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Nick Taylor Sydney
February 24, 2014, 7:13 am
Defence is the bedrock that wins Super Rugby games.
It is something Western Force have become known for, but it was badly exposed by the star-studded Waratahs in yesterday's 22-point loss at Allianz Stadium.
Force coach Michael Foley admitted his side's defensive approach was in need of a rapid overhaul before taking on the Brumbies at nib Stadium on Saturday. They lost 43-21.
Failure to do so could again leave the WA team off the pace early into a new campaign.
The Force had never won a first-round encounter and that streak continued yesterday, as a gulf in class was exposed swiftly and with ruthless intent. The visitors battled hard, but being a team of scrappers is not enough against a quality Tahs outfit.
The hosts exposed the Force's shortcomings to run in six tries, with mercurial full-back Israel Folau grabbing three of them.
"When you have 43 points scored against you, you come back to your defensive system," Foley said.
"The system and some of the issues we had were probably the biggest problem for us ... too tight and compressed, they got around the outside and we were chasing them.
"We have to recognise what the key issues were. Forty three points and some of the ways they scored them, those are the things we really need to target.
"It's something we can address."
There were other notable differences and they started in the first quarter when the Waratahs scampered to a 12-point lead and never allowed the Force back into the match.
The Waratahs' big forwards caused damage with their pace and angles before their classy runners were introduced.
The hosts were considerably cleaner in their ball use and able to see off Force periods of pressure, even when reduced to 14 men and camped on their own line.
Kurtley Beale, second-rower Kane Douglas and winger Alofa Alofa added the other three tries for the Waratahs, who were able to collect a bonus point for their dominance. Fly-half Bernard Foley kicked 13 points.
Nick Cummins and Kyle Godwin scored tries and Zack Holmes added 11 points for the Force.
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