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Nathan Sharpe: Scored one of the Force's five tries
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- Minute-by-minute: How the Western Force thrashed the champions
The Reds' winless streak continued, when they were beaten 45-19 by the Western Force at the nib Stadium in Perth on Saturday.
The home side were full value for their win and it's largely down to the superb start which they made in this match.
Their forwards in particular deserve credit for the excellent platform which they set up for their backs.
The win is only the Western Force's second of the season and it's the first time that they have managed to score a bonus point for scoring four tries or more at their home ground.
The Reds looked totally out of sorts in the first half and seemed shell-shocked by the intensity with which the Force displayed during this period.
The champions' play was littered with handling errors and poor decision-making which the Force capitalised on and they raced into a 14-0 lead within 20 minutes.
This after an early try from James Stannard and impressive goal-kicking from David Harvey, who eventually contributed 20 points in the victory, via four penalties and four conversions.
The Force suffered a setback midway through the opening half when Stannard was forced off with an ankle injury but their fears soon subsided when Nathan Sharpe scored their second try in the 33rd minute.
The Reds tried to fightback and on the stroke of half-time they were rewarded when James Slipper crossed over for his first-ever try in the competition.
With that try and the Force's chief playmaker Stannard off, the Reds must have fancied their chances off launching a comeback in the second half but replacement fly-half Ben Seymour had other ideas.
Shortly after the break, Brett Sheehan charged down a woeful clearance kick from Dallan Murphy. The scrum-half regathered before offloading to Seymour who outpaced the cover defence before scoring.
The Reds struck back soon after that with a try by Van Humphries but the Force sealed the win and their bonus point try in the 70th minute when Seymour threaded a grubber kick past the on-rushing Reds defence which Samu Wara collected before dotting down.
The home side were not done though and still had time to score the best try of the match in the 74th minute when Matt Hodgson rounded off in the left-hand corner after Nic Cummins started a counter attack deep inside his 22.
Reds speedster Dom Shipperley scored a consolation try in the dying seconds of the match but this loss means that the champions have now lost three matches on the trot.
They have also conceded more than 100 points in two matches after losing 61-8 to the Bulls last weekend.
The scorers:
For Western Force:
Tries: Stannard, Sharpe, Seymour, Wara, Hodgson
Cons: Harvey 4
Pens: Harvey 4
For Reds:
Tries: Slipper, Humphries, Shipperley
Cons: Murphy 2
Western Force: 15 David Harvey, 14 Samu Wara, 13 Nick Cummins, 12 Winston Stanley, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 James Stannard, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Matt Hodgson, 7 David Pocock, 6 Richard Brown, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Phoenix Battye, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Ben Seymour, 21 Rory Sidey, 22 Kyle Godwin.
Reds: 15 Rod Davies, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Joel Rapana, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Luke Morahan, 10 Dallan Murphy, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Van Humphries, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Eddie Quirk, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Nathan Eyres-Brown.
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Comments
Ramage says...
@ letsgoboks I know you don't like booing but its a bit rich you calling the players all dirty ozzies. Hang on mate there was a fair few kiwis in the teams. So stop trying to take over the Kiwi digs at our Ozzie mates. By the way your own countrymen aren't too bad at the booing. Didn't the Bulls get booed onto the field by the Stormers fans? Don't be so selective and just admit all nations do it.
@Trinuts you hear the booing coming from Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. Sydney does it quite a bit but its usually directed at their own players. The really funny comments aimed at the Reds in Perth did not have that strong Saffa accent no mate they were true blue man and hardly complimentary. Talking about dodgy refs just like to inform you there aren't many OZ refs getting games in Super Rugby so unfortunately for you your wish won.t happen till they bring on the L plate referees from OZ to join the struggling Ian Smith.
