Western Force out to end Crusaders' finals hopes

[SinBin]

Justin Chadwick From: AAP

THE Western Force will be aiming to put a major dent in the Crusaders' Super Rugby finals hopes when the two teams lock horns in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The Force have endured a season from hell to date, with a raft of injuries, the departure of coach Richard Graham, and just three wins to show from 15 games leaving the club with little to cheer about.

But stand-in coach Phil Blake wants his charges to finish the season on a high note, and says a win over the Crusaders would be the perfect way to do it.

The Crusaders currently sit in fourth spot on 56 points, but could be overtaken by the Bulls (54 points), Sharks (54), Reds (53) and Hurricanes (53) in the final round should they lose to the Force.

A Force win would be a major bonus for the seventh-placed Reds, who are unlikely to overtake the Brumbies (58 points) in the Australian conference and must instead rely on snaring a wildcard as a top-six ranked side in order to make the finals.


Although Queensland will be favourites to defeat the NSW Waratahs on Brisbane on Saturday, they need at least one of either the Crusaders, Bulls or Sharks to lose in order to sneak into the top-six.

Blake said the 14th-placed Force were intent on causing one of the upsets of the season by defeating the talent-laden Crusaders.

"We're playing the best province in the southern hemisphere on their home ground," Blake said.

"If we can grab a win and disrupt their season, it will certainly be a nice way to go into our off-season."

Force stalwart Nathan Sharpe faces a race against time to be fit for the match after his back locked up just hours before the team's 32-9 loss to the lowly Blues on Saturday.

The 34-year-old, who has already announced he will retire at season's end, was left bed-ridden by the incident, but is desperate to turn out for one final match for the Force.

"That's going to be a hard task," Blake said.

"We're hopeful we can get him to the line, but we won't know until later in the week."

Force inside centre Winston Stanley will head back to Perth after dislocating his shoulder during the second half of the four-tries-to-nil loss to the Blue

[SinBin]

Current Odds $1.01/$7.40 ....

[jargan83]

$7.40 in a two horse race. Get on it!
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[TOCC]

Jeez i really hope the Force beat the Crusaders this week

[shasta]

$7.40 in a two horse race.

Yeah a 2 horse race. One's Phar Lap. The other Shanks pony with three laminitic legs.
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[WF2006]

The other Shanks pony with three laminitic legs.

The Crusaders aren't THAT bad..............

[wholetruth]

Err. the Guys were $8.10 to beat the Blues.

[Rex Messup]

If the Force beat the Crusaders in this game, a movie will be made of the heroics

I'm leaning towards a tah like demolition in the range of 90-100 points

sorry lads

It's the ugly truth

Put the biff on. It's a great leveller

Get angry

[SNOB]

The Rabbel beat them so we can as well.
Thank God for long bets they might win me a few dollars back.
I'm a dreamer.

[Burgs]

If they are left to play their natural games (whatever the fuck that is) then they have the capacity to pull off an amazing win.
I don't think they can actually do it, I think that they will have a decent 30 odd put on them, but I do believe we have the individual players making up a 22 man match day that could beat the Crusaders.
I guess what I am trying to say is that we aren't "that bad", but it is going to be a tough weekend at the office.

[Alison]

I find it ironic that the Reds are relying on us to beat the Saders to guarantee them a finals berth!! (and before someone mentions it, I know that the result of this game is not the only hope the Reds have of making the finals)

[GIGS20]

After watching the blues game, where the Blues weren't that much better than they have been all season, I can't imagine we won't get thumped this week.

We have too many injuries, too many club players, too little culture and confidence and were playing the saders at home.

Everybody else, feel free to put several million vdollars on the force to win!

[andrewM]

The Rabbel beat them so we can as well.
Thank God for long bets they might win me a few dollars back.
I'm a dreamer.

But you're not the only one..

[The InnFORCEr]

But The InnFORCEers will be on tour, certainly stacks the odds in our favour

Our worst defeat in Christchurch (2007) was 53 to nil, and according to my mates old man from Christchurch, "we were lucky to get the nil".

Just hope Sharpie get's a final run!

[Happy]

Put the biff on. It's a great leveller