Close Menu
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies
  • Super Rugby
    • ACT Brumbies
    • Blues
    • Chiefs
    • Crusaders
    • Fijian Drua
    • Highlanders
    • Hurricanes
    • Moana Pasifika
    • NSW Waratahs
    • Queensland Reds
    • Western Force
  • Six Nations
  • Women’s
  • Sevens
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Friday’s Rugby News.

June 6, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – finals, the new season

June 5, 2025

Talking Teams Podcast Qualifying Finals

June 4, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
Latest News
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – finals, the new season
  • Talking Teams Podcast Qualifying Finals
  • Yowie on the Loose: Super Finals and other news oddities
  • The North Remembers.
  • The Knocked Back Knock-On 155 – Not a Rant but a Whimper
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the last round
  • Talking Teams Pod Week 16
  • Yowie on the Loose: Rugby News wrapped-up like a beef wellington
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #71: who saw that coming?
  • The Dropped Kick-Off 154 – Finals Perms
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the pointy end
  • Hump Day News – in from the side
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #70: Can Super Rugby get any better?
Green & Gold Rugby
0 Shopping Cart
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies

    Tuesday’s Rugby News

    February 25, 2025

    G&GR readers hate Australians?

    February 23, 2025

    Schmidt extends Wallabies tenure through TRC as search for head coach successor begins

    February 6, 2025

    Tickets on sale for blockbuster Wallaroos and Wallabies home Tests

    February 5, 2025

    Tuesday’s Rugby News, 4 February 2025

    February 4, 2025
  • Super Rugby
    1. ACT Brumbies
    2. Blues
    3. Chiefs
    4. Crusaders
    5. Fijian Drua
    6. Highlanders
    7. Hurricanes
    8. Moana Pasifika
    9. NSW Waratahs
    10. Queensland Reds
    11. Western Force
    12. View All

    Brumbies lob first grenade.

    March 19, 2025

    Hoodoo Gurus: Brumbies beat Blues.

    March 8, 2025

    Super Rugby Women’s Team List: Trial Match v Queensland Reds

    February 5, 2025

    Brumbies and Raiders combine for ANZAC weekend fixtures

    February 4, 2025

    Sotutu Returns to Boost Blues for Highlanders Clash

    February 19, 2025

    MG Motor Joins Blues as Official Vehicle Partner

    February 13, 2025

    Tu’ungafasi Celebrates 150th Cap as Blues Unleash Star-Studded Line-Up at Eden Park Opener

    February 12, 2025

    Blues Team Up with Gerard Roofs for a Strong 2025 Season Partnership

    February 11, 2025

    Chiefs Prepare for Crusaders Clash: Brown’s Debut and Tupaea’s Milestone

    February 19, 2025

    Chiefs’ All Blacks Set for Pre-Season Action Against Moana Pasifika

    February 6, 2025

    Chiefs Unveil New Talent Ahead of Taranaki Pre-Season Clash

    January 30, 2025

    Chiefs’ Rising Star Wallace Sititi Sidelined After Knee Surgery

    January 25, 2025

    Crusaders Ready to Kick Off Pre-Season with Blues Battle in Kirwee

    January 30, 2025

    Crusaders Partner with Moa Brewing Company to Elevate Fan Experience

    January 23, 2025

    Jamie Hannah Commits to Crusaders Until 2028

    January 23, 2025

    Crusaders 2025 Tickets Now Available!

    January 23, 2025

    Fijian Drua to Host Rugby FCLA in Historic Fiji Showdown

    January 20, 2025

    Highlanders Set for Home Opener Against Blues

    February 19, 2025

    Waratahs edge Highlanders in thrilling season opener

    February 16, 2025

    Highlanders Announce Squad for Season Opener Against Waratahs

    February 12, 2025

    Highlanders Gear Up for Waitangi Day Showdown Against Crusaders

    February 4, 2025

    Xavier Numia Commits to Hurricanes Through 2027

    January 29, 2025

    Hurricanes Brew Up Partnership with Flight Coffee for 2025 Season

    January 28, 2025

    Hurricanes Poua Swap Rugby Boots for Riding Boots at Hutt Valley RDA

    January 16, 2025

    Match Review: Qld Reds v Moana Pacifika — Rd2 2025

    February 21, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 3, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 2, 2025

    Moana Pasifika Set to Face Highlanders in Pre-Season Opener

    January 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Tahs best Brumbies.

