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Force throw a spanner in the works

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:39

Surprise win of the Super 14: Force coach John Mitchell and captain Nathan Sharpe

The Western Force threw a spanner in the works when they upset the previously table-topping Crusaders 24-16 in a crucial Round 11 Super 14 match in Perth on Friday, in what must rate as one of the biggest upsets of the season.

The result means that the Stormers, who had lost to the Reds just hours early, moved to the top of the table courtesy of their losing bonus point and better points differential.

Halfway through the weekend's action an astonishingly four teams were tied at the top of the table on 34 points - the Stormers, Crusaders, Reds and Bulls - with only the Bulls still to play. And the Crusaders now have to travel to South Africa for games against the Stormers (at Newlands) and the Bulls (at Loftus Versfeld) on successive weekends.

The Force's victory - testimony to their amazing character after a very poor start to the season - not only opened the front door for several in the chasing pack, but also saw them move up two places to 11th in the standings.

After a slow start, the Force started to take control of the game and despite trailing 0-13 at half-time, they were certainly in the game.

While their execution was not as clinical as they would have liked, it was the energy that they displayed that made life unpleasant for the visitors in a second-half in which they outscored the seven-time champions by 24-3 - a huge performance in anybody's book.

The Crusaders became unusually sloppy with their own possession, after a solid start, allowing the Force to win several turnovers at the breakdown.

In the set pieces - scrums and line-outs - the Force and Crusaders took turns in putting the opposition under pressure on their own ball, which resulted in more turnovers.

The Force's scrums certainly became very unstable when Matt Dunning came on in the second half and he cost his team a number of free kicks, although he did win a crucial scrum penalty with just five minutes in the game remaining.

The opening score was not long in coming, scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali'i darting over from a ruck close in, in the fourth minute - a score set up when the Crusaders showed their ability to keep the ball through multiple phases, great interplay and offloading in the tackle. Carter's conversion made it 7-0.

And the Force soon showed their ability to create opportunities by carrying the ball through numerous phases, but they wasted a golden opportunity by conceding a penalty at a line-out five metres out - when they could have opened their account with a shot at goal. Brett Sheehan also hooked a penalty shot wide of the uprights a few moments later, as the home team looked to turn pressure into points.

The Force's kicking woes continued when David Hill hooked a penalty shot left of the uprights in the 18th minute, but the home team was looking menacing.

Fotuali'i was next to score - a wobbly old drop-goal in the 25th minute, which was only awarded after the TMO had a couple of looks at it. It barely scraped over the crossbar. Dan Carter made it 13-0 in 35th minute with a penalty, awarded after an incorrect entry at the tackle and they maintained that lead going into the half-time break.

The Force made their intentions clear from the outset in the second half, a series of pick-'n-drives taking them to within a metre - where they won a penalty. That was turned into a line-out, which the Force lost, as their set-piece woes continued. But they came straight back, won another penalty and opted for another line-out. They played off the top and after a few phases Ben Whittaker stretched out to plunge the ball down on the line. The call went to the TMO, but the try was awarded. David Hill added the conversion and at 7-13 it was 'game on!'

They had another line-out, from a penalty, five metres out and after the Crusaders initially herded them towards the touchline, the Force shifted the weight brilliantly and prop Pek Cowan darted over for his team's second try. Hill's conversion went over off the upright and the Force grabbed the lead for the first time, 14-13, in the 51st minute.

With the game approaching the final quarter and the Force now dominating both territory and possession, Hill badly hooked a penalty that would have given the home team some breathing space on the scoreboard. Hill pushed another penalty wide in the 65th minute, as the Force again failed to make the most of their opportunities.

The Crusaders regained the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, when Carter slotted a well-struck drop-goal.

However, the Force showed they were not going to roll over and have their tummies tickled when they scored a 95-metre try - hooker Ben Whittaker picking up a loose ball just metres from his line, sprinting over 60 metres, beating backline reserve Daniel Bowden for pace and then off-loaded to Cameron Shepherd, who put flank Matt Hodgson over for one of the tries of the season. Hill's conversion gave the home team a five-point lead - 21-16 - with seven minutes in the match remaining.

And that became an eight-point game (24-16) with three minutes remaining, when Hill slotted his first penalty of the match.

Then they won another penalty and played out the game by holding on to possession through a succession of pick-'n-drives, before Hill booted the ball into touch for a famous victory.

Man of the match: Kahn Fotuali'i was the first to put his hand up, those early scores that put the Crusaders ahead on the scoreboard when the Force were playing most of the rugby. Then there was Crusaders captain Richie McCaw and fellow loose forward Kieran Read, who were both very prominent at the breakdown. There were many heroes in the Force team - including the loose trio of Richard Brown (with his work at the breakdown), along with the energy of flanks Matt Hodgson and David Pocock. Then there was Force centre Ryan Cross' strong midfield runs, as he constantly attacked the gainline. However, our award goes to captain courageous - the Force lock Nathan Sharpe, for his calmness under pressure and the value he adds with his numerous ball carries.

The scorers:

For the Western Force:
Tries: Whittaker, Cowan, Hodgson
Cons: Hill 3
Pen: Hill

For the Crusaders:
Try: Fotuali'i
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter
DGs: Fotuali'i, Carter

Teams:

Western Force: 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 David Hill, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Ben McCalman, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Sam Wykes, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty.

Crusaders: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robert Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 George Whitelock, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Daniel Bowden, 22 Colin Slade.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Paul Marks (Australia), Steve Hardy (Australia)
TMO: Julian Pritchard (Australia)

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