Super Rugby-TT: Rd 2 Western Force v Highlanders, May 21st, Perth

[ForceFan]

Good to have Kuridrani back as an option at Centre.

 

[ForceFan]

Force hungry for win over the Highlanders
May 17, 2021
The Western Force continue their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign at HBF Park when they take on the Highlanders on Friday night in the Round 2 match-up.
Having come agonisingly close to a win over the Chiefs in last Saturday’s season opener in front of 13,028 fans, club stalwart Brynard Stander was in awe of the atmosphere and can’t wait to be back out there against the Highlanders.
Read more.....

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ioane back in the 23 after an ankle injury & Frizzell the XV after an assault allegation that seems to have been a whole lotta nothing.

Clan: Sam Gilbert, Sio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (cc), Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Bryn Evans, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (cc), Ayden Johnstone. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, Kazuki Himeno, Kayne Hammington, Josh Ioane, Ngantungane Punivai.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...ell-returns-to-highlanders-side-to-face-force

 

[Dismal Pillock]

"Mine's a" Michael Collins
Hugh Renton dirty vids
Josh Dickson Balls
Ash Dixon Balls
Billy Harmon the children

 

[D-Box]

Force Team

 

[ForceFan]

Timani returns for crucial clash with Highlanders
May 19, 2021
The Western Force continue their inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign on Friday night when they go head-to-head with the high-flying Highlanders at HBF Park.
Read more......

 

[zer0]

The Highlanders are quite up-and-down in their performances and are travelling to Perth, though they do have Frizell back in his Super Rugby Tarzan form. That being the case, would rank this match as Australia's second best chance of a win this weekend behind the Chiefs/Brumbies.

 

[Equalizer]

 

[ForceFan]

WF need to start winning.
Nick Taylor is obviously struggling to maintain column space in the West.
Bit of a bugger not getting the Maori All Blacks game at the end of TT.
Interested to know what Plan B will provide.....

 

[ForceFan]

Cubelli excited ahead of milestone match
May 20, 2021
The Western Force is determined to return to the winners list tomorrow night in their Round 2 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash with the Highlanders at HBF Park.
The match-up is a special occasion for Force’s star Argentinian international scrumhalf, with Tomás Cubelli set to make his 50th Super Rugby appearance in what has been a stellar career so far.
Read more.....

 

[Dan54]

Kind of unsure on this one. I have to admit in Oz I always say that Reds are my team (and so have to stay that way) but by geez Force are difinitely a REAL close 2nd Oz team nowadays! Love the support they getting, and really enjoy the style of rugby.

 

[Equalizer]

The Force team will be super keen to give the Sea of Blue a win in our final SRTT game at home. It's been a great season of rugby so far for us here in the West. As slated at the start of of SRAU, this team is still a work in progress and 2 years away from having all the pieces in place to contend. The pleasing aspect has been the great chemistry and backs to the wall competitiveness shown.

This afternoon we have another big test against the Highlanders. They played very well against the Reds but it is hard to get a feel for where teams are at in the TT competition after just one round. Getting accustomed to the NZ playing style and pace seemed to catch a few teams short in round one. Lets see if adjustments have been made for round 2.

Great to see Timani back for this game. The Force lineout should be strong and Kaitu'u seems to be hitting the target more consistently after a few early season jitters. Need to see him have a few more bruising runs to soften up the opposition. Anstee at 8 may offer more creativity than Stander as a ball runner off the back of the scrum and open up opportunities for the Force attacking scrums in the oppositions 22. The Force pack has looked solid and Robertson has been a revelation over in the West, rejuvenating his career.

Veterans Kahui and Kearney have proven their worth, particularly Kahui who has put together a nice season and probably deserves to go around next year. He's proven guile and guts is still a valuable commodity when father time has taken a step or two of pace from you. Godwin and Taefu continue to grow and get better as a centres pairing each game.

So going into this afternoons game we know that a key to stopping the Highlanders is putting pressure on Aaron Smith and stop those sniping runs from the scrum base. Don't concede penalties or Mitch Hunt might put us away. And keep an eye on angry Shannon Frizell after missing the Reds game. The Force need to cut down on some of the aimless kicking, back themselves and keep the scoreboard pressure building. A vocal Sea of Blue will do our best to get the boys over the line.

Beautiful day in Perth and looks great for an early beer pre game. Lets go FORCE!

 

[Kevin77]

The Force team will be super keen to give the Sea of Blue a win in our final SRTT game at home. It's been a great season of rugby so far for us here in the West. As slated at the start of of SRAU, this team is still a work in progress and 2 years away from having all the pieces in place to contend. The pleasing aspect has been the great chemistry and backs to the wall competitiveness shown.

This afternoon we have another big test against the Highlanders. They played very well against the Reds but it is hard to get a feel for where teams are at in the TT competition after just one round. Getting accustomed to the NZ playing style and pace seemed to catch a few teams short in round one. Lets see if adjustments have been made for round 2.

Great to see Timani back for this game. The Force lineout should be strong and Kaitu'u seems to be hitting the target more consistently after a few early season jitters. Need to see him have a few more bruising runs to soften up the opposition. Anstee at 8 may offer more creativity than Stander as a ball runner off the back of the scrum and open up opportunities for the Force attacking scrums in the oppositions 22. The Force pack has looked solid and Robertson has been a revelation over in the West, rejuvenating his career.

Veterans Kahui and Kearney have proven their worth, particularly Kahui who has put together a nice season and probably deserves to go around next year. He's proven guile and guts is still a valuable commodity when father time has taken a step or two of pace from you. Godwin and Taefu continue to grow and get better as a centres pairing each game.

So going into this afternoons game we know that a key to stopping the Highlanders is putting pressure on Aaron Smith and stop those sniping runs from the scrum base. Don't concede penalties or Mitch Hunt might put us away. And keep an eye on angry Shannon Frizell after missing the Reds game. The Force need to cut down on some of the aimless kicking, back themselves and keep the scoreboard pressure building. A vocal Sea of Blue will do our best to get the boys over the line.

Beautiful day in Perth and looks great for an early beer pre game. Lets go FORCE!

Love it. Great post.
Sitting here at work and cannot wait to get out to the ground later.
Perfect day for it and really looking forward to it

 

[Wilson]

Thrush out, McCauley to start, Ollie Callan on the bench.

 

[Equalizer]

Nobody wants to be out for Thrush.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Looking forward to this game - thrush out though a bummer as he adds a lot to the force

 

[Drew]

Horrible uniform for the highlanders

 

[Brumby Jack]

Horrible uniform for the highlanders

 

[D-Box]

Long Arm transfer before contact no try

Or least it shouldn't have been

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Gees article by nick bishop on roar highlighted how attacking speed of Aaron smith is what hit the reds...Same again for his try tonight...can’t some Japanese or European club offer him a truckload of money to play elsewhere