    March 22, 2025

    Isaac Kailea re-signs with RA.

    March 21, 2025

    U18s & U20s Tahs sides named.

    March 14, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    Reds break drought.

    March 22, 2025

    Tom ‘The Laser’ Lynagh: Its the vibe.

    March 22, 2025

    Caslick to start in Reds #100th.

    March 19, 2025

    Force out-Brumby the Brumbies 45-42.

    February 22, 2025

    Jeremy Williams Re-Signs with Western Force for Two More Years

    February 6, 2025

    Club captain Jeremy Williams re-commits to Western Force with new deal

    February 6, 2025

    Western Force Unveils Star-Studded Squad for Brumbies Pre-Season Clash

    February 5, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

    March 24, 2025

    Live: SRP ladder

    March 22, 2025
  • Six Nations

    Six Nations round 4

    March 8, 2025

    Tree Irish legends call time

    February 28, 2025

    Frogs flog Italy.

    February 24, 2025

    Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

    February 23, 2025

    Poms pinch it.

    February 23, 2025
  • Women’s

    More in store for Qld women’s comp.

    March 21, 2025

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – progress mixed in with some injustice

    November 21, 2024

    Yowie on the Loose: How long until test rugby restarts?

    October 15, 2024

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #50: limited rugby, but plenty of news

    October 14, 2024
  • Sevens

    G&GR team’s podcast, Ireland and done

    December 2, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – US edition marketing the game, Perry Baker, Super Rugby my new dawn.

    October 17, 2024

    Sevens Olympic Heaven!

    July 18, 2024

    Thursday’s Rugby News

    July 4, 2024
  • Podcast

    Talking Teams Podcast Qualifying Finals

    June 4, 2025

    The Knocked Back Knock-On 155 – Not a Rant but a Whimper

    June 3, 2025

    Talking Teams Pod Week 16

    May 28, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 154 – Finals Perms

    May 23, 2025

    Collab Special – Talking Teams x The Dropped Kick-Off – discussing the Lions with The Eggchasers Rugby Podcast

    May 14, 2025
Green & Gold Rugby
Home»Rugby»Review: Tahs outlast Force
Rugby

Review: Tahs outlast Force

TBHBy TBHApril 14, 20127 Comments
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

In a game that was in turns an attritional struggle, a scrappy mistake riddled affair and occasionally a bit exciting, the Tahs survived a late surge by the Force to get over the line 23-18.

The game opened up with both teams playing the kind of game we’ve come to expect this season: the Force kicking for field position and trying to play the game out of their half and the Tahs using their pack to gain metres around the fringes and spreading the ball a bit more in the later phases. It was the Tahs who scored first on something that is a bit of a rarity for them, in the form of a quick and lethal counter attack. Tom Kingston was on the end of a very well executed break from deep in their own half and he took his chance very well. He’s quietly developing into quite a player and one to watch for the future. Added to this was a period of sustained pressure right before half time when the Tahs really should have scored again, such was their dominance, especially as they had a numerical advantage due to Salesi Ma’afu being binned for dropping the scrum. They were all over the Force like an ill-fitting shirt and ought to have cashed in more.

The second half started well, however, when Dave Dennis scored a very soft try from a lineout, but more on that later. It was symptomatic of a couple of things that killed the Force tonight. They went to sleep on a couple of occasions, leading to a try in at least one case. The other was their handling. It was at times poor during crucial moments of the game when they were either hard on attack or attempting to make a break. Had they managed to hang on to the pill a bit more they could well have burgled this game. One interesting experiment, however, was the late change of Dave Harvey to five-eighth. I thought this was a good call by Richard Graham, as 10 is Harvey’s natural position. He did enough to suggest that this might be worth persevering with.

Another thing that was noticeable was the general superiority of the Tahs forward play, especially in the scrum. Now it’s not news that the Tahs have one of the more capable packs in the competition, but the way they beat the Force’s forwards in the tight stuff was particularly noteworthy. If they can do a bit more of that this season I suspect they will meet with some more success.

Something that will worry the Tahs management and conversely hearten the Force was 20 to 30 minute period of the second half when the Force appeared to get on top and indeed get in front. They played with greater urgency and more dynamism than had been the case in the first stanza. As with other times this season when they’ve threatened, they relied on quick ball from the breakdown and got it in the hands of Nick Cummins rapidly. He was a constant threat tonight and I thought comfortably won his battle with Rob Horne. Unfortunately, the effort couldn’t be sustained and the cool head of Berrick Barnes stepped up and steadied things for the visitors with a couple of penalties. The Tahs in the end played the smarter footy for most of the game and did the right things at the right moments.

