'We have the most loyal fan base in the world, and they haven't had a home game win yet'
Western Force players are determined to give the club’s long-suffering fans a rare dose of joy in Saturday night’s clash with the NSW Waratahs at HBF Park.
The Force’s fans haven’t experienced a home Super Rugby win since July 15, 2017 when the Perth-based franchise beat the Waratahs 40-11.
The axe fell on the Force shortly after that, and the club had to play the entire season on the east coast last year when they were invited to participate in Super Rugby AU.
The Force have played two Super games in Perth this year, resulting in losses to the Brumbies and Rebels.
Saturday’s clash with the winless Waratahs represents the Force’s best chance to reward their home fans, and stand-in skipper Kyle Godwin said it was a big focus of the player group.
“We have the most loyal fan base in the world, and they haven’t had the opportunity of having a home game win yet,” Godwin said.
“That’s big on our minds this week. We want to give back to the fans. They’ve been so loyal to us, and they definitely deserve that win, and we’ll be playing for them tomorrow night.”
The Force sit a point adrift of the third-placed Melbourne Rebels with just two rounds to play.
And with the ladder-leading Reds awaiting them in the final round, the Force can ill afford to slip up against the last-placed Waratahs.
Bonus points could well decide who ends up finishing third, and Force coach Tim Sampson said it was in the back of his mind.
“Those fine margins in a tight points table, it does come into calculations no doubt,” he said.
“I think as long as we get the four points first off, and if we’re in a position to get that bonus point, then it will be of benefit no doubt. But we’ll concentrate on getting that win first.”
The Waratahs sprung a selection shock by naming inexperienced flyhalf Ben Donaldson to replace Will Harrison (hamstring).
Donaldson is yet to play a Super match this year due to injury, and he has been controversially rushed into the starting line-up ahead of Tane Edmed.
Sampson knows Donaldson well, and says the 22-year-old is a “handful”.
“Ben Donaldson has been around for a few years now and came through Junior Wallabies when I was part of the coaching set up there,” Sampson said.
“He’s quite a skillful young fellow, and has got a nice passing game.
“He likes to take it to the line. He’s courageous.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments