Force v Canes Rd 1

[Marty_Mcfly]

44 - 14 full time.

Boys tried hard, but no where near good enough tonight.

[Leo86]

Ive walked away from tonight pretty disappointed. Understand some late injuries but hoped for better coming off last season and the additional signings, the better pre-season and the second year of coaching. I'm frustrated. The trial matches showed so much better.

Canes start the second half with a man in the bin in what seemed a fairly soft yellow for offside

Soft yellow to player but multiple infringements from team was lucky that's all the breath of a whistle was shown.

Agree X, to why if so bad is the supposed injured player not taken off shits me. Nothing tonight but this will breed milking behaviour.

I will watch replay but 2nd try to Canes was surely forward?

[jargan83]

New year, same old Force.

[brokendown gunfighter]

New year, same old Force.

Same same but not different

[SNOB]

Very disappointed. Penalty’s were ridiculous it was 9-2 at about the 60 min mark not sure what it ended up as.
Cron was saying the boys are 10 weeks ahead of where they were last year at this time! Not sure what they are ahead of though.

[Jules]

Ah the hope of preseason didn’t last long. I hope having Williams back sorts the Line out problems next week!

[Burgs]

"Disappointing" seems to be the word that comes to mind for a few of us.
There are fixes and it is fortuitous that we don't have another Kiwi team next week
It's a solid reality check early in the season that should transfer into a solid performance against the even worse Rebels in Melbourne.
So many areas that could be discussed on the blue side, I just don't have the heart at the minute, but two on Barrett.
1, Wasn't that a seatbelt tackle when he held up Tizzano and got the Penalty?
2. Having had a Prop break his nose on his forehead, splitting it to the point of still bleeding at fulltime some 30 minutes later, how on earth under the new protocols didn't he get a HIA???

[Burgs]

Force second-half rally not enough as Hurricanes pull clear

Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 9:43 PM
Nick Taylor

A gutsy, improved second-half performance from the Western Force was not enough to keep out the Hurricanes as they went down 44-14 in the opening clash of their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign at HBF Park on Friday night.

The Force produced a better second 40 minutes, showing glimpses of the rugby they can play, with tries from recruit Nic White and the impressive Chase Tiatia.

In testing conditions, ball handling was always likely to be tricky and lungs tested but the Hurricanes showed why they have reached the finals every season since 2015.

They went into the break with a 22-0 lead and added another 22 points in the second half. They scored six tries with the Force adding two tries of their own in the second period.

Force coach Simon Cron was forced to make a late change to his starting side with Wallabies second-rower Izack Rodda having injured his quad at training on Wednesday. He was replaced by Lopeti Faifua, one of six starting club debutants.

Another three debutants, including Titi Nofoagatotoa who came in for Rodda, were waiting on the bench.

The Force applied early pressure with several strong carries through the middle, waiting patiently to go wide against an organised Hurricanes defence.

But they were hurt by a yellow card to winger Harry Potter after just three minutes for a tackle on Hurricanes full-back Ruben Love while in the air.

While he was in the bin the Hurricanes scored twice.

A quick break, a penalty, a line-out and on nine minutes Jordie Barrett made use of the extra man with a pin-point cross-kick to Josh Moorby who barreled into the corner for a five-point lead.

Another quick break had the home side on their heels, the Hurricanes won a penalty at the ruck and Brett Cameron slotted three points.

The Force pushed the Cron-coached positive style of rugby but a 'Canes line-break, some quick passing and scrum-half Jordi Viljoen finished off under the posts.

Before the break second-row Caleb Delany strolled over to give Cameron the easiest of conversions to stretch the lead further.

Hurricanes centre Bil Proctor was yellow-carded on his 50th Super appearance and as the clock went into the red Force No.8 Will Harris had the Sea of Blue on their feet when he looked to have burrowed over.

Instead, he was penalised for a double movement.

After the break the Force played with renewed vigour and tested the Hurricanes defence with quick, wide ball.

Potter made up for his earlier misdemeanor when he weaved and stepped his way close to the line and Nic White sneaked in from the ensuing ruck. Ben Donaldson converted.

As they looked to be moving up a cog the Force were hurt again when Marley Pearce was yellow-carded for a high tackle but had to be helped from the pitch with a head injury.

Soon after the Hurricanes Asafo Aumua smashed his way over. Cameron converted.

Force winger Chase Tiatia, who had saved a try with a great tap tackle on Moorby, again raised Force fans hopes when he finished off a lovely sweeping move. Donaldson converted.

But the Hurricanes added a Cameron penalty, two more tries from Peter Lakai and Salesi Rayasi with Cameron converting the second.

Force

Tries: White (44') Tiatia (57')

Conversions: Donaldson 2/2

Penalties: Nil

Hurricanes

Tries: Moorby (9') Viljoen (20'), Delany (36'), Aumua (54'), Lakai (73') Rayasi (81').

