Derpus
Phil Waugh (73)
Yeah maybe. Some of his defensive reads that Ive seen this year had little to do with who was either side of him though.
Western Force v Lions, Saturday, 28 June @ Optus Stadium 8pm AEST
- Thread starter Rudderless
- Start date
Tazzmania
Dave Cowper (27)
Rugby 365 Western Force Player ratings:
Here’s how the Force rated:
1 Tom Robertson – 7.5
Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison said it best at half-time, explaining on Stan Sport that the Force “had the ascendency” at scrum time before pointing out Tom Robertson’s impact. While the Western Force statistically had the worst scrum in Super Rugby Pacific, Robertson helped the hosts control that area of the match opposite a world-class Lions front-row.
Robertson had the fifth-most carries out of any player by the half-time break, but the set-piece battle is clearly the big talking point. With Robertson included in Joe Schmidt’s 36-man Wallabies squad to play Fiji, it’s possible the prop meets the Lions again next month.
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 7
Brandon Paenga-Amosa contributed to a competitive set-piece from the Force, with the hooker hitting every target at the lineout – usually finding either Darcy Swain or Sam Carter. Paenga-Amosa was right up there with the best for carries with nine but did go missing for what seemed like extended periods of this match.
3 Ollie Hoskins – 7
One-Test Wallaby Ollie Hoskins was loaned out from Saracens on a unique one-game deal to face the Lions, making the prop’s last match of professional rugby one to remember. Before retirement, Hoskins packed down opposite an all-star Lions front-row, and the 32-year-old didn’t look out of place in the set-piece battle
Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman joined Irish duo Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the Lions’ front-row, but Hoskins contributed to a Force scrum that was steady if not superior during the first term. Hoskins also put in a solid shift in general play without standing out.
4 Sam Carter – 3
Along with Ollie Hoskins, this was Sam Carter’s last professional rugby match. 12 years on from the Brumbies’ shock win over the Lions – which Carter was part of – the veteran was given another shot at the touring side with the Force.
Carter was a reliable option at the lineout, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa throwing to the No. 4 lock on a number of occasions. That said, the 16-Test Wallaby failed to fire around the park, dropping the ball in the lead-up to Tomos Williams’ worldie of a try in the second term.
5 Darcy Swain – 6
Darcy Swain was reliable for the Force during Super Rugby Pacific, acting as a general at the set-piece, and the lock has been rewarded with a recall into the Wallabies squad. Swain showed signs of that again in this match against the Lions, but it was far from smooth sailing.
The Wallaby shot out of the line without matching a tackle during the first half, which created the space needed for the Lions to pounce – eventually scoring through Tomos Williams. Swain did win a lineout against the throw early in the second term, but was fairly quiet otherwise.
6 Will Harris – 4
It was a bit of an off-night for Will Harris. After leaving the match in the 10th minute for a HIA, the blindside flanker returned to the match during the first term, with one memorable carry the only real moment to speak of. Harris only completed three tackles and ran the ball three times.
7 Nicholas Champion de Crespigny – 7
Nick Champion de Crespigny was a genuine bolter selected in the first Wallabies squad of 2025, with the powerful backrower rewarded for a strong season with the Force. Before joining the national squad out east, Champion de Crespigny was given a shot at Force, making a mark against some of the world’s best.
Champion de Crespigny was a workhorse on the defensive side of the ball in particular, leading the way for the Force with 17 tackles completed. The openside flanker carried the ball with purpose and intent, and made some noise around the breakdown as well.
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi – 5
Vaiolini Ekuasi hasn’t played for the Force since April 19, when the home side drew with the Hurricanes at HBF Park. Coach Simon Cron was able to call upon the New Zealand-born backrower for this match, and Ekuasi made the most of it. Ekuasi was top-three for the Force when it came to carries and was solid enough on the defensive side of the ball.
9 Nic White – 7
Nic White was on the cusp of Wallabies selection in 2013 before disaster struck, with a broken shoulder ruling the scrum-half out of the three-Test series against the Lions, and also the ACT Brumbies’ historic triumph at GIO Stadium.
12 years later, White was given a second shot at facing the prestigious touring side, captaining the Force at Optus Stadium. White led by example, scoring the team’s first try of the match – Western Australia’s first-ever first-half try against the Lions.
White brought some composure to the Force’s attacking shapes, guiding the team around the park with quick passing and a clever kicking game. While it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, this was certainly a good performance from the veteran No. 9.
10 Alex Harford – 5
With only one career start at Super Rugby level, this was always going to be a supreme test for Alex Harford, who showed some signs of promise before leaving the game in the 53rd minute. Harford was okay, but Ben Donaldson took over as the go-to first receiver during the second term, even with the starting No. 10 still on the park. The playmaker’s kicks didn’t trouble the Lions.
