Super Rugby Review: Western Force

Editor

With the Super Rugby quarter-finalists now decided we take a look at those teams who missed out. Next up, the Force who finished 12th.

Four more wins than last year in an impressive campaign from the side from Perth, with their final standing four places better off than 2016.

Unlike the Rebels, they seemed to benefit on the field due to the uncertainty surrounding their future in the competition, as they were a team inspired particularly towards the end of the season. The final round 40-11 victory over the Waratahs was a special moment for them.

Before that hammering of the Sydney outfit, the Force had carded wins over the Reds, Kings, Jaguares, Reds again and the Rebels. But they would finish eight points adrift of the Brumbies in the Australian Conference. Another few rounds and who knows what might have happened.

Where they fell down was tries scored as 36 was the second fewest in Super Rugby. 12th in the table does seem a fair reflection of their year.

Recruitment wise they looked to add tries with the arrivals of Curtis Rona and Chance Peni but the latter's campaign was limited due to a groin injury. Elsewhere there were success stories in Isi Naisarani, Bill Meakes and Alex Newsome who all excelled by grabbing their chance.

The spine of the squad up front had plenty of experience in the shape of Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner and Tatafu Polota-Nau, while lock Adam Coleman added so much to his game in 2017, with Richard Hardwick and Naisarani real finds in the back-row due to injuries elsewhere.

Talent and mature heads were evident in the backline too as Peter Grant and Jono Lance steered them well while the aforementioned Meakes proved to be an astute arrival from Gloucester. With the determined youth outside them and Dane Haylett-Petty at 15, the Force grew and grew.

This, as mentioned, was all under the cloud of uncertainty regarding the team's future and it would be a real shame if Western Australia was not represented in Super Rugby. It's not just at senior level but what would happen pathway wise for youngsters if the Force folded?

One man who was definitely saying goodbye ahead of 2018 was Matt Hodgson and that added to the emotion in Perth, with a fitting send-off seeing him cross for a try and kick the final points of the season in front of the fans. We now wait to see if it's the Force's last act.

Best player: What a signing Bill Meakes turned out to be for the Force. The 26-year-old Manly man arrived from Gloucester and brought so much solidity to their midfield. Just the one try in his 14 games this season but he topped the team's tackle busts stats in a fine year.