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Top 3 players from the Queensland Reds & Western Force Game in Round 10 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Tate McDermott made such a huge difference for the Reds at half-back tonight v Western Force. Every time has the ball on hand, Tate has the the licence to thrill such as the quick tap & go as well as controlling the scrum, driving maul and everything in between in order to make the most out of his side’s attack. It’s not just his work rate & communication being top notch as always, but he has excellent mobility & kicking prowess to roam around the pitch too. He’s glad to stay in Ballymore for another few years through 2027 – the year when Australia gets to host another Rugby World Cup & glad he will get to learn the best from Eddie Jones.

Harry Wilson has also been excellent tonight at No.8 for the Reds. His physicality saw him smash barriers through the Western Force blocks every time the Reds build their attacking momentum. It gave his side time to find their way through the gate where not only the Reds dominated possession going forward, but also scored a couple of tries along the way. Plus, his height is such a huge factor too, particularly with the vision so Harry can also look for some support to his own players to finish off for him. He hopes tonight’s display is the start towards proving Wallabies coach Eddie Jones that he’s a hard worker all around.

And Zach Kibirige continues to make waves on the Western Force left wing position at No.11 with his back-to-back tries tonight v the Reds. He was blessed with the Force’s great start where Zach squeezed his way just inside the score zone thanks to No.2 Tom Horton on the far-right short side. Then he read a brilliant intercept later on off Tom Lynagh tried where he got the job done by himself with no one there to stop him through oozes of pace. But sadly, the Force just couldn’t stop the Reds’ possession that limited their attacking chances, even though their defense wasn’t bad while suffering ill-discipline at the same time.

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Queensland Reds follow up with another win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tonight v Western Force from Perth, 31-17

by Sports Benches

Western Force may have opened the scoreboard first, but the Queensland Reds has dominated the first-half with three tries on the board at 21-5. Although the Force showed some fight back 1-2 times later on, but Reds continued to dominate for the rest of the night with the ball despite being denied by the ref before they finally topped up one more TRY to seal another win this time in front of their home supporters. The final score at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is 31-17.

It wasn’t the night Western Force wanted to see out against the Reds away from home in Brisbane after their win last Saturday v Highlanders. They actually fired off well when the Force got ahead early but then they were crushed by a lack of opportunities with the ball for the majority, even though their defense wasn’t bad & responded well 1-2 times later in the 2nd half. Plus, the ill-discipline sadly held them back further behind as the game goes on & these are the 1-2 main weaknesses the Force needed to get back on track – should they wish to knock down the Highlanders & move inside the Top 8 of 12 ladder. For now, they got a tough few weeks ahead with the Crusaders over in Christchurch, NZ next Saturday afternoon.

And congrats to the Reds on what has been another win, having done so last round v Moana Pasifika in between their bye last week. The way they controlled possession has been excellent as always which gave them ample time to get the job done with a few tries on the board, even though they may have been denied by the ref 1-2 times later in the 2nd 40. Now that is alright when facing a team below their standard like the Force & Moana. But they need to be really careful & not let their finishing slip up next time where they have been exposed at times, particularly when facing the other established SR teams including the Waratahs whom they will be facing in Townsville next Saturday night.

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Top 3 players from the Western Force & Highlanders Game in Round 9 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Hats off to Manasa Mataele who was unbelievable on the wide left for the Force tonight. This guy can not only attack and finish it off with pace but he can also stop defensively every time when he puts the tackling on too. You just cannot believe it every time he puts so much effort on the field, particularly when he did well to stop the Highlanders from taking these big points off them in the 2nd half. And thanks to Manasa, the Force overcame the Landers’ attacking threats while adding some three-pointers that safeguarded their win on home soil. Speaking of home soil, he’s happy to ply his trade in Perth & make history that will inspire the whole of WA after a few years with the Crusaders.

