Western Force forward pair Jeremy Williams and Izack Rodda have reflected on the side’s season, pointing to positives but admitting their slow start proved costly.
The Force finished the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign in 10th spot with a 4-10 record with 20 points, missing the finals by six points.
The WA club had started the season with four defeats, during a stretch where they were hit hard by injuries to their tight-five.
Despite that injury toll, the Force were in good positions against the Melbourne Rebels, ACT Brumbies and Moana Pasifika before surrendering leads to leave them playing catch-up on the ladder.
However, the Force managed to turn that around and won four of their last 10 games, although there were heavy defeats on the road to the Blues, Chiefs and Reds where the side struggled to get their game going.
But the Force remained in finals contention right up until the final day of the season, only to be squeezed out by the Fijian Drua's Round 15 win over the Rebels before they fell 24-19 to the third-placed Brumbies on Saturday night.
“Even before the game we were waiting on results,” Rodda told Stan Sport after Saturday’s game.
“There were probably four-five games that went missing for us, where we lost close battles or games we should’ve won.
“It just goes to show that the first five-six games are crucial.”
The season-ending home defeat to the Brumbies meant the side finished with a 4-3 record at HBF Park in 2024, having enjoyed their strongest performances in front of the Sea of Blue.
“I’m definitely proud of the boys,” Williams told Stan Sport. “It wasn’t from a lack of trying. We wanted that win as much as anyone.
“It is disappointing but we have had some growth this season. Looking forward to next year.”
In his first year as captain, 23-year-old Williams reflected that there were positives to take, and there’s reason for optimism despite not having the linear growth some expected in 2024 after narrowly missing the finals in similar circumstances last year.
“We’re building something really nice," Williams said.
"We’ve got the cattle, it’s just about performing on the field consistently for 80 minutes.
“Disappointing night but there’s a lot of positives to take from the season.”
Among the obvious positives were tireless back-rower Carlo Tizzano leading the league for tackles won with 240, while the unassuming Hamish Stewart was joint fourth with 180.
The duo, who barely missed a minute of any game all season, made more chase tackles than any other players in Super Rugby.
Fly-half Ben Donaldson finished third across Super Rugby for points with 111, with his dazzling displays often headlining Force victories, while his perfect eight-from-eight kicking with a try against the Fijian Drua in Round 11 was a highlight.
Rodda, himself, made an excellent return from injury in the second half of the season to boost his Wallabies' case, providing a big physical impact with and without the ball.
Off-season recruit Nic White offered leadership, drive and quality at scrum-half, while Kurtley Beale provided plenty at full-back with several try assists after arriving in mid-season.
Utility back Bayley Kuenzle enjoyed an outstanding campaign, finishing as the club’s joint top try scorer with six alongside winger Chase Tiatia, who had 14 clean breaks.
Tizzano was next best with five, while retiring back-rower Michael Wells and hooker Tom Horton both chipped in with three.
