Can Western Force still make the finals? | Rugby Heaven

Añadido: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]So the Western Force hosts the Fijian Drua. There's been some absolutely outstanding battles between these sides in the competition's history. The Force, as we've mentioned, we've dissected, gentlemen, still a chance of making the finals.

[00:00:14]They need to win their last two games and need results to go their way.

[00:00:17]But they look settled and even with a few changes last week, Shep, they were really good against the Reds. I imagine with their last two opponents being at home in Perth, they back their chances from here. Absolutely. Last three games of the season for the Force were at home and we we said it was going to be really tough for teams to go over there and win. They've got a lot to play for. I was really impressed with Max Burey on on the weekend. You know, you come into the shoes of someone like Ben Donaldson.

[00:00:41]It's been arguably the form 10 in Australian rugby this year with Carter Gordon and probably Declan Meredith, but big shoes to fill. Burey was brilliant after not playing a lot of rugby this year. But there's just little guys that seem to increase their work rate. Zack Lomax I I don't want to start the Wallaby talk with him yet, but I just love the effort he's putting in in and around the field to work off his wing and find opportunity. Dylan Peach, I think, has been one of the best players in Australian rugby since his return to the Force.

[00:01:08]Kalyn Ponga keeps scoring tries and creating opportunities. Like the Force have got, you know, BPA as well and even Kurtley off the bench. Few of his carries may not have looked important on their own, but just that little bit of extra leg drive and getting the Force over the gain line, that extra five or so meters, good, I thought was huge in the game on the weekend against the Reds. It changed the momentum and forced the Reds just to have to retreat that little bit more, which opened up space. So yeah, the Force is looking really, really good and and despite still being without Donaldson this weekend, I think uh they're going to give it a real shake up. And again, that bonus point might become a big thing that they play for. I want to go back to Kurtley Beale, Justin, because this year has been very much a season of milestones and we celebrated it felt like one every week with James Slipper.

[00:01:56]There's been other players who've reached 50, 100 caps. Alan Alaalatoa plays 150 um for the Brumbies this weekend. But Kurtley Beale uh if he gets on the field this uh on the park this weekend, he'll play his 186 Super Rugby game, which moves him outright third in all-time appearances. The the longevity there is incredible. Yeah, and look, we we you know, you're you're right. There's a lot of there's a lot of uh milestones, long milestones, which starts to you start to think why that means we are we are we do have players that there's a compelling reason to play Super Rugby civic, and we are having a bit of player retention at the top end. And Kurtley Beale's [clears throat] one of those players that will change the way that players um come into a change room and train, their work ethic, the way that he's carrying himself and and dealt with, you know, personal uh adversity and come out of that is testament to his character, but also the Western Force's willingness to continue to engage him in a professional program because, you know, the first uh return to play wasn't great, got injured, you know, and they've backed him and supported him. I think that's most what you're seeing in that squad. A Western Force environment, they've backed they've signed Croning again, backed them up. There's stability there, and that stability bleeds into onto the paddock. If you don't have stability off it, Kurtley Beale now has stability, proud father, proud husband, got his stuff together on off the field, and he's taking it onto the field. The whole organization is benefiting, too.

[00:03:21]This this season that they knew eyes wide open, right? Travel was always a big consideration. They went on to a longer this year to then have that home rain run at at the end of the season.

[00:03:30]So, that's contributing to them psychologically, as well. Just uh quickly on the Drua, eight changes to their starting 15, probably the biggest uh would be Kemueli Valetini starting at fly-half. You talked about stability with the Force. I think it's probably fair to say the Drua don't have that at the moment. Clearly with changes, but also we know they are in a transition.

[00:03:48]Jack Glen Jackson is leaving as their coach at the end of the season. And while there's still a hope of uh of making finals mathematically etc. They got two games on the road to finish their season, which has not been a strong suit of the Fijian Drua. So, on that on that note, them in Perth against the Force, who wins this I I I think the Force would win, but then you look statistically about their their their travel away and their win percentage. I just don't think Fiji can do it. Force will win. They'll win comfortably, I think. Force. Yeah.

[00:04:16]I think it'd be a massive shock if the Drua and good luck to them get that win over in Perth.