Funaki grabs two tries as Blues rout Western Force
SUPER RUGBY FRIDAY WRAP: Scrumhalf Taufa Funaki grabbed two tries Friday as the Blues romped to a 50-3 home thrashing of Super Rugby bottom side the Western Force.
Blues head coach Vern Cotter made nine changes to the side that also routed Moana Pasifika 47-8 the previous week, but the hosts still dominated at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The Force last beat the Blues in 2008 and the Australian outfit were outclassed, conceding eight tries without reply.
A first half penalty by flyhalf Ben Donaldson was all the Force could muster.
The victory leaves the Blues second in the table behind leaders the Wellington Hurricanes, the only team still with a 100 percent record.
Funaki touched down either side of half time. The pick of his tries came 10 minutes into the second half when All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke burst through several tackles before putting Funaki over.
Prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, hooker Ricky Riccitelli, lock Laghlan McWhannell, No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu, centre Corey Evans and wing AJ Lam claimed the other tries.
Blues flyhalf Harry Plummer landed five of his eight conversions as the home side racked up a half century of points.
The Force remain routed to the bottom of the table with just one win this season.
The scores and scorers:
Blues 50-3 Western Force
The scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: Tu’ungafasi, Riccitelli, McWhannell, Funaki 2, Sotutu, Evans, Lam
Cons: Plummer 5
For Western Force:
Pen: Donaldson
Teams:
BLUES: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Corey Evans, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi,
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Caleb Tangitau
FORCE: 15 Max Burey, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White (captain), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Tim Anstee, 5 Thomas Franklin, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Ryan Coxon,
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21mOllie Callan, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Henry O’Donnell
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Mike Winter
Rebels 41 Drua 20
The scorers:
For Rebels:
Tries: Smith, Uelese, Vaihu 2, Nabolakasi, Daugunu
Cons: Gordon 4
Pens: Gordon
For Drua:
Tries: Lomani, Vota, Rotuisolia
Cons: Ravula
Pens: Ravula
Teams:
REBELS: 15 Nick Jooste, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Maciu Nabolakasi, 6 Angelo Smith, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Sam Talakai (captain), 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Matt Gibbon,
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Daniel Maiava, 20 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Mason Gordon
DRUA: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Apisalome Vota, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Meli Derenalagi, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Haereiti Hetet,
Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Livai Natave, Jone Koroiduadua, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Waqa Nalaga, Taniela Rakuro
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper, Jeremy Markey