Bryce Hegarty has been amazing in the No.10 Force jersey tonight with a mix of his creative attacking play & conversion kicking between the sticks. He knows how to draw his men up close where the passing was excellent while following along, so the Force knows where to cash in these hot spot scoring areas which reflected his side’s strong opening 40 display. Yes, the 2nd 40 momentum may not exactly be the same, but Bryce too added 1-2 three-pointers here & there where he never lost concentration behind the kicking tee. Credit to a strong defence & winning penalties that helped the Force hold off the Highlanders well with the win.

And Thomas Umaga-Jensen has been pushing the Highlanders really hard to get themselves back on track throughout the 2nd half at No.12 (Inside Centre). He has been keeping his team-mates in check, particularly when his side has the ball going forward. Yes, he’s right when he formed some great passage of play with an inside pass drawing to the right shift-side where the Landers score their first big points. But for the majority however, the Landers were just unsupportive on its own and you can see the frustration Thomas had to vent when these executions were taken away from them. There’s nothing you can do it about when they couldn’t redeem themselves before it was too late.

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Western Force has done Perth proud on home soil at HBF Park with the win they deserve against the Highlanders

by Sports Benches

The first 40 easily belongs to the Western Force with three tries on the board while the Highlanders only secured the three-point penalty goal, 24-3. Yes, most of the 2nd 40 saw the Highlanders make up lost time when they were dominant in attack. However, the Dunedin-based side only collected 2 tries while being denied access to accrue more big points. And that paves the way for the Force to add another few three-point goals before they done enough in the end with the win, 30-17.

Unlucky from the Highlanders in the 2nd half when most of these TRY attempts were turned away by either the referee or the Force defenders & they just couldn’t redeem themselves for the rest of this match. But the one thing that really hurt them the most is ill-discipline which held the Highlanders back time & time again while watching the Western Force score three tries including a penalty TRY in the first half. Although it’s good to see them make up lost time later on, but then they were under heaps of pressure to get the job done & sadly, it’s not really easy to overcome that when time isn’t on their side. They’re still just inside the Top 8 in 7th with 6 weeks left as the Landers now head off to Sydney v Waratahs on Friday.

And what a day it has been for the Perth-based side with the win. They fired off really well, especially when they controlled the game from start to finish. There were plenty of ball opportunities going forward including the winning penalties. Although they will need to watch their discipline if the Force are to stay focused. Plus, we also saw some excellent defensive contributions, as well as 1-2 TRY-saving tackles which gave them a huge sigh of relief as the clock ticks down before things ended up their way past full-time. This is what the Force is all about who invested in this sport so much right at the heart of Western Australia. They’re now just inside the Playoffs bubble in 8th with the Reds next up over in Brisbane in a week’s time.

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Rugby News Australia: Super Rugby 2023 preview

by Admin

As the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Season approaches, fans of the sport are eagerly awaiting to see how their favourite teams will perform in the competition. This year’s season will follow a similar schedule to the previous year’s, with 91 matches played in a round-robin format, followed by a knockout-style finals round.

The season will commence on February 24, with the final scheduled to take place on June 24 before the start of the 2023 mid-year international window. The defending champions, the Crusaders, will be hoping to secure their 12th title and cement their status as one of the most dominant teams in Super Rugby history.

One team that is looking to make a strong impact this season is the Blues. The New Zealand-based team finished as runners-up in the previous season after falling to the Crusaders in the final. With a strong squad, which includes the likes of Patrick Tuipulotu, Beauden Barrett, and Caleb Clarke, the Blues will be looking to go one better this year and secure their first Super Rugby title since 2003.

The Chiefs are another team that will be expected to be in contention for the title. The team, which finished in third place last season, will be looking to build on their strong performances from the previous year. The Chiefs have a strong squad that includes the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, and Sam Cane, and will be looking to capitalise on their talent and experience to challenge for the title this season.

The Hurricanes are another team that will be hoping to make their presence felt in the competition. The New Zealand-based team finished in fifth place last season, narrowly missing out on a spot in the playoffs. With a strong squad, which includes the likes of Dane Coles and Jordie Barrett. The Hurricanes will be hoping to improve on their previous season’s performance and secure a playoff spot this year.

