The third match of six Super Rugby matches on Saturday in Round 13 is in Perth Western Australia where the Force host the Blues.
The Force are coming a off a bye from last week and in their last match they beat the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
The Blues are at the end of a tour that saw them playing two matches in South Africa including last week’s loss to the Lions.
The Blues will be keen to sort things out after they were beaten 43-5 by the Lions which was their biggest loss to date this season. It was a massive step backwards.
The weather prediction for Saturday’s match is wet but not as wet as it was in Johannesburg last week which no doubt contributed to a degree in the Blues loss which ended a three match unbeaten run.
The Blues have played 10 matches, drawn one and lost four. The Force have played 10 as well but they have lost eight and they have yet to win at home.
The Force have played the Blues 9 times in Super Rugby since 2006 and the Force have won one match, drawn one and lost seven. This gives the Force a record of winning just 11% of their matches against the Blues.
In Perth the Force have played the Blues four times and they have drawn one and lost three. The average score when the Force play the Blues in Perth is Force 15 Blues 30.
The last three matches have all been won by the Blues.
In terms of selections the Force have included Ben Tapuai returns at outside centre after a two week absence and this is the only change to the starting line up that played in Tokyo.
On the replacements bench loosehead prop Pek Cowan has recovered from a broken arm so he is named alongside Luke Burton who will look to make his first appearance of the season following a foot injury.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport) and in the UK on Sky Sports 4.
Average score: Force 16 Blues 32
Last five results
02 May 2015 Force v Blues 24-41 Auckland
28 Jun 2014 Force v Blues 14-40 Perth
07 Jul 2012 Force v Blues 9-32 Auckland
12 Mar 2011 Force v Blues 22-22 Perth
17 Apr 2010 Force v Blues 17-38 Auckland
Force overall record against the Blues
Played 9 , Wins 1 , Losses 7, Draws 1
Match No.97:Force v Blues
Date : Saturday 21 May 2016
Venue : nib Stadium, Perth
Kick Off local: 17:45 local
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistant Ref 1:Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant Ref 2:Jordan Way
TMO : Peter Marshall
Teams
Western Force
1 Francois Van Wyk , 2 Harry Scoble , 3 Guy Millar , 4 Ross Haylett-Petty , 5 Adam Coleman , 6 Brynard Stander , 7 Matt Hodgson (c) , 8 Ben McCalman , 9 Alby Mathewson , 10 Ian Prior , 11 Luke Morahan , 12 Kyle Godwin , 13 Ben Tapuai , 14 Marcel Brache , 15 Dane Haylett-Petty
Replacements : 16. Anaru Rangi , 17. Pek Cowan , 18. Tetera Faulkner , 19. Rory Walton , 20. Angus Cottrell , 21. Ryan Louwrens , 22. Luke Burton , 23. Semisi Masirewa
Blues
Sam Prattley, James Parsons (c), Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Bekhuis, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Steven Luatua; Billy Guyton, Ihaia West, Tevita Li, Piers Francis, George Moala, Matt Duffie, Melani Nanai.
Replacements: Quentin MacDonald, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Sione Mafileo, Hoani Matenga, Kara Pryor, Bryn Hall, Matt McGahan, Male Sa’u.
