The Western Force host two-time Super Rugby champions the Chiefs in this match as they head back to Hamilton after touring South Africa.
The Force have played the Chiefs 10 times in Super Rugby and they have won two matches and lost eight.
Both of the Force’s wins happened in Perth where the teams have met five times.
The Chiefs won last year’s fixture 53-10. This will be a tough assignment for the home team.
Both teams are out on the field and we are awaiting the national anthems.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
BEEP! Nic Berry gets us underway in Perth.
1.00: The Chiefs start by running from their own 22 but they knock it on; this might be a long evening for the hosts.
2.00: The Force win an early penalty. Ian Prior has called for the tee.
4.00: It’s wide. The chiefs counter from deep and have a lineout on the Force’s 22.
6.00: TRY Liam Messam! The Chiefs move the ball in midfield and Aaron Cruden breaks the line, finds a support runner in Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who pops to the big man Siegfried Fisi’ihoi. The prop forward is stopped short but, after a quick ruck, Messam crashes over.
7.00: Aaron Cruden adds the conversion. That was classic Chiefs running rugby.
9.00: The visitors win the turnover and are awarded a penalty. Brayden Mitchell won the ball against three Western Force forwards.
11.00: Damian McKenzie misses from long range; his kick is just to the left of the posts.
13.00: Matt Hodgson is penalised for obstruction. The referee calls his block illegal and the Chiefs will kick at goal. TMO being consulted for a high tackle.
14.00: Atu Moli is penalised for a high tackle – it’s a neck roll – on Tatafu Polota-Nau. Nic Berry reverses the initial penalty and the Force can clear the pressure.
16.00: The scrum has been reset three times. The ref tells the front rows not to stand up and get closer.
17.00: The Chiefs kick the ball away and the Force counter from deep. They lose the ball to the visitors and they counter but, lose the ball. The game is just got a little bit scrappy. Scrum to the Chiefs.
18.00: Scrum reset. The Chiefs attack the blindside. Kerr-Barlow puts in a little grubber and the Force secure the ball, set up a ruck, slow the ball down and clear.
20.00: The Chiefs lose the ball forward – again – their fourth handling error inside the opening quarter. The Force have the scrum and win a penalty after Kerr-Barlow is penalised for offside at the breakdown.
21.00: Dane Haylett-Petty has fallen awkwardly and being checked by the medical staff. He’s going off. It looks to be a leg injury.
22.00: Alex Newsome – the intercept king – comes on and will move to the left wing and Luke Morahan, to fullback.
24.00: The Chiefs attack and throw the ball into touch. They need to find their rhythm. The Force opt for a short lineout and are going through the phases.
25.00: Some aerial ping-pong from both teams, who take quick throws and then attack. McKenzie makes a short break but loses the ball forward. The hosts secure the ball and clear their lines.
27.00: It’s not working for the Chiefs tonight; they’re a little off tonight. Seven handling errors already. Maybe the two tough games in South Africa has taken its toll on the Kiwis.
28.00: Siegfried Fisi’ihoi is penalised for collapsing the scrum and the Force clear. They will have a lineout about 38 metres out from the Chiefs’ try-line.
30.00: The Force win another penalty and kick deep into the opposition’s 22.
31.00: TRY Matt Hodgson! Ross Haylett-Petty took the throw and set up the driving maul. The Force peeled left and splintered from the base, charged forward 10 metres and the skipper dots down.
32.00: Ian Prior levels the scores at 7-all.
33.00: The Force come again after stealing the ball at the breakdown. All the momentum is with the home team.
35.00: Sam Cane – of all people – kicks the ball away. Lineout to the Force, who almost botch the set piece. Their defence is stretched at the moment despite their comeback. They clear their lines, though.
37.00: The Chiefs attack the short side but Shaun Stevenson is tackled into touch.
38.00: Richard Hardwick is penalised at the breakdown. Aaron Cruden kicks to the 5-metre and the visitors will set up a driving maul.
39.00: TRY? The on-field decision is a try. Nic Berry is consulting with TMO Damien Mitchelmore. It’s Liam Messam again. The act of grounding looks like a knock on. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi knocked it forward – NO TRY!
40.00: Scrum to the Force, on their 5. The hooter sounds.
41.00: Good scrum by the hosts; they secure possession and Luke Morahan clears. BEEP! BEEP!
The half-time score was Force 7 Chiefs 7
The teams are back out and Cruden starts the second half.