11 Dylan Pietsch – 8
Without any doubt whatsoever, Dylan Pietsch was best on ground during the first half. While the likes of Harry Potter, Filipo Daugunu and Max Jorgensen are all on the east coast preparing to face Fiji, Pietsch might’ve played himself into a starting spot with the Wallabies.
Pietsch was caught out of position early on, which led to Dan Sheehan’s opener, but the winger made amends almost immediately with a superb take off the restart. After coming close to scoring through Pietsch, the Force ended up striking back through captain Nic White.
When Pietsch left the field in the 65th minute, the left winger had a game-high 11 carries and 74 running metres as well. It seems unlikely Pietsch won’t face the Lions again, be that with the Wallabies or the AUNZ Invitational XV.
12 Hamish Stewart – 7
At first glance it might’ve seemed that Hamish Stewart had a quiet night against the Lions, not doing anything too flash in attack, but that was far from the case. While the full-time scoreline wasn’t pretty, it could’ve been a lot worse had it not been for Stewart, who finished with a dozen tackles against a Lions side who grew in confidence.
13 Matt Proctor – 6
After taking a big shot from Joe McCarthy, Matt Proctor didn’t really seem to recover, struggling to make a genuine impact on the match. Proctor worked hard on the defensive side of the ball but didn’t look too threatening with the ball in hand.
14 Mac Grealy – 8
Mac Grealy should be an NFL punt returner. Grealy had a couple of memorable returns during the first term, including one 13 minutes in that was mildly reminiscent of George North versus Israel Folau in 2013, carrying a couple of defenders with no room to move.
By the 50-minute mark, Grealy was equal-first with Dylan Pietsch for most carries in the match with 10, and the winger led the way for the Force with 71 running metres. Grealy went looking for work and was rewarded, backing up Kurtley Beale’s glowing endorsement earlier this week.
15 Ben Donaldson – 7.5
With 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale ruled out with a hamstring injury, the Force were able to call in a proven replacement on a couple of days before the match. Ben Donaldson was one of the Force’s clear standouts in Super Rugby Pacific, and there were shades of that on Saturday, helping steer the ship as a reliable game-driver.
Donaldson was front-and-centre in the lead-up to Nic White’s try, and the fullback was effective in general play, slotting in at first receiver on a regular basis. Ahead of the Test Series, Donaldson has given Wallabies selectors a bit to think about.
Replacements
16 Tom Horton – 5
17 Marley Pearce – 5
18 Tiaan Tauakipulu – 4
19 Lopeti Faifua – 6
20 Reed Prinsep – 5
21 Henry Robertson – 5
22 Max Burey – 4
23 Bayley Kuenzle – 5
Here’s how the Force rated:
1 Tom Robertson – 7.5
Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison said it best at half-time, explaining on Stan Sport that the Force “had the ascendency” at scrum time before pointing out Tom Robertson’s impact. While the Western Force statistically had the worst scrum in Super Rugby Pacific, Robertson helped the hosts control that area of the match opposite a world-class Lions front-row.
Robertson had the fifth-most carries out of any player by the half-time break, but the set-piece battle is clearly the big talking point. With Robertson included in Joe Schmidt’s 36-man Wallabies squad to play Fiji, it’s possible the prop meets the Lions again next month.
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 7
Brandon Paenga-Amosa contributed to a competitive set-piece from the Force, with the hooker hitting every target at the lineout – usually finding either Darcy Swain or Sam Carter. Paenga-Amosa was right up there with the best for carries with nine but did go missing for what seemed like extended periods of this match.
3 Ollie Hoskins – 7
One-Test Wallaby Ollie Hoskins was loaned out from Saracens on a unique one-game deal to face the Lions, making the prop’s last match of professional rugby one to remember. Before retirement, Hoskins packed down opposite an all-star Lions front-row, and the 32-year-old didn’t look out of place in the set-piece battle
Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman joined Irish duo Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the Lions’ front-row, but Hoskins contributed to a Force scrum that was steady if not superior during the first term. Hoskins also put in a solid shift in general play without standing out.
4 Sam Carter – 3
Along with Ollie Hoskins, this was Sam Carter’s last professional rugby match. 12 years on from the Brumbies’ shock win over the Lions – which Carter was part of – the veteran was given another shot at the touring side with the Force.
Carter was a reliable option at the lineout, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa throwing to the No. 4 lock on a number of occasions. That said, the 16-Test Wallaby failed to fire around the park, dropping the ball in the lead-up to Tomos Williams’ worldie of a try in the second term.
5 Darcy Swain – 6
Darcy Swain was reliable for the Force during Super Rugby Pacific, acting as a general at the set-piece, and the lock has been rewarded with a recall into the Wallabies squad. Swain showed signs of that again in this match against the Lions, but it was far from smooth sailing.
The Wallaby shot out of the line without matching a tackle during the first half, which created the space needed for the Lions to pounce – eventually scoring through Tomos Williams. Swain did win a lineout against the throw early in the second term, but was fairly quiet otherwise.
