The Western Force have played the NSW Waratahs 18 times in Super Rugby since 2006, the Force have won six matches, lost 11 times and drawn once.
The Force’s six wins give them a record of winning 33% of their matches against the Waratahs regardless of venue.
- The NSW Waratahs have won three of their last four Super Rugby games against the Force, including a 23-14 win when they met in Round Two of Super Rugby AU, despite having trailed at half-time on three occasions throughout that period.
- The Force have won four of their last six Super Rugby games in Queensland (L2); although, they were defeated 31-24 by the Reds in their only previous game in the state in Super Rugby AU (Round Three).
- New South Wales will be on the hunt for back-to-back Super Rugby wins for the first time since March 2019 after a thumping 45-12 win over the Reds in Round Six of SuperRugby AU.
- The Waratahs have conceded just 4.2 offloads per game thus far in Super Rugby AU, fewer than any other team in the competition.
- Henry Stowers (Force) has made a competition-high 71 tackles in Super Rugby AU; he has missed just five further attempts for a success rate of 93%.
Match detail
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1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Super Rugby AU at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina, on the Gold Coast of Queensland. Michael Hooper plays his 150th Super Rugby match: What a player and servant he’s been for the Waratahs.
3.00: An untidy lineout for the ‘Tahs, but the retain possession; however, Jake Gordon has to clear to touch as NSW were going backwards.
4.00: Tom Horton almost gathers a stray Force lineout, but he knocks-on. The first scrum of the match goes to the Perth side; it is reset.
5.00: Forty-nine per cent (49%) of scrums in Super Rugby AU have led to a free-kick or penalty, and this reset scrum is no different – penalty to the Waratahs for collapsing by the Force.
6.00: Horton and Karmichael Hunt almost combine for the opening try, but Hunt cannot hold onto the pass. This time, it’s a solid scrum for the Force. Debutant Jake Strachan, at first receiver, clears to the NSW half.
8.00: Two players offside by the Western Force allows the ‘Tahs to take a shot at goal.
9.00: PENALTY! Will Harrison lands his 25ht kick from 27 to open the scoring. 0-3
12.00: The Force have had the better of both territory (69%) and possession (53%) but have not looked like opening up the opposition’s defence.
13.00: A poor lineout by the Perth team, but they win the penalty at the next ruck. Jono Lance boots the ball from his 10m to midway between the opposition’s 22 and 10.
15.00: TRY! Brynard Stander chases Richard Kahui’s well-weighted grubber – which nutmegged Alex Newsome and somehow stayed infield – gathered the bouncing ball and dived over in the corner. 5-3
16.00: MISS! The kick is no good. 5-3
18.00: The ‘Tahs get another kickable penalty.
20.00: PENALTY! Harrison puts his team back in front. 6-5
23.00: A couple of reset scrums as the Waratahs get back into the game. Rob Penney’s men have overturned the possession (65%) and territory (55%) statistics, but they cannot find the final pass; their handling has really let them down.
24.00: another unbelievable kick by Kahui almost leads to a 50-22. The Waratahs’ throw is not straight, so the Force has an attacking scrum inside the Sydney side’s 22.
27.00: The Force win the scrum-penalty and will take a shot at goal.
28.00: PENALTY! Ian Prior makes no mistake this time. 8-6
30.00: Another messy lineout by the Force gives the ‘Tahs a scrum from which they win a penalty for collapsing.
32.00: PENALTY! Harrison, who has only missed two kicks all season, lands the wide kick. 8-9
34:00: TRY! Newsome crashed over in the corner after Jake Gordon’s break. Jack Maddocks got the quick ball after at the ruck after cleanout and sent a long, cutout pass to the winger, who gathered and dotted down in the corner. 8-14
36.00: CONVERSION! Harrison slots the touchline conversion. 8-16
39.00: The Waratahs are camped on the Western Force’s line; they’ve gone 22 phases but cannot get over.
41.00: Great defending from the Force. They manage to keep NSW out after 25 phases at the death of the first stanza. Halftime.
The halftime score was Western Force 8 NSW Waratahs 16
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway down under.
43.00: The Force go close, pinning the ‘Tahs on their line, but the Sydney side fends off the attack and clear the danger.
44.00: The Western Force’s lineout is a mess, they lose another.
45.00: TRY! Maddocks intercepts Lance’s flat, cutout pass and races 55 metres to score. The try came from another scrappy lineout, although, the try is not the fault of the forwards. 8-21
46.00: CONVERSION! Harrison won’t miss that. 8-23
49.00: The Force are enjoying some possession inside the opposition’s half, but cannot find that final pass.
52.00: Some more good attack by the Western Force, who start stringing some phases together, but they cannot make it count. Tom Staniforth strays offside, which allows Lance to kick to the corner.
53.00: NO TRY! A massive scrum from the Force sees Henry Stowers crash over; however, the TMO rules Stowers had been held up. Another scrum, but it goes down.
54.00: The Force needs to make its momentum count.
55.00: Tom Robertson collapses the scrum. Hooper talks to the ref, who warns him of going to the pocket.
56.00: Jack Dempsey is pinged at the ruck. Prior opts for another scrum.
57.00: Oh dear! This time, the penalty goes the way of Robertson after Kieran Longbottom infringed.
58.00: The starting front three of the ‘Tahs have done their night’s work and are all replaced.
60.00: The Waratahs need some possession. They’ve camped inside their half for the last 15 minutes.
61.00: NO TRY! Maddocks takes a flat pass, breaks a tackle, and storms to the try-line. It was a carbon copy of his try versus the Reds. Harry Johnson-Holmes obstructs Andrew Ready from making the tackle, so the TMO reverses the on-field call. 8-23
64.00: Tim Sampson’s men have nothing on attack, their lineout is rubbish, and their scrum is iffy. I’m not sure how they can get themselves back in this contest with all the mistakes. The ‘Tahs won’t lose this.
66.00: Sampson’s men keep possession, but the ball is slow at the ruck. They keep attacking before Angus Bell gets caught offside. Lance bangs the ball to the 22. It’s now or never for the men from the west coast.
67.00: Another lost lineout. Oh, dear! The Waratahs clear and win a scrum after Byron Ralston – is wrong – adjudged to have knocked-on. Nothing is going right for the Force.
70.00: Another lost lineout leads to a scrum-penalty. Somehow, the Force win the lineout against the throw and clear.
73.00: It’s all Waratahs now.
76.00: NO TRY! Hunt collects Harrison’s chip-kick, sucks in two defenders and sends Gordon away for the try, but yet again, the TMO rules the halfback offside after the kick. 8-23
78.00: Tah’s can get another try here if they eliminate the handling errors.
80.00: TRY! Harry Johnson-Holmes crashes over from close range. 8-28
81.00: MISS! Ben Donaldson goes quickly but misses as the Waratahs look for the bonus-point. 8-28
83.00: There is no bonus-point for the Waratahs to claim the extra point.
FULL TIME
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The final score is Force 8 (8) Waratahs 28 (16)
Scorers
Force
Tries – Stander
Pen – Prior
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Waratahs
Tries – Newsome, Maddocks, Johnson-Holmes
Pen – Harrison (3)
Con – Harrison (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 2: Amy Perrett
TMO: Brett Cronan
Teams
Western Force
15 Jake Strachan, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Richard Kahui, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ian Prior (captain), 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Fergus Lee Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Pek Cowan
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Tom Sheminant, 19 Johan Bardoul, 20 Ollie Atkins, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Nick Jooste, 23 Jack McGregor
Waratahs
15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachie Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Te Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Ned Hanigan, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Joey Walton