The Brumbies, who finished fourth in the previous season, will also be looking to challenge for the title this year. The Australian-based team has a strong squad that includes the likes of Tom Banks, Allan Alaalatoa, and James Slipper. With their strong defence and well-organized attack, the Brumbies will be looking to build on their previous season’s performance and challenge for the title this year.

As for the other teams in the competition, the Waratahs will be looking to make an impact in their new home at the Allianz Stadium, while the Highlanders will be looking to improve on their disappointing eighth-place finish from the previous season. The Force and Rebels will be hoping to push for a playoff spot, while Moana Pasifika will be aiming to make an impact in their second season in the competition.

Round one of the tournament has some intriguing fixtures to kick off the competition. The defending champions, the Crusaders, are set to face off against the Chiefs in the opening game of the season, a highly anticipated match between two of New Zealand’s top rugby teams.

The Crusaders are the most successful team in Super Rugby history, having won the title a record 11 times. They will be looking to defend their title and secure their 12th championship, while the Chiefs will be hoping to take them down and start their season on a high. The two teams have a storied history, having met in several classic matches in the past. Fans can expect a high-intensity game full of big hits, fast-paced action, and incredible skill from both teams.

The Waratahs will face off against the Brumbies in another exciting match on the opening day of the tournament. The Waratahs will be looking to get their season off to a strong start as the Brumbies will be hoping to continue their impressive form from last season and challenge for the title.

On Saturday, February 25, the Moana Pasifika team will take on the Fijian Drua in what promises to be an intriguing match-up. Moana Pasifika is a combined team made up of players from Samoa, Tonga, and other Pacific Island nations, while the Fijian Drua is Fiji’s top rugby team.

The Highlanders will face off against the Blues in another exciting match on the same day. The Highlanders finished eighth on the ladder last season and will be looking to improve on that in 2023. The Blues, on the other hand, finished first but narrowly missed out on the title, losing to the Crusaders in the final. They will be hoping to go one better this season and claim the championship. The match promises to be full of attacking flair, with both teams possessing some of the most exciting players in Super Rugby.

On the same day, the Reds will face the Hurricanes in another highly anticipated match. The Reds finished seventh on the ladder last season, while the Hurricanes finished fifth. Both teams will be looking to improve on their performances from last season and make a push for the finals. The match is sure to be a high-scoring affair, with both teams possessing some of the most potent attacking threats in the competition.

The final match of round one will see the Western Force take on the Rebels in an all-Australian affair. The Force finished ninth on the ladder last season, while the Rebels finished tenth. Both teams will be looking to improve on their performances from last season and make a push for the finals. The match promises to be a highly physical encounter, with both teams possessing some of the best defensive units in the competition.

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Rugby News, Thoughts on Folau Faingaa switching teams from the Brumbies to Western Force beginning next year

by Sports Benches

We didn’t see that coming when Folau Faingaa just defected teams from the ACT Brumbies to now the Western Force starting next season on a two-year deal, while remaining with Rugby Australia for Wallaby selection at the same time. He also reunites with a couple of ex-Brumbies who now play their trade in Perth – including Reejan Pasitoa, Bayley Kuenzle, Issak Fines, Kyle Godwin, Toni Pulu, Harry Lloyd & Angus Wagner.

It’s a great sign of ambition being shown there from the WA-based Super Rugby side – who wants to make the most of themselves in the long-term at Super Rugby level – and be a competitive front on the pitch. Plus, it will be great to see Faingaa get the chance to show his full 80 spells ahead of Felati Kaitu’u for the leading hooker position after he always start half-games often, before he was replaced by Lachlan Lonergan every time later during the 2nd half in a Brumbies shirt.

They have came from a long way since their shock axing back in 2018 before COVID changed everything three years ago, and Rugby Australia has came to their rescue once more as the 5th full-time Super Rugby Team here alongside the Melbourne Rebels, ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs & Queensland Reds.

