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'All the way': Western Force eyeing up Super Rugby AU title following shock win over Reds

(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

The Western Force are daring to dream of snaring the Super Rugby AU crown after securing a landmark finals appearance in the most dramatic circumstances.

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The Force needed to beat the ladder-leading Queensland Reds in Perth on Friday night in order to secure third spot.

Things were looking bleak at 21-7 down late in the first half, but a stunning hat-trick from the Force’s English winger Jordan Olowofela lifted the Perth-based team to the 30-27 victory.

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Three of the most destructive midfielders in New Zealand schoolboy rugby

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Three of the most destructive midfielders in New Zealand schoolboy rugby

It continued a trend of heart-stopping wins for the Force, who beat the Rebels 16-15 in Melbourne a fortnight ago, before downing the NSW Waratahs 31-30 with an after-the-siren penalty last week.

The win over the Reds was the Force’s best and most courageous performance of the season, especially considering they played 30 minutes of the match with 14 men due to three separate yellow cards.

Confidence is now oozing at the Force, and they fancy their chances of beating the Brumbies in next Saturday’s semi-final in Canberra, before knocking off the Reds in Queensland in the grand final.

“All the way, no doubt,” Force coach Tim Sampson replied when asked what his team can achieve.

“You’ve got to ride the wave. We’ve proven we can win tight games, and in finals footy, you’re going to be in tight contests.

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“We have the confidence going into the semi next week in Canberra of grinding out the game, whatever it takes.”

Star Force fullback Rob Kearney, who was a late withdrawal against the Reds after failing to recover fully from his adductor injury, is expected to return against the Brumbies.

The second-placed Brumbies easily beat the Force on both occasions this year, posting a 27-11 win in Perth, and a 42-14 win in Canberra.

But stand-in Force captain Kyle Godwin says his team are up for the challenge.

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“The Brumbies are a quality outfit. They’ve notoriously been the best Australian Super Rugby side in history. So for us, we’re up for a big challenge,” Godwin said.

“We’re building some great momentum here.

“We’ve got great belief and trust in each other that we do have the quality and we do have the squad to go forward and do some damage in this competition.”

Sampson was full of pride after watching the Force end a 16-year finals drought in front of 6,278 diehard fans just hours before Perth went into a three-day lockdown.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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