The Western Force are clinging to the hope of a maiden Super Rugby finals appearance after their gutsy 20-17 win over the Waratahs in Friday’s Round 12 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash at Allianz Stadium.
It was a must-win game for both sides and in a tight arm wrestle it was the Force who muscled up better for a victory described as "ugly" by Force coach Simon Cron.
There was plenty of hype surrounding the clash between rugby converts and former rugby league NSW State of Origin teammates, Force star signing winger Zac Lomax and the Waratahs' Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But it was Force other winger, Dylan Pietsch against his former team, that came away with bragging rights with a brace of tries.
The Waratahs scored two of their own through playmaker Lawson Creighton and reserve front-rower Folau Fainga'a.
Force fly-half Ben Donaldson added two conversions and two penalties, his second the difference between the sides. Sid Harvey converted both tries and kicked a penalty for the Waratahs.
With four games left the Force are in ninth, five points out of the top six.
They dominated territory and possession, made 708 metres to the Waratahs 243, 11 clean breaks to the home side's one and forced the home side to make 287 tackles to just 146 of their own.
The Force starting pack was 20kg lighter but had the upper hand at the scrum for most of the contest.
Even after both Force props, Misinale Epenisa and Tom Robertson, were forced off after failing HIA tests on 30 minutes they held their own.
Early Waratahs pressure was well defended by the Force who showed some creative rugby but were let down by a couple of errors when a break looked on.
The Force went ahead on nine minutes when Donaldson slotted a penalty.
The Waratahs first real assault on the Force line finally came after 30 minutes, helped by consecutive penalties.
They used tap moves and after concerted pressure Creighton crossed to put the home side ahead. Sid Harvey converted and three minutes later added another three points from a penalty.
After the longest passage of play, 21 phases, Peitsch twisted, turned and crashed his way over on the half-time siren. Donaldson added the extras to level the scores at 10-10 at the break.
The Force opened the second half with plenty of aggression on both sides of the ball, camped themselves in the Waratahs half, but were again let down by errors.
They finally cracked the Waratahs line, running the ball from deep with livewire fullback Mac Grealy producing a beautiful offload for Peitsch to score. Donaldson converted.
The Waratahs did not make it into the Force 22 metres after the break until the 69th minute, and that came from a restart after a second Donaldson penalty that stretched his side's lead to 10 points.
The Force played a dominating, grinding forward-based game but with five minutes to go the Waratahs found themselves on the Force line after a couple of penalties and Fainga'a crashed over. Converted.
But it was the Force celebrating on the final whistle.
Cron had named an unchanged squad for the first time this year, the only change saw Hamish Stewart starting in the centres for his 50th Super appearance and Bayles Kuenzle moving to the bench.
But he had to shuffle his pack before the game when barnstorming No.8 Vaiolini Ekuasi returned home for personal reasons.
He was replaced at the back of the scrum by Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jeremy Williams moved to blindside flanker, Franco Molina went into the second row and Lopeti Faifua came onto the bench.
Kurtley Beale brought up his 183rd Super Rugby cap, moving into fourth on the all-time list ahead of Liam Messam, when he came from the bench.
Western Force 20
Tries: Pietsch (39', 51')
Conversions: Donaldson 2/2
Penalties: Donaldson 2/2
Waratahs 17
Tries: Creighton (33'), Fainga'a (74')
Conversions: Harvey 2/2
Penalties: Harvey 1/1
10,096 @ Allianz Stadium, Sydney
