks Jordan Petaia and Jock Campbell, while Tom Lynagh (back) is likely to get his chance at No.10 against the Waratahs next week after Lawson Creighton and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips shared the duties.
Veteran James O’Connor’s training setback (hamstring) has ruled him out of both pre-season clashes.
The Melbourne Rebels, who went into voluntary administration this week, also notched a statement victory.
They beat the Waratahs 38-12 in Moorabbin, with star recruit Taniela Tupou unscathed in a 30-minute stint after injury ruined his World Cup.
Former Queensland and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto also impressed.
In Canberra, the Brumbies overcame a 28-7 deficit to post a fighting 43-40 win over Fijian Drua.
The Brumbies struggled to keep pace with the speedy Drua in the opening 30 minutes, but they finished with a flurry, scoring six of the last eight tries of the match.
Angus Staniforth, the cousin of former Brumby Tom Staniforth, scored the go-ahead try with a speedy run in the 73rd minute, before Dan Nelson crossed a short time later to give the home side a match-winning eight-point buffer.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 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.
5 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 comments