Western Force coach Dave Wessels says the game is attritional and his team needs to be smart in their kicking game. He is not sure about Dane Haylett-Petty’s injury but, he thinks it is a hamstring.
43.00: The Chiefs win a penalty at the breakdown; Richard Hardwick is penalised. Cruden will have a shot at goal.
44.00: PENALTY! It’s good from the standoff and the Chiefs lead by three.
45.00: The force have a scrum in good field position and they win a penalty for collapsing. They kick to touch to the delight of the crowd.
47.00: Tawera Kerr-Barlow has failed an HIA and is replaced by Finlay Christie. The Force attack from deep after Cruden’s big clearance.
48.00: Damian McKenzie hits the line after Shaun Stevenson’s break, the fullback gives it back to the winger but the ball is lost forward. Oh dear! The visitors are probing.
49.00: Pek Cowan is on for Tetera Faulkner, who is off for an HIA. The front rower immediately wins a scrum penalty and the Force clear. Nic Berry is not happy with the New Zealand side’s scrumming.
51.00: After 10 phases, the Chiefs cough the ball up and the Force turns the ball over, but, the home team lose the ball and it’s the visitors’ ball.
52.00: Oh no! James Lowe knocks on – the 13th handling error by the Chiefs.
54.00: McKenzie breaks down the blindside and Liam Messam is tackled high, so the Chiefs get a penalty. Cruden will have a shot from about 30 metres in front of the posts.
55.00: PENALTY! Cruden makes no mistake. The Chiefs extend their lead to six.
57.00: The Force win a penalty at the ruck. Jonno Lance is on and kicks to touch.
58.00: The Force with a cheeky lineout move are camped on the Chiefs’ goal-line but, they lose the ball at the breakdown and the opportunity is lost.
60.00: The force came again, they take seven phases and attempt to go wide; however, the lose the ball into touch. The game is entering the last quarter and traditionally, the chiefs find their third and fourth gears. This will be interesting.
62.00: The Force win a Chiefs’ lineout and knock the ball on in the tackle. The handling is not great. There is some continuity though. Prior to the break, no team had a seven-phase move, now, the Force have had one and the chiefs, two.
63.00: Cruden will kick to touch after the Chiefs win a free kick at the scrum. Marcel Brache knocks the ball forward, under no pressure, on his 22. Bad mistake. Scrum to the Kiwis in centre field, 24 metres out.
65.00: The Chiefs lose the ball forward in great attacking position. That’s the 14th mistake and the Force survive. Lots of replacements entering the field.
66.00: Penalty to the Chiefs; Cruden takes it quickly but, the referee calls it back for not taking it on the correct mark. Cruden is not impressed. The call looks dodgy to me. Cruden will call for the tee.
67.00: PENALTY! The All black standoff kicks an easy penalty from in front od the posts and the Chiefs, extend their lead to two scores.
69.00: The Force will need to take some chances as the clock ticks down. Marcel Brache knocks on, again. That’s a few handling errors by the outside centre. Coach Dave Wessells is livid with that error.
72.00: Lineout to the Chiefs on the 22 of their hosts.
74.00: TRY Stephen Donald? Nic Berry is calling for the TMO to check for a knock forward before the try. It’s a knock on. Phew! Scrum to the Force.
77.00: Penalty to the Force. Time is running out and they need two scores.
79.00: The Chiefs are on the attack inside the Force’s 22.
80.00: The hooter sounds and the Force win a penalty. They have a chance to find a bonus-point if they can score. They can’t and that’s it from Perth.
BEEP! BEEP! Game over.
Final score: Force 7 (7) Chiefs 16 (7)
Scorers
Force
Tries – Hodgson
Pen –
Con – Prior
Drop –
Cards –
Chiefs
Tries – Messam
Pen – Cruden (3)
Con – Cruden
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Will Houston
Assistant Ref 2: Graham Cooper
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore
Teams
Western Force
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Curtis Rona, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Bill Meakes, 11 Luke Morahan, 10 Luke Burton, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Isi Naisarani, 5 Ross Haylett-Petty, 4 Lewis Carmichael*, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Francois Van Wyk, 18 Pek Cowan, 19 Onehunga Havilli, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Mitch Short**, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Alex Newsome.
*Denotes Super Rugby Debut
**Potential Super Rugby Debut
Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Sam McNicol, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Aidan Ross**, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Toni Pulu
**denotes Super Rugby debut