Conversions: Cameron 4/6

Penalties: Cameron 2/2

[Burgs]

Five things we learnt from Force-Hurricanes

Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 8:36 PM
Nathan Williamson

The Hurricanes were in complete control as they left Perth with full points thanks to a 44-14 victory over the Force.

It was a ruthless performance by the visitors who rolled their way over the top of a Force side still finding their feet.

Simon Cron's side shows patches of brilliance but not enough to match it with the Hurricanes.

So what did we learn?

1. Continuity is key
It sounds simple but the Force looked like a team with six players in their first Super Rugby game for the club.

They lacked composure in attack and seemed to chase the game after an early Hurricanes try.

Coupled with a composed performance from the visitors and the Force were never able to make any real gains or apply pressure until the second half.

You can play all the trials in the world but there’s nothing like the intensity of a Super Rugby match. It’ll come over time, but the Force can’t afford to let a great early draw go to waste.

2. Double Jeopardy
Marley Pearce got the perfect lesson on why dropping your body height is king.

Pearce collided with Jordie Barrett in an ugly tackle to earn a yellow and what appeared to be a broken nose.

It left the prop on the ground as referee Damon Murphy had no choice but to issue the card.

Pearce’s yellow was the fourth to an Aussie team on the opening day, a worrying trend early on.

3. Displaying their class
Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson showed enough in brief moments to give Force fans hope heading into the rest of the season.

White’s dart and try was a great example of his smarts to start their comeback. Donaldson meanwhile was great from the boot both in play and on the tee.

There is still work to be done, with some passes from both not finding their mark in the first half.

Unlocking Max Burey at the back is crucial. He is key towards getting the best out of Spink, Potter and Tiatia.

4. Return of the ratty
Jordi Viljoen is channelling his best Kostya Tszyu with the worst/best (depending on where you stood) rats tail hairstyles in Rugby.

It was flowing in the wind as the young half raced away for his debut try, following up his outstanding trial form.

Viljoen is the latest in the Hurricanes' endless scrum half production line, with Cam Roigard coming off the bench to close out the game.

5. Front row fixes
The loss of Tom Robertson and Harry Hoopert was laid bare tonight at scrum time.

Outside of an early free kick win, the Force were constantly on their back foot at scrum time. It extended to lineout time with six lineout losses, feeling the absence of Izack Rodda and Jeremy Williams

The entire Hurricanes pack were clinical throughout the game and were key to their first half dominance.

With Hoopert not back for several months, the Force needs to find a way to shore up their set-piece game before they head to Melbourne and face a full international front row that got the better of the Brumbies.

[GIGS20]

"Disappointing" seems to be the word that comes to mind for a few of us.There are fixes and it is fortuitous that we don't have another Kiwi team next weekIt's a solid reality check early in the season that should transfer into a solid performance against the even worse Rebels in Melbourne.So many areas that could be discussed on the blue side, I just don't have the heart at the minute, but two on Barrett.1, Wasn't that a seatbelt tackle when he held up Tizzano and got the Penalty?2. Having had a Prop break his nose on his forehead, splitting it to the point of still bleeding at fulltime some 30 minutes later, how on earth under the new protocols didn't he get a HIA???

I think it was a very typical Damon Murphy performance, guesswork ruled the day
Take the first two scrums as evidence
First scrum, force loosehead leads, tighthead plants, canes retreat and the scrum wheels, penalty to force for walking around. (which was not what I saw)
Now I don't have a problem with a ref not giving credit for a loosehead wheel, I've been around long enough to see that, but
Second scrum canes loosehead gets the purchase and they go around the corner, force again get pinged.

[SNOB]

I thought that we were in with a good chance last night before the game. The hot weather and our guys training in 40+ days was (hopefully) going to give us the extra stamina over a team from chilli Wellington it this may well have been the case if the ref had stopped the bloody time wasting. Their scrum was stopping of for a cappuccino in the way to each line out. Players seem to be collapsing with broken finger nails and staff, medics water boys and others seemed to run on ever time the whistle was blown. So much for speeding up the game.

[bootsetal06]

Set piece the key ….. the initial hits were ok but the secondary pressure was not … lineouts …. went missing. Front foot ball showed we were competitive but …. A reality check of note . Disappointing … very Disappointing.

[shasta]

Pretty much what I voted in the poll - but with a more toubling margin. Set piece again our weak spot that will be targeted next (every) week.
Sir's most mystifying call was to ping Anstee for not rolling away after 3 Canes pulled him back into the ruck. But haven't seen a replay yet.

[.X.]

Enough people have covered the negatives.

Here is what I thought.

The whole squad appears to have taken a big step forward in their basic skills - Catch and Pass. A very very high majority of passes hit their intended target on the chest or running onto the chest.

Harry Potter looks like an absolute weapon.

As did Spinks - tho he didn't get enough ball.

Tia Tia had a great game

As did Nik White on Debut.

[andrewg]

Anyone know why Kaitu'u didn't get in the 23? Don't think he would have missed 5 in a row

Hamstring at training.