It was another case of one that got away for the Force and one that the Tahs will be relieved to have won.

 

The Result

Waratahs 23 (Kingston, Dennis tries; McKibbin 2 convs; McKibbin 1, Barnes 2 pens) beat Force 18 (Sheehan, Mafi tries; Harvey conv; Harvey 2 pens)
Ref: Glen Jackson

The Damage

Nothing of any note that I could see. The substitutions were nearly all tactical.

 

The Moment

Dave Dennis scoring right after half time was the big moment in the game. The Force were napping and a man short in the lineout. The Tahs took full advantage and threw a short ball to their blindside and he galloped over untouched. That put them 17-3 and could have killed the game stone dead as a contest. Credit to the Force for clawing their way back, but this moment of inattention meant they were having to chase the game that much more for the rest of the half.

 

The Man

The ground announcer had Pocock as man of the match, but I didn’t think there were too many standout individual players tonight. If pushed I would have given the gong to Tatafu Polota-Nau, as he was part of a front row that frequently demolished the Force scrum and was generally good in the loose. He does a lot of work at the breakdown that probably goes a little unnoticed, as well as his more eye-catching roles as a tackler and ball runner. He was capable in all of those departments in this game.

The Talking Point

The breakdown again. It was a brawl for the most part and it wasn’t really one side in particular. The was the requisite entering from the side, flopping over the ball and not releasing the tackler. It really was a mess and many penalties were handed out. Eventually it led to Bernard Foley being binned, but there could well have been others too.

We are a fan run website, we appreciate your support.

💬 Have you got a news article suggestion? Submit a story and have your say
👀 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.com
🎵 Listen to our Podcasts on Spotify and iTunes
🎥 Watch our Podcasts on YouTube


Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleCall me Old-Fashioned but what a Bunch of Soft Cocks!
Next Article Brumbies bash rusty Rebels
TBH

The Brown Hornet, or TBH for short, is a rugby tragic from way back. It's hard not to be with rugby union being the greatest game on Earth. Growing up in the Southern states of Australia, it has often felt like exile, but the entry of the Force and then the Rebels has made union increasingly feel like a code that includes all of Australia now. I remain an ardent Force fan, but one without too much bias I hope.

Related Posts

Thursday’s Rugby News – finals, the new season

June 5, 2025

Talking Teams Podcast Qualifying Finals

June 4, 2025

Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025

June 3, 2025

Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!

June 2, 2025

We are a fan run website, we appreciate your support.

We are determined to keep G&GR a free site for all rugby fans. A place for all to engage with rugby stories, opinions, articles, podcasts, discussions and more.

Show your support to G&GR


Latest

Friday’s Rugby News.

June 6, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – finals, the new season

June 5, 2025

Talking Teams Podcast Qualifying Finals

June 4, 2025

Yowie on the Loose: Super Finals and other news oddities

June 4, 2025
1 2 3 … 2,601 Next
Latest Super Rugby

Reds top of the pops.

March 29, 2025

More Tahs misery.

March 29, 2025

Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

March 24, 2025

Live: SRP ladder

March 22, 2025
1 2 3 … 790 Next
Latest Six Nations

Six Nations round 4

March 8, 2025

Tree Irish legends call time

February 28, 2025

Frogs flog Italy.

February 24, 2025

Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

February 23, 2025
1 2 3 … 25 Next
GAGR Podcast
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
About Us
About Us

greenandgoldrugby.com is your one stop shop for all things Rugby Union - news, podcasts, opinions, fixtures, events & everything in between.

greenandgoldrugby.com - created by fans of rugby, for fans of rugby.

About
Submit a Story
Authors
Contact
Privacy

Our Picks

Rising rally to overrun Queensland Country

September 4, 2016

Waratahs young leaders to shine

January 18, 2017

Eight ANGRY Observations from tonight’s game

June 18, 2016
New Comments
  • KwAussie Rugby Lover on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Mike D on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Mike D on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Yowie on Friday’s Rugby News.
  • AllyOz on Friday’s Rugby News.
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
  • Wallabies
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy (2023)
© 2025 Ponderosa Publishing Pty Ltd | ABN 76 668 430 386.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.