6 Will Harris – 4
It was a bit of an off-night for Will Harris. After leaving the match in the 10th minute for a HIA, the blindside flanker returned to the match during the first term, with one memorable carry the only real moment to speak of. Harris only completed three tackles and ran the ball three times.
7 Nicholas Champion de Crespigny – 7
Nick Champion de Crespigny was a genuine bolter selected in the first Wallabies squad of 2025, with the powerful backrower rewarded for a strong season with the Force. Before joining the national squad out east, Champion de Crespigny was given a shot at Force, making a mark against some of the world’s best.
Champion de Crespigny was a workhorse on the defensive side of the ball in particular, leading the way for the Force with 17 tackles completed. The openside flanker carried the ball with purpose and intent, and made some noise around the breakdown as well.
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi – 5
Vaiolini Ekuasi hasn’t played for the Force since April 19, when the home side drew with the Hurricanes at HBF Park. Coach Simon Cron was able to call upon the New Zealand-born backrower for this match, and Ekuasi made the most of it. Ekuasi was top-three for the Force when it came to carries and was solid enough on the defensive side of the ball.
9 Nic White – 7
Nic White was on the cusp of Wallabies selection in 2013 before disaster struck, with a broken shoulder ruling the scrum-half out of the three-Test series against the Lions, and also the ACT Brumbies’ historic triumph at GIO Stadium.
12 years later, White was given a second shot at facing the prestigious touring side, captaining the Force at Optus Stadium. White led by example, scoring the team’s first try of the match – Western Australia’s first-ever first-half try against the Lions.
White brought some composure to the Force’s attacking shapes, guiding the team around the park with quick passing and a clever kicking game. While it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, this was certainly a good performance from the veteran No. 9.
10 Alex Harford – 5
With only one career start at Super Rugby level, this was always going to be a supreme test for Alex Harford, who showed some signs of promise before leaving the game in the 53rd minute. Harford was okay, but Ben Donaldson took over as the go-to first receiver during the second term, even with the starting No. 10 still on the park. The playmaker’s kicks didn’t trouble the Lions.
11 Dylan Pietsch – 8
Without any doubt whatsoever, Dylan Pietsch was best on ground during the first half. While the likes of Harry Potter, Filipo Daugunu and Max Jorgensen are all on the east coast preparing to face Fiji, Pietsch might’ve played himself into a starting spot with the Wallabies.
Pietsch was caught out of position early on, which led to Dan Sheehan’s opener, but the winger made amends almost immediately with a superb take off the restart. After coming close to scoring through Pietsch, the Force ended up striking back through captain Nic White.
When Pietsch left the field in the 65th minute, the left winger had a game-high 11 carries and 74 running metres as well. It seems unlikely Pietsch won’t face the Lions again, be that with the Wallabies or the AUNZ Invitational XV.
12 Hamish Stewart – 7
At first glance it might’ve seemed that Hamish Stewart had a quiet night against the Lions, not doing anything too flash in attack, but that was far from the case. While the full-time scoreline wasn’t pretty, it could’ve been a lot worse had it not been for Stewart, who finished with a dozen tackles against a Lions side who grew in confidence.
13 Matt Proctor – 6
After taking a big shot from Joe McCarthy, Matt Proctor didn’t really seem to recover, struggling to make a genuine impact on the match. Proctor worked hard on the defensive side of the ball but didn’t look too threatening with the ball in hand.
14 Mac Grealy – 8
Mac Grealy should be an NFL punt returner. Grealy had a couple of memorable returns during the first term, including one 13 minutes in that was mildly reminiscent of George North versus Israel Folau in 2013, carrying a couple of defenders with no room to move.
By the 50-minute mark, Grealy was equal-first with Dylan Pietsch for most carries in the match with 10, and the winger led the way for the Force with 71 running metres. Grealy went looking for work and was rewarded, backing up Kurtley Beale’s glowing endorsement earlier this week.
15 Ben Donaldson – 7.5
With 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale ruled out with a hamstring injury, the Force were able to call in a proven replacement on a couple of days before the match. Ben Donaldson was one of the Force’s clear standouts in Super Rugby Pacific, and there were shades of that on Saturday, helping steer the ship as a reliable game-driver.
Donaldson was front-and-centre in the lead-up to Nic White’s try, and the fullback was effective in general play, slotting in at first receiver on a regular basis. Ahead of the Test Series, Donaldson has given Wallabies selectors a bit to think about.
Replacements
16 Tom Horton – 5
17 Marley Pearce – 5
18 Tiaan Tauakipulu – 4
19 Lopeti Faifua – 6
20 Reed Prinsep – 5
21 Henry Robertson – 5
22 Max Burey – 4
23 Bayley Kuenzle – 5
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Probably best to just link the article, rather than copying and pasting it wholesale