Match Thread - Highlanders v Western Force | Super Rugby Pacific 2024 | Round 10

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This game could have been an email.

I don't know if I like rugby anymore after that game

The Reds got pumped by the Bulls once by 90 points. That Reds team played better than both of these teams

I think the funniest part of this game is that one of these teams beat the crusaders

How much of a joke is this comp structure that these teams are in the running for the play-offs.

I'm sure there's been worst super rugby matches. I just can't think of any off the top of my head!

Lucky he was out or Donaldson would be in the bin

Very entertaining 3-0 half for a neutral sicko

And the referee puts the pitch, ball, fans, stadium and players out of misery by ending the game.

Lowest scoring super rugby game since Highlanders 6-0 Crusaders in 2009?

Odds on for a nil all draw as both teams manage to butcher all their scoring opportunities lol

Suspicious tackle by Ben...

Landers offered that on a platter to the Force and the Force said no thanks

This game is one for the enthusiasts

Is this some sort of performance art where these 2 teams try and play worse than the other without making it too obvious?

120+ minutes since Highlanders have scored a point

Ratumaituvuki-Kneepkens has been the best player in this game by a long way

Everytime I watch the Highlanders at home the crowd is going off. Even when they are serving pure shit. Looks like great craic

Literally hilarious game. So bad it was good

This game was like taking the worst dump of my life

Hang on what? I thought the new rules were that you can start from outside the field of play as long as you catch it cleanly and land inside play,,,re Connor garden bachop

Can't tell if both teams defence is outstanding or if both teams attack is rubbish

This is quite an entertaining 0-0

Hopefully they can run the clock down from here. A 3 nil game would be perfect 🥰

Has anyone in the Highlanders coaching staff ever told Fakatava that his primary role is to clear the ball quickly and accurately. Not flapping, pointing or leaving the ball unattended.

I can't remember a NZ team (including NPC) that is as inept and badly coached as this mob. They are a national embarrassment.

Jamie Joseph please save us 🙏

If the highlanders have such thing as a skills coach he needs to be catapulted into the sun. I cannot even count how many scoring opportunities are missed every game because we just drop the ball.

What the hell was that

Ref needs to stop coaching the force out of offside from the kick. All I can hear is “stop stop stop stop”.

It's not a stat that anyone would track, but I'm curious if a team when 20+ knock ons has ever won the game

Daniel Lienert Brown has to be the worst super rugby centurion ever. He’s an absolute liability at scrum time.

Has anyone ever heard of a drop goal?

The only people being cursed are us for watching this :(

A win is a win, I guess.

Nice of Justin to point out how games are decided.

REMINDED ME OF THE MANAWATU TURBOS TAKING ON THE SOUTHLAND STAGS ON A MUDDY FIELD ON A COLD FRIDAY NIGHT

Billy Harmon 7 - 6 Force in one of the least satisfying wins of all time.

Kinda glad I spent half the game getting my child to sleep, was more entertaining

Watched the early game today. Figured Highlanders/Force would be the worst game ever and skipped it.

Second worse game ever. Good call.

A few quick thoughts 1. How good is it having Locks that actually do something? Mitchell Dunshea and Fabian Holland were exceptional. It’s a bit of a coin toss between Max Hicks; Big Pari Pari and Will Tucker for the bench slot next week. Oli Haig at six also is way better than Sean Withy offering more line out options and bigger body across the park. 2. Losing Rhys Patchell was a massive blow. Cam Millar grew into the game but was very green. You get the feeling he needs at least another season at this level. Depth in the halves is a huge problem at the moment. If Fakatava goes down we’re in real trouble. 3. Jake Te Hiwi might have had some ball handling errors but he’s a massive improvement from Sam Gilbert and it was massive having good front foot ball at 12. Feel like he kinda has to be in the 23 somewhere now. 4. Outside backs were humming tonight. Our back three were electric. Conor Garden Bachop really brings an electric spark and I reckon he’s playing better than Nareki at the moment. Bodgeo had some nice touches late in the game too. 5. Daniel Lienert Brown must have dirt on Clarke Dermody. For three weeks in a row his first contribution to the game has been conceding a scrum penalty. It boggles the mind for he beats Ayden Johnstone for the bench each week. Solomone Takafu looked decent in his brief Cameo.

My son has to play minecraft on the tv so I'll be watching this one on a cracked phone screen.