From the Super Rugby AU Qualifying Final in 3rd last year to a near Top 8 finish in 9th this season in the Super Rugby Pacific; They’ve gone from strength to strength, having replaced Tim Sampson with one of the emerging coaches from New South Wales in none other than – Simon Cron – as the new head coach.

Not only he knows the NSW Rugby system & talent pool very well like current Tahs head coach Darren Coleman, he also most recently worked with Steve Hansen over the last three years as Director of Rugby at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

There’s also a talented youngster in Jeremy Williams coming over from the Tahs where he will replace the now-retired Jeremy Thrush on the second row, while they convinced experienced Flanker/Number 8 Michael Wells to move back home from the Rebels.

The best is yet to come when Faingaa’s vast 63-cap Super Rugby and 25-cap Wallaby experience will change the way how the Force executes their throw-ins and driving maul come line-out time.

It could be a game changer under his watch that will provide plenty of competition across the Trans-Tasman in the hope of beating some New Zealand teams, as well as an extended shot via the Playoffs as long as they can finish Top 8 in the regular-season ladder every year.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Western Force v Crusaders Game in Week 12 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Leicester Fainga’anuku is such a wonderful standout player tonight for the Crusaders on the left wing with a hat-trick of tries from the first-half. He struck a fantastic balance between pace & physicality where he can track back and forth that is being defensively, as well as finish off the attack. And it came at the right time when the Crusaders were patient with the ball off the back of the Western Force’s lack of support numbers, before his team called him up & bit back the Force that made them pay the price in return.

Another standout Crusader player to look at is Will Jordan in the No.15 shirt at full-back where he dominated the 2nd half with a hat-track of his own, just like team-mate Fainga’anuku from the other 40 minute spell. These two players both young and talented in their early 20s; they also share the same height, physicality and pace. All Jordan does is track back and protect his men defensively where he was tested with the tackling & read, before he knows what to do with the ball and that word is to dominate where he was just too good.

Both players are just sensational to watch
where any opposing team will have a tough time dealing with Jordan and Fainga’anuku at their defensive territory, based on the lack of support numbers/communication before it’s ripped into shreds.

And Tim Anstee put his best tonight throughout the full 80 for his Western Force team at No.8. He provides so much physicality, talk-up and tall reach when smashing his way through the Crusaders defensive blocks with the ball on hand. He also provides that athletic ability when running back and forth where Anstee made a name for himself back in the 7s days. Although, his contribution benefitted with a number of winning penalties and advantages. But his team’s poor communication & execution in the attack let him down, where the Force had to pay the price for their defensive damages at the hands of the Crusaders in the end.

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Rugby News Australia, Crusaders just too good v Western Force in a 15-53 win at HBF Park in Perth

by Sports Benches

Western Force welcomed the Crusaders at HBF Park in Perth earlier tonight in Round 12 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific. The home side briefly snatched the lead earlier on, before the Crusaders dominated the first-half at 8-18. They tried to catch up with another TRY from Fergus Lee-Warner not long after half-time, but the Saders are just too good with a 15-53 win.

It’s been a tough night in the office from the Western Force after a huge defeat on home soil v the Crusaders. They weren’t bad in the first half when the Force briefly snatched lead for a while at one point, thanks to Kyle Godwin’s cross-kick where Jake Strachan ran the ball in time for their opening TRY. Although, they’ve benefitted from a couple of winning penalties/advantages along the way. However, their lack of support & communication in the attack couldn’t keep the standard that the Crusaders set up tonight, which is too much to catch up where their defense was heavily exposed. They have a long trip now to Dunedin in New Zealand ahead of the Week 13 opener on Friday night v Highlanders.

And congratulations to the Crusaders on an easy win away from home after a shock defeat last week in Sydney v NSW Waratahs. Now they still need to work on some ill-discipline where they lost some penalties on a couple of occasions. They will need to be on their best if they want to beat the best Australian Super Rugby team next Friday night v ACT Brumbies in Canberra. But they’re just simply outstanding where the Crusaders took advantage of the Force’s lack of finishing opportunities, before they cashed in with plenty of hat-trick tries from Leicester Fainga’anuku & Will Jordan.

