The Blues return from South Africa to host the Blues in North Harbour in the first of four matches today.
Both teams are coming off losses in Round 4.
Which one will return to winning ways?
Personally, I feel the force have a better than good chance of winning this game. North Harbour might be a great leveler. Franchises playing “away home games” are not to successful.
Kick-off in North Harbour at 06:30 SA time.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
TJ’s: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Blues:
Starting XV: 15 Ben Atiga, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Lee, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Justin Collins, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (captain), 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Nick White, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Rudi Wulf, 22 George Pisi.
Western Force:
Starting XV: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Lachlan MacKay, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau (vice-captain), 9 James Stannard, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Scott Fava, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 AJ Whalley, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Troy Takiari.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 Chris O’Young, 21 Scott Daruda, 22 Nick Cummins.
Tweet
Blues by quite a few I think
Evans vs Giteau should be a nice match up.
For those who MAY be interested.
1- 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2- 4 Robert Kubica BMW
3- 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
4- 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari
5- 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW
6- 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota
7- 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota
8- 9 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault
9- 12 Timo Glock Toyota
10- 15 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari
11- 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda
12- 5 Fernando Alonso Renault
13- 16 Jenson Button Honda
14- 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota
15- 10 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
16- 1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 🙁
17- 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari
18- 14 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari
19- 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari
20- 18 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda
21- 6 Nelsinho Piquet Renault
22- 19 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda
2
Giteau gets things going, the Blues kick back and the Western Force run it back showing their intent early on but the Blues are solid in defence and they win a scrum.
6
Blues do well from the scrum and end up in the Force half, a few phases of play pass, the Blues look good as they win a few free kicks just outside the Force 22m but then lose possession and the Force have a scrum. The scrum is good but a poor kick from Shepard leads to a great kick by Atiga who puts it 5m out from the Force line.
Blues Try
10
Force win their ball and they kick the ball out, scrappy lineout ball but the Blues do well, they hold onto possession for a while and then they make some useful meters. The fowards doing very well with a few pick and drives and then Woodcock crashes over for the first try.
11
Evans converts the try the score is 7-0.
7 – 0 Blues
11minutes
14
The Force restart and the Blues run it back and they look like theyare going to do this all afternoon. A few phases pass but then handling lets them down, scrum Force. Great move from the back but Atiga covers and makes a huge tackle on Staniforth. The Blues steal the ball and then hoof it downfield, Mitchell covers and puts it out on the Blues 10m.
17
The Blues win scrappy ball but their backs move it out wide and then kick it, the Force also keen to show what they have attack via Giteau. Giteau chips and collects but he is isolated and the Blues once again have it, and run hard at the Force but the possession is lost, the ball goes out but it came off a Force hand.
20
The Blues give away a free kick, A quick take and the ball goes out wide but they are met with solid Blues defence. The Force eventually win a penalty and Giteau goes for touch, Good lineout and then another penalty given away for a high tackle.
22
Giteau goes for poles, its right in front of the poles, and he misses, amazing… 22m drop out.
Try Force
25
The Force collect the deep kick off and then a Giteau kick is recovered and then the Force make a good 60m and Shepard scores a brilliant try, but one must say poor defence from the Blues.
26
Giteau has another chance to redeem himself and he duly converts the try score 7-7
7-7
26minutes
Who cares about SB.
GO FORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
28
Solid restart by the Blues and the Force are put under pressure after a poor return kick, the Blues make their way upfield and have a scrum in the Force 22m. The move from the scrum is slick but Tuitavake loses possession.
Evans off injured (knock to the head) This could JUST be what the Force needs
30
The scrum from the Force is ok, but Kaino is huge on defence and rips the ball and spins it wide, the Blues once again lose possession and the Force have a scrum in their 22m. Evans has to come off after taking an earlier knock on the head and the medical staff want him off, so the Blues in a sense are depleted.
37
The scrum is solid from the Blues but the backs lose the ball once again and the Force survive. The Force scrum is under some pressure and they give away a penalty and Atiga steps up. Atiga slots the penalty and the Blues lead 10-7.
39
The restart is solid by the Force and they put pressure on the Blues, they give away a free kick and Flavell takes a quick tap and the Blues are away, Tuitavake is in space and they won’t catch him as he dives over for the second try of the match. Atiga steps up for the conversion and he slots it, score 17-7.
Blues 17 – 7 Force
Half time.
17-7 Blues
54minutes
g’mornin KSA,
seems like the force and ferrari started on the back foot today
… ok, back to the game
Quick catch up. 🙁 Damn work is interfering with my sport. 👿
43
The match is restarted by the Blues and the ball is hoofed back straight down Nick Williams throat who runs it back hard, a few phases later and the Force give away a free kick, Flavell asks for a scrum in the Force 22m. The Force then give away a penalty
45
Atiga misses and Sheperd runs it out and hoofs it out. Quick take by the Blues and then its kicked by Atiga, then the return kick by the Force is poor and Rokocoko runs it back but is met with a solid hit by Mitchell. The ball is turned over and Giteau makes a few meters but then the Force lose possession.
