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‘It could’ve been worse…’: Ex-Wallaby reacts to Force’s ‘poor’ loss to Blues

Nic White of the Force and his team look on from the bench during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Blues and Western Force at Eden Park, on April 05, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Already sitting at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standings going into round seven, the Western Force’s season has gone from bad to worse after a “poor result” on the road against the Blues at Auckland’s Eden Park.

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The Force, who upset the Queensland Reds on March 23 for their one win of the season to date, travelled across the ditch to take on a star-studded Blues outfit that includes the likes of Hoskins Sotutu, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane.

But the match got away from them quite quickly. All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi started the Blues’ barrage of point-scoring fun with the opening try in the 12th minute. The hosts led 28-3 at the break and continued to dominate the fixture during the second 40.

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    Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Corey Evans and AJ Lam added a try each as the Blues ran away with an utterly dominant 50-3 win over the Force.

    While fellow Aussie side the NSW Waratahs also struggling for wins in Super Rugby Pacific, former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles has explained why the Force are clearly “worse” at the moment.

    “That’s insane. It could’ve been worse,” Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.

    “The Blues… what they’ve evolved on this year is the tough tight stuff. To be able to find 50 so quickly as they did, that’s a poor result for the Force.

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    “They’ve won one game and they’re looking worse than the Tahs, you’ve got to be honest. The Tahs aren’t going down 50-3, they lost by two points at home to the Blues.”

    Looking to turn their season around, the Force last week announced the signing of 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale on a short-term deal until the end of the current season.

    Match Summary

    0
    Penalty Goals
    1
    8
    Tries
    0
    5
    Conversions
    0
    0
    Drop Goals
    0
    112
    Carries
    102
    8
    Line Breaks
    2
    11
    Turnovers Lost
    17
    5
    Turnovers Won
    7

    Beale, who has been playing some rugby with Sydney club Randwick, was recruited following the season-ending ankle injury to impressive outside back Harry Potter.

    The 2011 John Eales Medallist will bring some invaluable experience with him out west, but as Hoiles joked, “He’s not worth 47 points.”

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    “He’ll help them but no one is,” Hoiles, who coached Beale at The Wicks, explained.

    “I’m really happy for him. He needs that. I would’ve been happy for him to stay (at Randwick) but at the same time, he’s got aspirations to play at the highest level.

    “I hope he goes over there, and what he’s done in a really short period of time… if you asked every player in our side ‘how was he on and off the field’ you’d get seven of eight out of 10 from everyone.

    “But the guys that you’d get 10 out of 10 (from) would be the centres, the 10, the 15. He makes people around him better and I don’t think we have enough players in Australian rugby that help other people improve.

    “I’m hoping that we see a spike in performance from (Ben) Donno, from Hamish Stewart, from Will Harris who hasn’t really fired over there this year. That’s what good senior players can do.

    “He’s still got it, mate.”

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    M
    Mzilikazi 35 minutes ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    I did not think there would have been such a big Irish contingent, and must admit I am surprised by some of the selections. For example injury has taken Hanson back a long way in my opinion, and would agree with the comments on Darcy Graham being the better player over the past year.


    Ryan also surprises me. I recall a couple of years before the last Lions tour, out to SA, he was being talked of as a possible captain. He then lost form, and was not selected. I don’t feel he has ever fully met the early hopes many of us would have had for him. Not even a first choice for Ireland.


    I am happy to see the second Irish hooker in the squad. I highly rate Kelleher, but would concede George is very unlucky…fine player, good leader. And very happy to see Conan going….very smart player, who from all accounts has had to work very hard to get to the level he is at. Was never a noted school boy star. Interestingly, neither was van der Flier.


    I’m not convinced Itoje will be a good captain. Very good lineout technican, but has tended to be a very niggly type of player, and concedes a lot of penalties. For example saw him put in a silly shoulder block off the ball playing for Saracens against Sale. He can also have games where is ineffective for periods. Not sure how he would go if it were the ABs or Boks, not that I’m writing the WB’s off as having no chance.


    Despite my Irish heritage, neither am I happy to see Sexton in the coaching team. The Prendergast of the coaching world ? Would have thought he should have some time as a coach at some level before being so elevated.

    76 Go to comments
    R
    Ronan Furlong 51 minutes ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    “Why did England beat France but Ireland concede over 40 at home to the same opponents?”


    Because France embarrassingly butchered the match against England by playing their worst game in about 4 years, and because the wounded real France turned up in Dublin a few weeks later with pride on the line.


    I’m not basing my theory around the current Leinster …. I’m basing my theory around Kelleher being better than George at playing as an edge forward a la Sheehan (which is what Faz wants - hence no Dewi Lake either). I’m basing my theory on the absolute stupidity of anyone (like you) thinking Wainwright is a better 8 than Conan. I'm basing my theory on the stupidity of you wanting to take an unavailable Martin over James Ryan.


    By the way, the “current Leinster” you're so happy to deride, are top of the URC and reached this years Euro semi finals, just like Saints. I didn’t notice any other English teams in the semis, did you? Are Sarries, Leceister, Quins, Sale et al not as good as Leinster? Presumably, by your logic, that means they are also overrepresented in the lions squad? Or does performance in Europe only matter for lions selection when Leinster lose by 4 points (as opposed to Leicester and Quins getting utterly embarrassed by URC teams?)


    Let’s see how Saints get on against Bordeaux shall we? If they lose by more than Munster and Ulster lost to Bordeaux, should we be rethinking the inclusion of so many Saints players?


    Of course not, as only an idiot would drop an entire cohort of players due to one lost game now, wouldn’t they?


    p.s. I’m not surprised you’re welsh and cheering for England, as it’s a common 'Stockholm Syndrome’ trait from where you’re from. I'm a

    little more surprised at your overt, small man bias against Leinster.


    p.p.s Hansen is the lucky Irish player in the squad, no one else. But being from Connacht, he doesn’t fit your narrative does he? Partly because even you can't find a remotely deserving fit English or Welsh winger to replace him, can you?

    76 Go to comments
    M
    Maria Zambrano 1 hour ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

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    76 Go to comments
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