Force

Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vailoni Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Max Burey, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Zac Lomax, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Sef Fa'agase, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Boston Fakafanua, Kurtley Beale

Drua

Meli Tuni, Zuriel Togiatama, Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua (c), Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, Kemu Valetini, Manasa Mataele, Virimi Vakatawa, Maika Tuitubou, Taniela Rakuro, Isikeli Rabitu

Replacements: Sairusi Ravudi, Penaia Cakobau, Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Iosefo Namoce

Just started. No impact on the top 6. Force can go ahead of the Highlanders with a win, Drua need a win and a BP

12-7 Drua at halftime. The Force should be thanking their lucky stars they're only 5 behind. Dominated all over the park so fat, struggling with the Drua physicality and breakdown work has been pathetic. A bit of complacency crept in I feel.

19-15 FT. Not the best performance from the Force, infact, probably the worst of the year bar round 1, but another win in the bank, at least they're starting to learn the art of winning. We got murdered at breakdown, Salawa and Miramira had a field day there even if the ref was favouring them slightly there, where as the Force began to dominate the scrum in the 2nd half. Pietsch again was the best Force player, with both benches adding impact. Even Beale and Will Harris added something there.

Hopefully a win against the Tahs next week to end what has been a decent campaign for the Force despite missing the finals.

@African-Monkey said in Force v Drua:

We got murdered at breakdown,

Those guys reaching over at breakdown time should have been F'n smashed!
That had a big affect on momentum, and where the game was played.

Thought Drua were pretty good, but think the Force would have won easily if they had maintained possession and got field position like they usually do.
The Drua set piece play was a clear second.
Encouraging for Force, not one of their better performances, but still got the W.

They have a bomb for Pietch and Lomax at the same time move, bit of a weapon.
Might see that again later in the year.

The Force forwards and the Drua backs would be a nice combo.

@mohikamo said in Force v Drua:

@African-Monkey said in Force v Drua:

We got murdered at breakdown,

Those guys reaching over at breakdown time should have been F'n smashed!
That had a big affect on momentum, and where the game was played.

Thought Drua were pretty good, but think the Force would have won easily if they had maintained possession and got field position like they usually do.
The Drua set piece play was a clear second.
Encouraging for Force, not one of their better performances, but still got the W.

They have a bomb for Pietch and Lomax at the same time move, bit of a weapon.
Might see that again later in the year.

The Force forwards and the Drua backs would be a nice combo.

Yeah that was the problem, our cleaners missed their assignemts more often than not. Yes, some were a bit harsh, but man, the Drua loosies were having fun on the jackle.

The Drua's size was giving the Force trouble I felt. They were constantly getting over the advantage line especially in the first half and the forwards were struggling to get over the ball and stop them in their tracks. The Drua paid for not being out of sight in the first half.

@African-Monkey

The Force have been countering that relatively easily all season.
Haven't checked the stats, but pretty sure the force lead the comp in ball carries and possession.
While they are not a big threat with the ball, the other team arent either, when they dont have it.
It wasn't like that in the first half.
And against a team of ball playing forwards like Drua have . . . trouble.

The first rule about playing Fijian teams is . . . dont let them have the ball!
All teams play them like that, even the ABs, nobody takes them on in a shoot-out.

Drua got virtually nuthin after the 30 minute mark.
Force scored two, and had two more great lookin tries disallowed (rightly) for small infractions.
Pretty much a repeat of the Crusaders game.

That's a bit of a concern for the ABs imo.
While the attacking play of the Saders and Drua was superior to the Force thruout the 80 minutes, neither of those teams could score after the initial period of the game.
And the Force ran in several.
Reminded me of some AB games from the 25 season.
Hoping the new management has got some different ideas.
Cant be just relying on great attack play to win you games.
Doesn't seem to work like that.

One other thing i will touch on, is despite being 2 from 2 with Burey at 10, Donaldson'a bigger punt has been missed. Burey barely gets anything on his long kicks and it doesn't help as Grealy also isn't a big punter of the ball. Kemu Valetini got the Drua in the right parts of the field a lot of the night, especially the first, and it choked the Force especially in the first half, to got with the platform the ball carriers were giving him.

@African-Monkey

Burey's kicking game wasn't as good as previous week
but I don't think Donaldson's kicking is that great either tho, and I think the wolloby selectors are not sold on that part of his game
Donaldson kicks at the correct time, which is a big part of it, but his placement is the issue
no use kicking long if it goes straight to the man, needs to be to space
if the defender has to spend 2 or 3 seconds getting to it, it gives the wingers a chance
a decent winger should be able to cover 40 to 50 metres in 5 seconds, and then you have a contest
if the wingers can get there, the ball isn't coming straight back, maybe with some interest on it

and I think Donaldson's short kicks are to long as well!
chip kicks absolutely have to be to a contest
and not just a contest, a contest in the kicking teams favour, like 100% would be good!

sold on Donaldson's speed tho, got to be one of the fastest players in the comp
Burey would be better with more game time
Thought the kicking of Valetini (?) was better than both of them.

But at least Donaldson gets a bit more on his clearances than Burey. Burey was punting like Beauden Barrett last night. I personally don't think Donaldson's kicking is as bad as you're making it out to be but we'll agree to disagree there, put it this way, I think it is far better than Carter Gordon's despite Gordon being an elite distributor. I assume Donaldson won't play next week despite his injury not being deemed as serious and Burey will get another run out. Other than my criticism of his punting last night, he has done ok in Donaldson's absense.

@African-Monkey said in Force v Drua:

Burey was punting like Beauden Barrett last night.

I am very sad I know exactly what you mean.

@African-Monkey said in Force v Drua:

I personally don't think Donaldson's kicking is as bad as you're making it out to be

Donaldson has improved his kicking in the last couple of seasons.
I'm assuming Schmidt gave him that as a work on when he slipped out of the Wollobies squad last season.

I've been watching the last few games from the drone position, and you get a real good perspective on the kicking game from there.
I see a situation and I'm thinking you have to kick here.
And Donaldson usually does, which is good, but then I see where it goes.
And I'm thinking, not fuck'n there!
Lot harder to put it in the best place when you only have a field level view tho.

The ⅝ national team spot really is up for grabs atm.
Haven't been overly impressed with any of the candidates.
Do like Donaldson tho, not many inside backs can burn a winger on the outside, love that.
Be interesting to see which way Kiss goes.

I also think the Force have been getting a bit more penetration in their attacking play in the last few games.
You can judge that really well from the drone as well.
Could have led to some of the BD issues on the weekend.
Players being a bit lax in their support play, and the ball carrier getting isolated.
The Force not being used to breaking the line! Haha.