1
Western Force look to experienced players in bid to end away win drought
The Western Force hope an influx of experienced players combined with some relaxing sleep-ins will help them snare an away win for the first time in nearly two years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last weekend’s 37-15 home victory over the Crusaders helped the Force to a 2-6 record and kept their Super Rugby Finals hopes alive.
Simon Cron’s men now have the chance to jump as high as eighth on the ladder by beating the struggling Highlanders (2-6) in Dunedin on Saturday.
But winning on the road has proven a barrier too hard to overcome so far in Cron’s tenure.
In fact, the Force haven’t won on the road since defeating Moana Pasifika 48-28 in Auckland on May 24, 2022 when Tim Sampson was still coach.
The Force are 0-4 on the road so far this season, with their most recent trip resulting in a 50-3 loss to the Blues.
But the recent arrival of former Wallabies stars Kurtley Beale and Sam Carter combined with the returns from injury of Izack Rodda and Michael Wells have added hope the Perth outfit have enough experience to get the job done on enemy territory.
“Having a couple more experienced players on the road who have been there and done that and are used to the travel (is good for us),” Cron said on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We still have a lot of young pups … getting used to everything.
“But there’s enough experience in the group now to handle that, so we’re ready to go.”
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
31
19
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
80%
Cron has also put an emphasis on sleep in the lead-up to the game, taking into account the four-hour time difference between Perth and Dunedin.
“We’ve let them sleep in a little bit in terms of the time zone changes, so we’re not rushing them,” Cron said.
Beale will again start at fullback for the Force, with Rodda promoted to the starting line-up after making it through 60 minutes in his return last week.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Highlanders are desperate to atone for last week’s 31-0 loss to the Queensland Reds.
And with eight of the 12 teams qualifying for finals, the winner of Saturday’s match between the Force and Highlanders will have their finals destiny back in their own hands.
“We know what the ladder is, we know where we sit. We don’t put it up in the change rooms, but we’re area of it,” Cron said.
“The Highlanders are a good side. Let’s be realistic, they’ve got some really dominant players in their pack, and some good outside backs.
“Sometimes you don’t have a great week, and that might have been them last week.
“We’re under no illusion what they’ll come out with.”
After facing the Highlanders, the Force will play the fifth-placed Chiefs in Waikato next week.
Comments on RugbyPass
Looks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
2 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
6 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
2 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
16 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
6 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
6 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to comments