Force overpower ragged Reds
The Reds ended their taxing tour with a whimper as they went down 45-19 in Perth to a gritty Western Force team who simply never let the defending Super Rugby champions into the game.
It is the first time the Reds have lost three games in a row since 2009 and they will be extremely disappointed with another toothless display against a team that played with far greater purpose.
The Force were particularly impressive in the way that they went for the kill in the second half to bounce back from their defeat to the Rebels last week in emphatic style.
The home side dominated the early exchanges, enjoying plenty of possession in Reds territory and they raced out to an 11-0 lead as the Queensland team picked up from where they left off last week – tackling their hearts out.
With the Reds defence stretched Force flyhalf James Stannard glided through a gap out wide to go over for the first try, and penalties from fullback David Harvey either side of that five-pointer ensured that the Perth side were firmly in control.
Another Harvey penalty took it out to 14-0 after 20 minutes and the Reds had their backs to the wall, looking fairly directionless on attack with errors punctuating their play when they did get the chance to take the game to the Force.
Stannard limped off with an injury and was replaced by the unheralded Ben Seymour but that did not halt the Force’s momentum and they capitalised on a break from scrumhalf Brett Sheehan to stretch their lead out to 21-0.
Sheehan was brought to ground in the Reds 22 but the home side showed good patience on attack and after skipper David Pocock was stopped just short veteran lock Nathan Sharpe was there to force his way over from close range.
The Reds managed to find their attacking feet towards the end of the first half and took the ball through mutliple phases in the Force 22, but due to their deficit they refused the kick at goal numerous times as they sought a try before the break.
Their hard work paid off when James Slipper bashed his way over in the left corner two minutes after the half-time hooter to cap a period of extended pressure and take the teams into the break with the Force ahead 21-5.
Slipper’s effort was erased soon after the break when Reds flyhalf Dallan Murphy tried a grubber which was charged down by Sheehan. The nippy scrumhalf pounced on the loose ball before shifting it out to Seymour who was up in support and he raced over for the try which stretched their lead out to 28-5.
The Reds were cornered and they responded well by pegging the Force back into their own 22, and it was veteran lock Van Humphries who cantered over for their second try. Murphy’s conversion reduced the gap to 28-12 with 30 minutes left.
With time running out the momentum shifted in the Reds’ favour as they piled the pressure on their hosts who were guilty of trying to defend their lead rather than search for the killer blow.
With 15 minutes to go the Force made a foray into Reds territory where the defending team put their hands in the ruck to give Harvey another chance to extend the lead. He made no mistake with the kick and at 31-12 behind the Reds’ hopes of snatching victory faded.
However, the Force were not done yet and they had the bonus point wrapped up when right wing Samu Wara charged onto a perfectly weighted diagonal grubber kick from Seymour before pinning his ears back and crossing for a great try.
With that the Reds were well and truly beaten and the Force rode the wave of confidence to send No.8 Matt Hodgson over for their fifth try which capped a superb team performance, and although Reds wing Dom Shipperley managed to sneak through for a late consolation try it took little of the shine off the Force’s emphatic display.
Man of the match: It was a team performance from the home side but they could not have scaled the heights that they did without the influence of their inspirational captain David Pocock who was everywhere for his team, forcing turnovers and linking well with the rest of the loose trio who gave the Reds a torrid time at the breakdown.
The scorers:
For the Force:
Tries: Stannard, Sharpe, Seymour, Wara, Hodgson
Cons: Harvey 3
Pens: Harvey 3
For the Reds:
Tries: Slipper, Humphries, Shipperley
Cons: Murphy 2
Teams:
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 (captain), 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)
