Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Western Force have Super Rugby finals dream shattered

By AAP
Carlo Tizzano of the Force reacts after the loss during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between Western Force and Chiefs at HBF Park, on June 03, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Western Force’s dreams of a first Super Rugby Pacific finals have been shattered in a 43-19 loss to the table-topping Chiefs in a do-or-die clash at HBF Park.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Chiefs rested plenty of stars on Saturday night, making 11 changes to the side that beat the Brumbies in the previous round to secure top spot.

But the depth and class of the New Zealand side shone through as they ended the Force’s unbeaten home run of six games.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

They were well drilled, had power across the park and bullied the Force, effectively sealing the win with four first-half tries.

They added two more after the break with the Force crossing three times.

Force’s fate was in their own hands after earlier results opened the door to a play-off berth but coach Simon Cron was forced to make two late changes.

He brought in Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo – who has been playing club rugby in Perth – for his Super debut, replacing Argentine international Santiago Medrano, while winger Toni Pulu came off the bench to replace Zack Kibirige.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Force needed a fast start but their kicking game gave the Chiefs too many counter-attack options.

The Chiefs carried powerfully across the park and continually bent the Force line as the home side missed too many tackles.

The Force struggled to break the Chiefs defensive superiority and they dominated the opening salvos before second row Laghlan McWhannell crashed over inside eight minutes, with the try converted by Rameka Poihipi.

Chiefs full-back Shaun Stevenson sliced the defence open before Poihipi sent a pin-point kick to the corner for Anton Leinert-Brown for their second.

ADVERTISEMENT

Soon after Liam Coombes-Fabling picked off a Hamish Stewart pass to race home from 60 metres.

The Chiefs were in control defensively but the Force finally had a lengthy spell on their line and Carlo Tizzano squirmed over. Max Burey added the extras.

Their joy was short-lived when Samipeni Finau strolle d through poor defence for the Chiefs’ fourth try, co nverted, and they finished the first-half comfortably with a Poihipi penalty.

There was no let up for the Force after the break and scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi quickly added more pain with the Chiefs’ fifth.

Cron made early changes from the bench and Tim Anstee won the race to a chip behind to score.

But the Chiefs were relentless and Pita Gus Sowakula went over from the back of a scrum.

Burey then produced a brilliant piece of individual skill, kicking ahead and somehow keeping it infield before winning the chase.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Adrian 52 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

7 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING RFU statement: TMO reaction to alleged foul play against Owen Farrell RFU statement: TMO reaction to alleged foul play against Owen Farrell
Search