On field performance is the best way to determine the better of two sides. Waratahs featuring as many as three former Western Force players outplayed the hosts,
Western Force, at Members Equity Stadium.
Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell and Sitaleki Timani, the three former Western Force players, put up exceptional performances for the Waratahs and played their part
in the 28 point victory. Waratahs started as the favourites and in the end it looked like they were the only team playing on the field. Western Force kept their hopes alive in first 25 minutes of the game however; later Waratahs came hard on the Force and
dented them badly completing the clean sweep in the Australian Conference. Waratahs have lost two games of the seven they have played so far. Their first defeat came through the Crusaders and the other one, unexpectedly, at the hands of the Cheetahs who have
only that solitary win to their name after playing eight matches.
Force were off colour without Matt Hodgson and David Pocock and their attack lacked the intensity as they moved the James O’Connor to play as Full Back opted
to use former Hurricanes player Willie Ripia as Fly Half. After missing the penalty in the second minute, it was again Waratahs Fly Half Kurtley Beale to put first score on board in the sixth
as he kicked his second penalty of the match successfully. Waratahs missed another penalty in the 15th minute, when Beale missed his second of the game. Force was enjoying just 20% of the ball when Force’s Full Back James O’Connor made a run down the
wing to earn first penalty for the Force. James O’Connor kicked the penalty successfully to level the score at three – 3 in the 20th minute of the game. Western Force had a best passage of the play in the game as they were awarded a penalty twice but were
unable to capitalise. Rest of the game was controlled by the Waratahs who dominated the field, ball possession, ball handling and scrum handling.
In 29th minute, Waratahs Scrum Half Luke Burgess won the Scrum and passed the ball to Centre Tom Carter who scored the first penalty of the game for Waratahs.
Kurtley Beale followed with his first conversion of the game. Five minutes later former Western Force Drew Mitchell scored the second try for Waratahs followed by Beale’s conversion to take the score to 17 – 3, with score remaining the same till the end of
the first half.
It was all Waratahs' affair during the second half who apart from missing the first penalty during the second minute of the second half were spot on at every
scoring opportunity. In the 61st minute, Waratahs Fly Half scored his first try of the game and followed it by conversion to extend the lead by 21 points. This was followed by Drew Mitchell’s second try in the game after he grabbed the ball from the hands
to Tom Carter to score a magnificent try in the 66th minute, followed by Beale’s last conversion in the game. The try was a bonus point try and the scorecard read 31 – 3. With 14 minutes remaining in the game, Western Force did put up some impressive runs
and moves but failed to score.
Auckland Blues will now host the Waratahs in Auckland during the round nine of the Super XV. Waratahs will be looking forward to improve their penalty shooting
skills as in closely contested game missing two – three penalties eventually cost teams the game. For now Waratahs are the Australian Conference Leader and placed at third position on the overall standing.
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