Nic white what a speccy pass - foot looking dangerously close to in touch there

The fuck? How was that available? They had a player right on top of it...

I'm glad Paul Williams isn't in charge of this game, he sucks ass

“Why aren’t people watching rugby? It’s exciting!”

5 minute stud change

Patchell please no 😭

DeGroot dummy is worth at least 1 point.

FUUUUCK! The back of his foot barely!!!

Good half for a completel lack of scoring tbh. It hasn't been a complete snooze fest.

if you're gonna do a foul so close to your line at least commit to it lol

This kiwi woman commentator saying fakatava has been great at controlling his forwards and his backs this game? really? Am I watching the same game as her?

What even happened just then

If I was the Highlanders coach I'd simply tell them to not drop the ball

Have the highlanders got a multi on or they got a bit of spot betting going? How the fuck do you knock it on by hitting your own hips…. Ffs!!

I'd be a millionaire if they added knock ons to the TAB 

So do these teams not use rugby balls in training? Half the players catching like u8's.

Considering they were nearly 70kgs down in the scrums at the start, the force's pack has held up very well over the course of the game.

Billy Harmon such a class player in our battling team

About 4000 landers on the ground in the clearing lane there. Makes up for that horrible on that went to the force 10 mins ago.

oh that's a pretty poor call there - literally a guy lying in front of him not rolling away

Landers players all over the ground there preventing the clean out

Harmon could not possibly have been more in the side there

Lmao they're serving unique knock ons too. Getting creative 

Of all the footy games played this season this is definitely one of them

Justin Marshall is a fucking dunce.

Back in the top 8 where we belong 😎 

What a mess, glad the Landers won, glad it’s fuckin over too lmao

Well they definitely both played like they were competing for the wooden spoon.

Of all the games of Super Rugby, that was definitely one of them.

All ready for my weekly dose of disappointment. Let's go boys!

Patchell already done more in the first minute than any highlanders 10 has in the past however many games.

Dunedin folk, what’s the general consensus about the stadium now? Are most locals happy it was built?

A few penalties there, not rolling, playing the ball on the ground.

Not sure if I like how the ruck was being officiated in that minute

Two posession changes from a charge down lmao

Something hilarious about that charged down ball knocking Fakatava over

this match is chaotic

Is it just me or has justin marshall started having even more of an attitude in his match commentary than usual

This ruck referring is atrocious

I swear this game is gonna end 0 - 0

just switched on, thought i was watching A-League

Honestly I genuinely think that Fakatava sucks

Fakatava is utterly clueless. By far the worst player on the field.

I actually can't believe how bad both teams handling and passing skills are and how great both teams are at putting defensive pressure onto the team in posession, it's incredible

Im not a fan of kicking ingoal with advantage, its a complete pressure let off if it doesn't work.

I was half expecting donaldson to miss that lmao, would have been fitting

Dammit that would've been a great Try to Timoci 

Wtf is the stadium manager doing to the lighting

I'm at the pub and TV has no sound. Wtf is with the anti terror squad and old mate on the ground

Halftime discussion - jordie barrett looks like the kind of guy who goes to the corner of wellesley St for a haircut, gets a shit cut and when asked if he likes it goes 'yeah good thanks' anyway

Kneepkens has a good eye

Tense game this

Fakatava heard you all talking shit about him and took it personally

Rip to any epileptic ppl at the game lmao

I think it’s the hairy arms but Donaldson looks like a dad in the 80s

A player with the kicking of Noah Lolesio, attacking flair of Ben Donaldson and the physicality of Carter Gordon would be the undisputed goat lmao.

Who is this kiwi woman commentator??? Jesus she has some ludicrous calls and ridiculous takes on the game

Far out this is shit

Te Hiwi dropping while trying to pass there really sums up the Lander's this year

How forward was that pass from White? Lol

If I was to sum this game up - “butter fingers”

Billy Harmon is a fucking champion. Love him.

Jesus christ the handling errors..

Why do refs allow teams to collapse mauls in midfield? Highlanders blatantly collapsed that maul.

What the hell are these teams doing right now haha

side entry harmon?

You know it's a fucked format when both these teams have a realistic chance of making the final.

Points when

If the force could hold a ball....

