The Force, fresh off their first ever win in NZ, meet the Highlanders to try and make it two from two.
The Highlanders have not won a game all season and the Force must fancy themselves in with a good chance of taking 5 points from this game.
Kick-off in Queenstown at 03:30 SA time.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
TJ’s: Willie Roos (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott
Highlanders:
Starting XV: 15 James Wilson, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Niva Ta’auso, 12 Aaron Bancroft, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jimmy Cowan (vice-captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Craig Newby (captain), 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Keith Cameron, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Brett Mather.
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 Chris O’Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Tamaiti Horua, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 AJ Whalley, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Troy Takiari, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Scott Fava, 20 James Stannard, 21 Scott Daruda, 22 Nick Cummins.
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A bit unusual putting a match thread up this early, but ………….
Hi KSA – you still there?
SB picks for this match.
Only two picks for the Highlanders.
Pissant Highlanders 6
sharkboy Highlanders 6
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Kandas Force 5
Sharkie Force 5
shark_time Force 5
Ghost10 Force 6
blackshark Force 6
Sinbinners Force 6
Ollie Force 6
Dive Pass Force 7
namboer Force 7
Salmo Force 7
KSA Kette Force 7
Boofy Force 7
PaarlGimmie Force 9
PJLD Force 9
Wehan Force 9
King Shark Force 10
Western Sauce Force 10
fattmann Force 10
bryce_in_oz Force 10
Nita Force 10
the_finman Force 10
Bru-El Force 11
Villie Force 11
Hmmm Force 12
PostmanPat Force 12
Fatality Force 13
SauronShark Force 14
Lylmik Force 15
Sandshark Force 15
IceBabe Force 15
robdylan Force 16
Whindy Force 17
shark-tank Force 19
Hi Nessa still here.
How was your Friday?
Very busy – missed the rugby though. 😥
Took my 2 grandchildren to a pantomime. Was very cute – then we went for lunch (a bit nerve wracking with two littlies). It was nice though – they had a ball.
I will miss tommorrow’s games. 🙁
although with my current work schedule, I may have time to come home and watch……. 😎
Pity the Cheetahs couldn’t bag that win – see that old Steve was up to no good again. Think I am going to seriously have to hurt him when he comes to SA again!
Think I am going to get up at 6.30 tomorrow morning to watch the Stormers.
Fortunately the Stormers game is at 07:30 for me. 😎
I leave home at 7 to drop the family at school but will be home by 07:30 again 😎
May have to miss the Bulls game after though, but will see how I feel 😆
I don’t think Walsh had a shocker by any means.
IMO the moaners are having some sour grapes……….
I don’t mind getting up early on a Saturday – can always take a “power nap” after the rugby. That’s my best!
Sounds so funny dropping the family at school on a Saturday – must take a while to get used to that.
I have to pop out tomorrow to do some last minute easter egg shopping for Sunday – living on a smallholding and having a 5 acre property makes it interesting when it comes to the easter egg hunt. Last year Janine was still finding eggs hidden in the gardin months after easter. It was quite funny – there are probably still some year old eggs in the garden that the children may find tomorrow!
Okay – so it wasn’t as bad as it sounded. Still don’t like him! I used to – Janine and I spoke to him after one of the games at ABSA Stadium.
Walsh wouldn’t send a player off for swearing. It would have been directed at him or something along the lines of “Awe F#$k off” after he gave a penalty against them.
I would also warn a player for that, and as he had already warned them for that, i don’t see a problem with him giving the yellow.
It really bothers me how lack of discipline on the field by one stupid player so often costs his team the game – the other team so often put on the winning points during that period. So unfair and selfish!
Anyway, enough babbling, going to watch a movie now. Have a good evening. Chat again tomorrow!
Our referee’s secretary used to “date” him when he reffed in Durban.
Obviously the refs all come to the ref’s bar after games and those are pretty good times to meet the guys off the field.
Quite amazing how different guys are off the field to on it.
Cheers
need to get to bed as well.
There was another ref by the name of Chris something or other that chatted to Janine quite a while that night too – he was reffing the Wildebeest game before the Sharks game. He was very friendly – also very short!
Okie dokie – sleep tight.
Highlanders just scored a try . 8-3, kick to come
Force looking a bit sloppy.
Force try! Tom Hockings. 10 all after 30
Another one! Richard Brown. Shit, but Ryan Cross is in a league of his own. 17-10 now
Highlanders penalty… And it’s a good kick… For the Force! Still 17-10
Another shot just before half time. This time Bowden gets it. 13-17 at half time
Try to Williams! Suddenly the Kilts have the lead. 18-17 as Bowden misses the kick
Try Vanikolo! Force need to wake up or they’ll lose here. Good kick and it’s 25-17
Force penalty right in front. Should have been more. 25-20 with 25 mins left
Another penalty to the tartan mafia. Good kick. 28-20
Cross intercepts and scores! 28-27
Force penalty. 30-28
another! 33-28
morning baldy
howzit oldie 😉
you watching this?
another shot for Shepherd… will he get it?
the tension is palpable
he gets it. 36-28 now and the Force are home
Just switched on a few minutes ago.
who’s doing the log you or me?
that’s the final score
I’ll do the log
cool
GAME OVER
Force make it two from two on NZ soil
3 tries each no BP try 😎
Both sides played some terrible rugby at times. Force robbed of one clear try and another that might have been a penalty try. Lawrence’s highlights affecting his game
margin is 8 points. nobody has it spot on so the closest pick point is shared 8 ways. 🙂
Dive Pass Force 7
namboer Force 7
Salmo Force 7
KSA Kette Force 7
Boofy Force 7
PaarlGimmie Force 9
PJLD Force 9
Wehan Force 9
Craig Newby looks a disillusioned fellow all right
That is a whopping 0,125 each. 😯 🙄
KSA – I am coming to the conclusion that I’m really not very good at Superbru
gotta get dressed for work. talk later.
massive… nothing like an eighth of a point to really get you moving up that leaderboard, eh? 😉
ok. I’m on holiday 🙂
Which makes me wonder why I actually woke up at 03h30 to watch rugby…
JusPlain makes a valid point… Force try was disallowed for the player crawling… not for a second movement. Completely correct call by the ref.
Ryan Cross MOTM… good decision. He looks a bit suspect on defence, though