48
The Blues make a break downfield from the scrum and the end result of their efforts is a another set piece as the ball ends up in touch. The Force make a meal of their ball possession and Giteau has to kick, the return by the Blues earns them a penalty and Atiga goes for touch. Solid lineout and the Blues attack but they lose the ball and Sheperd kicks it deep.
52
The Blues run it back via Tuitavake and he makes about 50m and then a few phases pass but the play lacks a bit of direction. The ball ends up in touch and the Force can restart the play. Poor kick by Giteau and then the Blues return it, and then its kicked and Sheperd kicks the ball directly into touch, Blues lineout.
54
Poor throwing and the ref awards the Force a scrum, it’s a solid base and Sheperd puts in a long driving kick and it out in the Blues half.
Hey Spyker.
Yeah Ferrari didn’t look to great this am. BMW were a surprise.
Force were never going to win this match but with Evans off they may be able to keep the damage to a minimum.
56
Both teams struggling to get the upper hand but now one seems to be taking control of the match, the Force get hold of the ball and then win a penalty just outside the Blues 22m for a dangerous tackle by Flavell.
57
Giteau slots the penalty, score 17-10 to the Blues.
17-10 Blues
57min
60
The kick off is deep and its returned with some interest, the Blues give away a free kick and a quick tap by the Force and they make huge meters down the touchline but then lose the ball in the Blues 22m, scrum Blues. The scrum is solid and the ball is kicked out on the Blues 10m.
Force Try
64min
63
The lineout is good and the Force begin to putting huge pressure on the Blues defence, 11 phases later and Brown crashes over for a try in the corner after a great pass from Giteau. The Blues must be getting worried now as they seem to be losing the plot.
As I said above, who cares about SB.
C’mon Force!!!!!!!!
A Force win here will help the Sharks big time and a draw will help even more!!!!!!
64
Giteau converts the try, scores are level at 17-17.
17 – 17 Force 😉
64minutes
67
Good work from the Force at the kick off and the Blues are really struggling and then they give away a penalty within kicking distance. Giteau slots the penalty and they now lead 17-20.
17-20 Force
67minutes
Only one guy on SB has picked the Force to win.
fattmann Force 5
69
The Force are looking very strong as they collect the kick and play, the gaps have opened up a bit and they are all over the Blues.
😎
72
Strong work by the Force on the ground earns then a free kick and then they run it and then Horua spots a gap 5m out from the tryline and he is over, what a comeback from the Force.
72
Giteau converts the try, score 17-27 to the Force.
17 – 27 Force.
73minutes
Okay the score must stay like that please??????????????
o points for the Blues and only 4 for the force.
76
The Force do well at the restart and the keep the Blues at bay via a great kick. The kicking game of the Force has been very good. The Blues looking like beaten men are not doing anything positive and seem to be going through the motions.
C’MON FORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL OVER
Force Rocks
This result helps the Sharks HUGEly.
i wasnt one who thought the force could pull it off, but i’m happy they have, as are most Shark fans
Log updated
Blues stay in 4th
Force move to 5th
Sharks just have to make sure there is no stumble this evening.
That was the Force’s first win in NZ. 😎
Molo oubaas
Force have Highlanders next, they could keep climbing… Stormers and Bulls will have to stop them
Stormers will beat them, Bulls, im not so sure.
mornings spyker
Molo tjokkertjie
Blues have the Stormers next week.
Will the blues withdraw into themselves?
or will the Stormers continue on their merry way?
I think it will depend on whether or not Evans is in the team or not.
morning mensies. not such a good weekend fr nz teams so far eh. go cheetahs!!!
Enjoy the rest of the day gents,got to get to gym.Will log on with my phone a bit later.
GO LIONS
i especially like that neither team got the bonus point.
cheers province, remember, no pain no gain 😆
mornin’ pj, dont think i want to watch the next game (cheetahs vs crusaders)
mornin’ kners
hey spyker, how is it going this morning?
black south easter in the cape today, no surf for me 👿
WoW
Neve expected this!?!?
So the Blues are not all that then…..
The Cheetahs and Lions were just that bad…
force are not to be sneezed at hmmm, only lost to the top two teams so far.
cold and rainy here in die Karoo as well kners, i also cant go surfing 🙄
Stormers and Bulls will have to stop the force
think i’ll go take a warm bath till the cheetahs massacre is over 🙁
I think this result could be classified as an upset. 😆
5.75%
of all players in SuperBru correctly predicted a win by the Force