Western Force snap losing streak in New Zealand as ex-All Black shines

The Western Force have fired up to post their first victory of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, a desperately needed 35-19 win over a disappointing Moana Pasifika outfit.

After losing their first two games in Perth, the Force not only crossed the country but also the Tasman to finally taste success in emphatic fashion in Pukekohe.

The Force ran in five tries to three to drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder and consign Moana to a disappointing defeat in front of home fans at Navigation Homes Stadium.

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The WA franchise’s welcome breakthrough snapped a nine-match winless run stretching back to April last year.

The win was also their first in New Zealand since also beating the Pacific Islanders four years ago.

And a former All Black was fittingly among the stars on Friday night.

After bombing what should have been a certain try on the half hour, George Bridge atoned just two minutes later when, first, he went within centimetres of forcing his way over.

Lock Darcy Swain instead strolled over from the very next phase before Bridge burst through the Moana defence to score his maiden try for the Force.

The classy centre might have been embarrassed after butchering a try earlier when he was caught out while casually about to put the ball down when Moana winger Denzel Samoa forced possession free over the line.

After needing to pass a last-minute HIA to play, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson also returned to torment Pasifika once again.

After scoring in the 85th minute, then slotting the winning conversion in a heart-stopping 45-44 win for the Force in the corresponding fixture last year, Donaldson set up the first try on Friday.

Winger Darby Lancaster swooped on Donaldson’s left-foot cross-field kick to touch down after just five minutes.

Hooker Mills Sanerivi bagged the home team’s only try of the first half as the Force enjoyed a 21-7 lead at the break.

And unlike in heavy losses to the Brumbies and Blues to start the season, the Force went on with the job in the second half.

Prolific flanker Carlo Tizzano, the competition’s top tryscorer last year, typically finished off a driving maul from the Force in the 61st minute to put the game beyond the hosts’ reach.

Replacement hooker Leonel Oviedo joined the party with the Force’s fifth try as the Perth outfit recorded only their second win in 25 Super Rugby matches in New Zealand.

Late consolation tries to replacement half Melani Matavao and second-rower Jackson Garden-Bachop denied the Force a bonus point.

But the victory was otherwise the perfect start to a three-game road trip in NZ for Simon Cron’s side, with the Force to also face the Highlanders and Hurricanes before returning home.

While the Force were left to celebrate, Moana – who also suffered a 52-10 loss to the Hurricanes last week – have well and truly crashed back to earth after starting their season with a 40-26 win over Fijian Drua in Suva.