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Western Force dealing with outbreak ahead of Waratahs game

By AAP

15 Apr 2022

(Photos / Getty Images)

The Western Force will be aiming to overcome a COVID-19 disruption and the heartbreak of their two most recent losses when they take on the NSW Waratahs in Perth on Saturday night.

Force coach Tim Sampson, Wallabies enforcer Izack Rodda, and scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are all isolating and will miss the match against NSW after being deemed close contacts.

The Perth-based franchise are in desperate need of a win after their one-point losses to the Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies left them clinging to eighth spot with a 2-5 record.

Given the Force’s hardest part of the fixture lays ahead of them, a win is a must against the Waratahs.

NSW (4-3) moved up to fifth spot following their 38-14 win over Fijian Drua before the bye.

The Waratahs have been bolstered by the return of captain Jake Gordon from a hamstring injury, while Michael Hooper is in the starting side for the first time this season after making an appearance via the bench against the Drua.< /p>

The Force’s poor starts against the Rebels and Brumbies proved costly.

The Brumbies led 20-3 after 17 minutes, while the Rebels opened up a 13-0 lead after 20 minutes before the Force kicked into gear.

Force forward Brynard Stander said there had been a focus on fixing the poor starts.

“It’s obviously been really narrow, the margins,” Stander said.

“It’s important we stay together as a group regardless of the results.

“The Tahs are a quality side. They’ve shown that in the last four or five weeks.

“But we’ve also shown we’re a quality side. Tomorrow night’s difference is going to be who wants it more. I think there’s a lot of fire in our bellies at the moment.”

Force vice-captain Kyle Godwin will notch his 100th Super Rugby appearance when he steps out against the Waratahs.

Stander wants to mark the occasion with a victory.

“Being able to share the field tomorrow night with a club legend Kyle in his 10 0th is going to be cool,” Stander said.

“W e all want to get behind him and hopefully get the best result possible, not just for Kyle, but also the club.”

Force attack coach Mark Ozich will take charge in Sampson’s absence, while captain Feleti Kaitu’u and winger Toni Pulu have been named to return to the starting line-up.

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Comments on RugbyPass

FC 0 minute ago

'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem

Yup. The english fans and players are fantastic at getting themselves fired up for a defeat.

38 Go to comments

d 1 minute ago

All Blacks player ratings vs England | Autumn Nations Series

he's done the same every match, needs to be pulled until he can learn the skills.

20 Go to comments

AM 4 minutes ago

'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.

Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.

Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.

Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments

Bull Shark 7 minutes ago

Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss

And the knives are out already.

It’s weird watching the ABs. In the past, the passes always stuck. The offloads always stuck. There were a few times tonight they looked like scoring many more times. Maybe it’s confidence, but in time they’ll find their rhythm

England never looked like winning. Even after they went ahead. They certainly weren’t the better side. NZ’s ill discipline (again) kept England in it.

3 Go to comments

Jen 15 minutes ago

'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem

Yeah I don't really get the kiwis who aren't okay with the singing. Not sure what they're expecting people to do. Reckon they need to take away the stupid restriction on how close the teams can get to each other during it.

38 Go to comments

Bull Shark 17 minutes ago

'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem

Googles sweet chariot…

38 Go to comments

Bull Shark 18 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs England | Autumn Nations Series

Per above, I think the way BB plays is the right thing for NZ. But his execution isn’t as sharp as it was. Until there’s a long term answer at 10, I’d like to see Roigard start with BB. Roigard looks the business.

20 Go to comments

Jen 26 minutes ago

'Furious': X erupts as England fans drown out haka with controversial rugby anthem

Of course they can all sing and do what they want. But it seems weird that the England fans have adopted a slave song from the states as 'their own culture'.

38 Go to comments

SadersMan 28 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs England | Autumn Nations Series

The obvious takeaway for Razor is that neither BB or DMac are the solution. I'd hate to see an interchangeable horses for courses combo between them either. Love, Perofeta, Plummer, etc someone needs to have a breakout season in 2025.

20 Go to comments

Bull Shark 34 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs England | Autumn Nations Series

His place kicking is impeccable too. The question at 10 for NZ continues.

I thought Beauden had the right ideas and was obviously playing to a plan. his execution wasn’t perfect. There were a few times he held on to the ball just a fraction to long when a pass would have put someone into a gap. But Bb is the type of flyhalf NZ needs.

I’m a huge fan of Jordan at 14. I realise he’s a very capable 15. But he’s an excellent 14 and I wonder why Dmac at 15, Jordan 14 isn’t the best option.

Either way, Dmac came on and closed the game well. Something the ABs have struggled with. I feel like he is restricted at 10 where he has to play to a type.

Cam Roigard also looks the business. I’d start him ahead of Ratima. He reminds me of Joost. Looks big for a scrum half. Even did a dive pass today that looked textbook Joost.

20 Go to comments

B 35 minutes ago

All Blacks prop punished for breaking team protocol

I thought the AB's internal standards policy was "no dickheads"? Has Razor now expanded that to include ball bags as well?

2 Go to comments

Bull Shark 37 minutes ago

England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024

Not too long ago Finn claimed Ford was better than any flyhalf in SA. Facts are lost on him.

4 Go to comments

AM 38 minutes ago

'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

You've made my point for me mate. They have outsourced the wages, coaching, S&C etc out to higher paying leagues and selected their OS players and won on the biggest stages. Completely proves my point and SA proved it in rugby. If they tried to keep all of those players in Argentina or Brasil they would just leave and declare for other nations, which is what is happening in Australian rugby. Meafu has declared for France and he is one of the best locks in the game. Its not artificial, just economics.