Menu

          ESPN

          • scores
          • NFL
          • NBA
          • MLB
          • NHL
          • Soccer
          • WNBA
          • Golf
          • More Sports
            • Boxing
            • NCAA
            • Cricket
            • F1
            • Gaming
            • Horse
            • LLWS
            • MMA
            • NASCAR
            • NLL
            • NBA G League
            • NBA Summer League
            • NCAAF
            • NCAAM
            • NCAAW
            • NWSL
            • Olympics
            • PLL
            • Racing
            • RN BB
            • RN FB
            • Rugby
            • Bananas
            • Sports Betting
            • Tennis
            • TGL
            • UFL
            • WWE
            • Professional Wrestling
          • Editions
          • Where to Watch
          • Fantasy
          • Watch
          • Rugby

          • Home
          • Scores
          • Tables
          • Tournaments
          • Countries
          Super Rugby Pacific 2023
          BluesBluesBLU
          30
          25/03FT
          17
          Western ForceWestern ForceWES
          • Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens(29')
          • Ofa Tu'ungafasi(32')
          • Mark Tele'a(48')
          • Ricky Riccitelli(61')
          • Stephen Perofeta(33', 63')
          • Stephen Perofeta(5', 26')
          • Michael Wells(35')
          • Toni Pulu(57')
          • Zach Kibirige(77')
          • Hamish Stewart(78')
          • SummarySummary
          • ReportReport
          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          Western Force no match for Blues in Super loss

          • AAP
          Multiple Authors
          Mar 26, 2023, 02:49 AM ET
          • Copy Link
          • Email
          • Print

          Western Force captain Michael Wells has blasted his side's lack of competitiveness, suggesting they were "bullied" in a 30-17 loss to the Blues at Eden Park.

          The Force made the Blues work for it early and didn't concede a try until the 29th minute, but were ultimately put away comfortably at Eden Park in their second straight defeat.

          It leaves them still searching for their first win against a New Zealand-based side since returning to the competition in 2021, without a victory in seven attempts.

          They stay in NZ and battle the Hurricanes next weekend, with Wells begging his teammates to lift and leave the road trip with a win.

          "Words are cheap right now and our actions need to speak a bit louder," he told Sky Sport.

          Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images

          "We've got to focus on our jobs here and we haven't been doing our jobs and that's on a personal level as well as a team level.

          "We go to Palmerston North on Thursday, and really, we need to get something out of this tour, we need to come back with some points and so we need to regroup.

          "The last couple of weeks we've been carried through and carried over and we really need to fire up, particularly our forwards."

          The Perth side matched it with opponents at the breakdown and forced some early penalties, although a missed shot at goal combined with Gareth Simpson failing to find touch from a kick meant they had no points to show for it.

          A spectacular try from Blues winger Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, where he soared over his Force opponent and grounded the ball while falling on his back, broke the Force's resistance and when Ofa Tu'ungafasi powered over late in the first half they'd quickly skipped away to an 18-0 lead.

          "We weren't good enough over the ball, which put our halves under pressure, gave us scrappy ball, didn't give us a good enough platform to actually attack from," Wells said.

          "There were positives, (but) obviously, out of losses, you're probably going to focus on the negatives a lot more.

          "It was the attacking breakdown, we got a bit bullied there and with all due respect they rested a few guys.

          "If we really want to compete, we're going to have to execute better and we probably weren't up to scratch today."

          Wells had dragged some points back in the first half via a clever kick from fullback Chase Tiatia, while Toni Pulu scored in the second half to quickly answer Blue Mark Telea's effort to make the score 23-10.

          Ricky Riccitelli extended the margin quickly and the Blues iced the game, with Force winger Zach Kibirige finding a late consolation try with a brilliant run two minutes from time.

          Simon Cron's side move to 2-3 for the season but stay 10th on the table, with only the NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika behind them.

          It was yet another reminder of NZ's Super Rugby domination, their teams 8-1 this season when playing against Australian sides.

          "We knew the Force were going to come and bring it in, they're a really persistent team that you can't switch off (against) and we obviously saw that in the last 10 minutes," Blues captain Harry Plummer said.

          "They're just full of running rugby and it's hard to play with, so we're happy with a win."

          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Your US State Privacy Rights
          • Children's Online Privacy Policy
          • Interest-Based Ads
          • About Nielsen Measurement
          • Your Privacy Choices
          • Contact Us
          • Disney Ad Sales Site
          • Work for ESPN
          • Corrections
          GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos.
          Copyright: © 2026 ESPN Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.

          Standings

          Super Rugby Pacific
          RTeamGPPDP
          1HUR13+29755
          2CHI13+16546
          3BLU13+6938
          4CRU13+6736
          5ACT13+3133
          6QUE13-4332
          7NSW13-4327
          8WES13-3126
          9HIG14-9724
          10FIJ13-12221
          11MOA13-2935
          Full Table