Posted 10:51 03rd April 2012
genghis_j says...
hayj05 says...Perth ..., not known for having any interest in union what so ever.
ahem - A rugby competition started in Perth in 1893 with the first recorded match being between Swans and Pirates; no club comp 1910-28, but apart from the WWII years, have been played since then. Not strong, but rugby has been there a long time. Today's trivia: In 1970 on their way to SA the All Blacks stopped in Perth and played 2 matches in one day v President XV and Western Australia.
Posted 02:59 03rd April 2012
Trader says...
Tinats continues to live in the past. Last years comp does not matter, eyes were on the bigger prize, oh hang on I have said that before, sorry Trinats I have picked up this repeating myself habit, from you obviously. So Cooper is back next week is he? He is one of the injuries you have been banging on about week in and week out. Brumbies to win easily oh hang on they won't have home ground advantage, is Suncorp a hoodoo ground, they have a couple of injuries and the ref will be diabolical. There I go again picking up Trinats habits.
Posted 01:49 03rd April 2012
Trader says...
Trinats continues to live in the past. Cry me a river.
Posted 01:40 03rd April 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
"Geina went to 10 and Samo to centre"
Trihard, so the point you're making is if they picked Australian born players it would make a difference?
Posted 01:10 03rd April 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ genghis_j... the only bit of Growden's piece I disagree with is "For a country to consider itself an international power, you want your provinces going better than sixth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 15th." As we've seen over the years results in S12-14-15 haven't always translated into results in 3N let alone RWC: Reds etc may not be travelling too well atm but that's no reason to discount the Wobblies in 4N.
That said, Growden will be leading the charge for McKenzie to replace Deans should they fail to win the 4N and/ or Bledisloe so his comments could also be seen as part of the groundwork for that scenario if/ when it arises: Growden's astute enough to keep his pieces ambiguous while Deans' future is still in doubt but if Wobblies have another so-so year expect S15 results to get brought out as one of the reasons why Deans has to go.
Posted 22:03 02nd April 2012
Trinats says...
letsgoboks:
Must be the heaps of Saffas now calling Perth home ! as it never happened before (except in NZ eveytime Cooper touched a ball)
Capedcrusader:
Reds beat the Stormers in SA last year, so whats your point ? It was a very different team.
genghis_j:
At 17 - 0 up against the Sharks in durban and not lost a game so far this season, Reds were looking fine. Then came the suspension and the two injuries to 10, Geina went to 10 and Samo to centre, that's where it all went pear shape.
Since then they have looked rubbish and 100+ on them.
This week we finally had no injuries so hopefully the new combinations wont seem so new this Friday.
you didn't hear me banging on about the Bulls having points put on them,Reds put 40+ on them last year.
Posted 13:20 02nd April 2012
Trinats says...
kiwilad:
If only the Reds could play at home and have dodgy refs, then we would win like "other teams" and it's droping a player or 10, not 3 !!!
Posted 11:09 02nd April 2012
letsgoboks says...
What was with the boo'ing in this game when the kicker went up to do his thing. It leaves a bad taste.. considering they are all dirty aussies... :D
Posted 10:43 02nd April 2012
Capedcrusader says...
The biggest issue the reds have is that their forward pack are NOT depleted it's mostly the backs. To have 100 points put on you in 2 games has F.A. to do with missing finishers and playmakers who can't tackle anyway. Genia looked poor why - his pack were poor. I thought form was temporary and class permanent.....
Many of the Crusaders who have been picked for the AB's only got the nod by being outstanding in provincial comps first. Read & the Franks bro's are a perfect example so too Rico Gear so the argument being full of internationals doesn't wash. It's common sense actually
The Crusaders backline got desimated against the Stormers last season. Where did it get them. Fact is they won that game and went on to be runners up in the comp - the final being a game too far.
Boo Hoo Queensland Reds - harden up.
Posted 10:03 02nd April 2012
kiwilad says...
Trinats, other teams that you frequently rubbish on here, win bigger tournaments down to their 4th choice number 10, but when your beloved Reds drop a player or 3 it the end of the earth, but you claim you respect winners and loosers????
