The Western Force stole a game they looked dead and buried in.
Stuck deep inside their half and going nowhere deep into stoppage time against Moana Pasifika, Ben Donaldson – the maligned Wallaby, who moved to the Force in 2024 – saw a mismatch in defence 75 metres out from his line, threw the dummy, pinned the ears back and scored a stunning match-winner after 26 phases.
Donaldson then made no mistake with the conversion to hand the Force an incredible 45-44 win over Ardie Savea’s Moana Pasifika in Perth on Saturday night.
“Oh mate, it did feel like we were going nowhere, didn’t it?” Donaldson told Stan Sport’s Justin Harrison seconds later.
“Credit to our forwards, we spoke all week about getting set early and that last passage of play is what we want from them. I’m just happy with the result.”
Making Donaldson’s starring role all the more incredible was earlier in the half it looked for all money that the Wallaby would be forced off with an ankle injury after colliding with his opposite number.
“It was tough, I obviously rolled my ankle, but the doctor gave me about six Panadol and that worked a treat,” he quipped.
“We speak about being tough for each other and having that grit, so I knew I had to stay on and just play my part. Far out the boys hung in there and that’s a result we can be bloody proud of.”
At the 70 minute mark it looked like Moana Pasifika was going to record their second straight win in Perth as they battered the home side’s line.
Unable to cope with the visitors’ scrum, the Force were reduced to 14 when Tom Robertson, who came back on for the injured Tiaan Tauakipulu, was shown a yellow card immediately upon his return.
Ben Donaldson celebrates after scoring the winning try against Moana Pasifika at HBF Park on February 15, 2025. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Two tries in as many minutes saw Moana Pasifika open up a 13-point point lead after 72 minutes.
Little did they know that another costly conversion miss would come back to bite them as the Force returned fire with fire.
The Force thought they had landed one blow when Reed Prinsep looked like he scored, but replays showed the ball just short of the line.
Seconds later though and new Force recruit, a handful of new shiny toys bought by Simon Cron and lured west, slipped through and scored.
Next came a try from the Gods that no-one saw coming as Donaldson took the ball to the line after Princep, Atu Moli, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Will Harris tried to batter the Force forward to no great effect.
The one-point win not only made it a perfect weekend for Australia’s Super Rugby sides, after late wins to the Waratahs and Brumbies, but it got the Force’s season off to the perfect start after stumbling out of the blocks in 2024.
“It’s huge,” said Donaldson. “Obviously last year we were 0-4 at the start of the season and it took its toll.
“Coming out here, with a great Sea of Blue crowd, just to get the win, we spoke in the pre-season about showing up for each other and that’s what we did tonight, so I hope the fans are proud.”
Western Force coach Simon Cron embraces Will Harris following their incredible win over Moana Pasifika. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Savea, who was physical as always, tipped his hat at the Force’s composure.
“We let them back and it’s a testament to the Force and keeping their position and scoring in the end,” he said.
Earlier, the visitors opened up a 14-0 lead after 17 minutes as Kyren Taumoefolau and Jackson Garden-Bachop showed what Moana can do with some space.
A settle from Donaldson got the Force on the scoreboard after 19 minutes, before Garden-Bachop restored the 14 point lead after 21 minutes.
It was then that the Force finally found their groove, with Nic Dolly hitting the target at the lineout and Carlo Tizzano jumping on the end of the rolling maul.
Some nice hands then saw Reds recruit Mac Grealy scored the Force’s second in four minutes to have both sides locked up at 17-17.
A bit of fortune allowed Moana to re-take the lead, before Tizzano scored his second.
A penalty on the stroke of half-time to fullback William Havili gave the visitors a 27-24 lead.
Some wastefulness from the visitors looked like hurting them when Marely Pearce dived over from close range, but Taumofolau’s second try got Moana Pasifika rolling again.
It was then that their scrum went to work. It looked like being a killer blow.
But Pietsch and Donaldson had other ideas, sealing an incredible win that completed one of the best opening weekends in Super Rugby history.