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Rugby News Australia, Western Force’s rebound in the 2nd half alone wasn’t enough to hold back the Waratahs’ huge scoring spree at HBF Park

by Sports Benches

What a way to finish Round 9 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific as we turn our attention between the Australian and New Zealand teams battling each other with six rounds left to go. NSW Waratahs were off to a stellar start in the 1st half with a decent lead ahead of half-time at 7-24, while Western Force began to make up lost time with three tries on the board in the 2nd half alone. However, the game has already handed over to the Tahs by that stage when they’re too good to pull off a comfortable win at HBF Park in Perth. The final score is 24-41.

NSW Waratahs looked outstanding; left, right, center, tonight; on all fronts. Their first-half spell was unbelievable when the Tahs rack up three tries on the board off the back of the Force’s poor start, such as; Mark Nawaquanitawase, Lalakai Foketi & Michael Hooper. And they continued to extend their winning margin alongside the double try brace from Alex Newsome after the half-time break, even though there were some mistakes with the ill-discipline and that blunder at one point from Dylan Pietsch on the left-wing. It’s nice to see the Tahs high & flying now in 5th on the ladder under new coach Darren Coleman; players such as Michael Hooper & Jed Holloway, who have returned from overseas, will play a key role in their playoff push & the development of the Tahs youngsters.

Western Force just still held on to their place within the Playoffs bubble in 8th; they need to start acting fast now if they want to stay there, especially with the New Zealand teams around the corner for the remaining six rounds this season beginning next weekend. There’s no problem with their defensive shape that helped the Force win a couple of penalties. Although, they can be patient when building some pressure with the ball going forward. However, they only dominated the 2nd half alone with three tries on top of one lone big score in the first 40. They need more support with the executions & cut the ill-discipline from the start if the Force wants to stay in this fight by winning games.

The Tahs will open the Super Round at 6 pm AEST with the Chiefs from Waikato in Hamilton, NZ, where all of the Round 10 games are held at AAMI Park in Melbourne next Friday. Meanwhile, the Force has an opportunity to strike back when they take on Moana Pasifika straight after this Tahs v Chiefs match-up at 8.30 pm AEST.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Western Force v Waratahs Game in RD9 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

You cannot fault Michael Hooper’s all-round contribution 100% down on the openside back row at No.7 with such a great read noticing the Force’s conversion struggles. He was there to cancel the opposition team’s opportunities with a couple of his Tahs support numbers defensively; before the ball came to them & Hooper played a brilliant role when helping out the attack, having scored one of the team’s tries in the 1st half. It’s great to see Michael Hooper back home at the right time under new coach Darren Coleman & new a crop of youngsters that helped the Tahs become a winning Super Rugby team again.

The next Tahs spotlight player after Michael Hooper is Alex Newsome, who started in the No.15 shirt at full-back. How good is that two-minute demonstration with the two tries he scored in the 2nd-half? He’s happy with the way the Tahs fired off when his team spotted a couple of Western Force’s weaknesses in the attack before they cashed in & did some damage in return. Not only he’s a brilliant finisher thanks to the number of turnovers & penalties won that made his life easier, but he’s also a decent contributor defensively when Newsome nailed down the Force’s lack of numbers at their end. It’s also another good reason Newsome helped the Tahs dominate possession with the ball, which means more try-scoring chances & demolishing the Force’s defense that played a huge role in their big-scoring win tonight.

And Reesjan Pasitoa’s move to Perth from Canberra proved to be the right place for him to develop at first five-eighth, despite the one rash decision he made with the yellow card in the 2nd-half. He worked with his No.9 of Ian Prior very well when launching the attack together for the Force; that way, Pasitoa calls his numbers by dictating the game & put the pressure back on the Tahs with the ball on hand. Although, the executions worked with three tries in the 2nd half alone in addition to the lone 1st half TRY from himself. However, a poor first 40 left them way out of reach when their chances of winning from out of nowhere were slim to none.

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