Posted 04:54 02nd April 2012
genghis_j says...
they said it, from Australian news media today:
Reds on their knees after conceding 133 points in road trip from hell
Only deluded would back local team for title
The Reds have let in the most tries of any team, with 20, followed by the Rebels (19), Force (18)
Only the most brainwashed supporter could convince themselves the Brumbies, Waratahs, Reds, Force or Rebels have what it takes to be titleholders.
Reds . . .three weeks . . . had the devastating statistic of conceding 16 tries and 133 points.
For a country to consider itself an international power, you want your provinces going better than sixth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 15th.
Posted 03:46 02nd April 2012
genghis_j says...
I watched this match with Oz commentary, patriotic Q'lander Chris Handy said the Reds were playing 'catch-up rugby'.
Is this a new variation on the game? Doesn't seem far if only the Reds are playing it, what variation have the Bulls and Force been playing?
Obviously the ref is to blame.
Posted 03:08 02nd April 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
You all right Bing?
Don't worry too much, the Reds will get 4 points for the bye some time.
Posted 02:03 02nd April 2012
IslandPower says...
Jonesy what is your problem with the south african teams? the stormers are the only unbeaten team, the bulls have been winning, the sharks beat the brumbies in their own house the aussie team thats at the top of the aussie conference at the momment. The cheetahs beat the canes in wellington and prob should of won more games, even the lions have been competitive.
The force are not bad, pretty good and they most likely will make the finals though I picked the tah's ahead of them might of been a mistake.
Posted 01:52 02nd April 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Crusaders are "mid table" Trinats... which is top of the Aussie conference.
Never a clearer indication of the system favouring your teams as this weeks standings
Posted 01:48 02nd April 2012
Trader says...
Old Trinats he just cannot help himself distorting the facts can he. The Reds actually won 2 titles in 3 years in the Super 10 competition, not 3 in 4. That was 1994 and 1995 and then they had a short wait for the next one in 2011. In those two years Oz had 2 teams, NZ 4 and SA 3 with Western Samoa. I suspect (but haven't the memory recall to check) the comments on lack of injuries of the Blues, Crusaders, Brumbies and Bulls is, well a load of bull, every side has injuries and as I have said before real championship sides have the depth to cover them. And Trinats believe me you will not be on here in 6 weeks time saying "I told you so".
Posted 22:54 01st April 2012
isthatrightref says...
From Greg Growden's column in this mornings Sydney Morning Herald: "Only deluded would back [Aussie] team for title... Admittedly one will make the finals, due to the conference system, but only the most brainwashed supporter could convince themselves the Brumbies, Waratahs, Reds, Force or Rebels have what it takes to be titleholders. Even the army of Reds supporters, who some weeks ago had good cause to believe in back-to-back titles, have gone silent. Being thrashed by the Bulls and Force has blown the wind out of their campaign."
Sounds like he had a certain prolific PR poster in mind when he wrote that...
"In terms of consistency, intensity and quality of play, the Australian teams are running well behind their New Zealand and South African counterparts. The lack of depth in Australian rugby has again been exposed, with the Reds struggling to be competitive... while the Waratahs, with four Wallabies sidelined, are all over the place."
Says it all really, dunnit?
Posted 21:50 01st April 2012
Trader says...
Trinats "I was bought up to respect winners and losers" so does that mean when you lose you don't carp on about hoodoo's, ref's, home advantage etc etc you know that sort of respect. Your apparent mellowing comments in the last two weeks is an obvious pitch to the viewers out there given the horrendus position the Red's are in. It hasn't worked you have already played you hand and you are running on empty. As for your last comment about the Force, how condescending. You may fool some of the people some of the time but........!
Posted 13:36 01st April 2012
spliffed says...
Hmm some serious 'kak'being spoken here ..lol.
Posted 12:23 01st April 2012