Western Force v Lions, Saturday, 28 June @ Optus Stadium 8pm AEST

[molman]

After that I think the wallabies need a BIG team. The Force got comprehensively out muscled

I think I disagree. Not sure this was won on muscle per-say but rather counter-attack, pace, and wily rugby smarts like Finns tap try he setup.

Shame it blew out so much, the Force were looking ok in that first stanza, but the class was just a cut above in the opposition.

 

[Aussie D]

Cdc had 18 tackles and 10 carries for 20m.

Pretty good shift

Playing out of position at 7 as well. Did the little things well which is what you want against quality opposition

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

Playing out of position at 7 as well. Did the little things well which is what you want against quality opposition

He is a good footballer

 

[Wilson]

Cdc had 18 tackles and 10 carries for 20m.

Pretty good shift

Great work rate, but none of those tackles were dominant, he didn't win a turnover and there was only the one defender beaten with no offloads for those 10 carries. He didn't necessarily do much wrong, but he absolutely missed an opportunity to show he could make an impact at the next level.

I think he also got caught out in defence a couple of times, but I also could've been confusing him and Harris at various points with CdC wearing the unfamiliar 7.

 

[molman]

Pietsch was best on ground.

Pietsch was good. Physical, but I think I’d still take Hansen if it was a choice. Smart, well rounded player. Tenacious.

 

[Derpus]

Interestingly, Mack Hansen finished as the most influential winger on the ground I think. His second half was very good, bordering on excellent.

He was always a huge loss. Not as big as Nawaqanitawase tho.

 

[cyclopath]

I think all the Super teams will struggle to go 80 in a competitive manner with the Lions.
I expect the Tahs will not be close, the Reds better and the Brumbies the best. But I doubt any will really challenge to get parity.

 

[drewprint]

Pietsch was good. Physical, but I think I’d still take Hansen if it was a choice. Smart, well rounded player. Tenacious.

I would too. But the question was who was better/more influential tonight. And tonight I’d say Pietsch.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I thought we were very competitive in the first half and with a bit more composure could have been level at HT. It all fell away pretty badly in the second half though and that's to be expected really. The Lions had several properly class players to call on and we had some club journeymen.

I think Joe will see some stuff he liked though, both in terms of players like Pietch and also some ways to take the Lions on.

 

[Shiggins]

I think all the Super teams will struggle to go 80 in a competitive manner with the Lions.
I expect the Tahs will not be close, the Reds better and the Brumbies the best. But I doubt any will really challenge to get parity.

I think the reds win, remember it will be a different side and not as good as this team tonight. Brumbies also will face a weaker lions team. Potentially reds and Brumbies win

 

[rugbyAU]

Potentially reds and Brumbies win

Realistically they don’t have much of a chance

 

[rugbyAU]

Why

Because the Force were without their three best players, they are Australia’s worst Super Rugby team, generally only win 4 games a year and 3/4 of the Lions nations are ranked above the Wallabies (with there only being 2 Welsh)