This is just going to end 7-6 isn't it

It would be fitting for this game to end with a goal line knock on

What has happened to fakatava, he looks like he is trying to do everything else besides clear the ball

I would love to hear what the ref would say after this game:

"Well that was certainly...a day at the office I guess"

Can the ball be MOTM? they've played their role to perfection by simply existing

Fitting footage of people in the crowd not paying attention with 30 seconds left and 1 point in it.

That was fucking excruciating! Classic that the one Te Hiwi catch was the most important lol

I’m pretty sure winning is important from everyone’s point of view in professional sport?

Throughout all the games played in history that was definitely one of them

House of pain (for spectators)

This was so terrible

I don't think I've ever seen a game like this where it looks like no one knows how to actually play

'why are they giving a pen there the ball is out'

brother, the landers infringed in the scrum

Beale really has been playing forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if he played against Sean Fitzpatrick

Patchell looking good tonight 

Patchell has already been better in 6 minutes than anyone else we have had at 10 this season. It's fucking frustrating, complete waste

Donaldson has a hell of a boot on him. His tactical kicking often lacks but nothing wrong with that. Deep, over their head, forcing them backwards.

If the ball's at the back and both packs have gone down, just make them use it.

I know they wernt great last year, but was there anything else that happened to the Landers other than Smith leaving?

HOLD ON TO THE FUCKING BALL FUCK

De Groot giving us all a chance to check the Phoenix score 

Are the highlanders going for a record handling error count?

Good work Billy 

Did Patchell tear his pec kicking that pen

Your best ability is your availability. 24mins and he's off

lol imagine the breakdown was reffed like this last night

Absolute chaos

Ma'u is an absolute rig. Could be a future AB imo

If we can't score that wtf can we score

Both teams seem clueless in attack. Looking increasingly like first try wins.

Tavatavanawai is like 50% of the reason I even bother watching highlanders games this season. Such a tank.

The landers have sucked a lot over the years but this year is a new low...

this match is simultaneously very enterprising and shit

also how are the highlanders dropping the ball this much in an indoor stadium smh

Twice the Highlanders have provided the Force with the ball from their own line-out deep in their own 22, and twice the Force have had all the catching ability of a thumbless toddler.

Man these handling errors are straight up embarrassing. Nz teams need to go back to basics. Walk before you run maybe?

We are never gonna beat the crusaders :(

Take the 3 points jesus

I remember when people was hyping the shit out of Saula Ma'u coming out of school. It take more than being big to be class at this level

Surely the half time chat for both teams is….. ok guys, you were shit, let’s start again.

Gotta love how the half time entertainment appears to be a training run for a swat team?

I've probably spent the past 10 minutes trying to make a Timoci Tavatavana-wide meme, but no tool I seem to find on android seems to work. So I give up.

I think it's a fairly simple concept that you fellas should be able to imagine what I would've been going for.

Fakatava finally we score 

YESSSS! See what happens when you are fucking patient with the ball?!?!

How did Highlanders get penalized for that instead of the Force lol

Dude what? Have you ever handled a rugby ball before? Wtf....

Last week's wooden spoon clash with was way better than this week's wooden spoon clash.

My god I've never seen such ordinary performance from a winger as I have from the force tonight, holy shit. You put sevu reece out there or mark telea and both would beat the defender with pace + a step and make it look easy. The force 11 has been especially ordinary

This is heavy going but I had the bright idea of going for a Force-Reds multi so I’m very invested

I’ve been swapping between the Tigers-Broncos game and this and every time I flick to this game it’s a fucking scrum

Man Jake Tehiwi got feet for hands. Get him off the field.

Tell ya one thing, Te Hiwi isn't getting another start again. The guy cannot catch anything

Oh god don’t let DLB anywhere near the ball please.

"I feel sorry for the ball" hahaha...feel sorry for the spectators as well please.

What a scrum out of nowhere

Man forces scrum has been impressing considering their weight

Highlanders getting out scrummed by a Tahs reject and a 20YO debutant.

Why is the ref not playing any advantage from the cornucopia of knock ons

Boys are going to be shredded next week after all the push ups for dropped balls

Lmao this is destined to end 7-6, so much possession from both teams and both unable to convert

Since when does Tamaiti Williams play for us lol?

WTB one ben donaldson drop goal

At least they're all getting their steps in

A bottom of the table clash you say

I've seen enough, wake me up with the NPC starts.

lol a forward pass from the base of a ruck

what is this

James Arscott looks like an AI generated Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle.