It wasn’t pretty, but the Western Force have moved back inside the top six after a 29-20 come-from-behind win over the Highlanders in Perth.
After trailing 20-7 after 26 minutes, the Force hit back with two quick tries to close out the first half before holding the men from New Zealand’s south scoreless in the second half.
Carlo Tizzano, who has a big-money offer overseas but is expected to stay at the Western Force, was once again the star for the home side.
The openside flanker scored in the first half to extend his lead at the top of the tryscoring list in Super Rugby this year (11), but the 25-year-old was everywhere on the defensive side of the ball.
He secured the crucial turnover in the 59th minute on halfway when the Highlanders hoped to land a big shot to get themselves back into the contest. He was also the man who got over the ball at the death to secure a penalty, which secured the Force their crucial bonus-point win.
The nine-point win not only moved the Force up into fourth spot, but it came just at the right time before next week’s bye and a daunting four weeks to come as they prepare to face three more New Zealand sides in a row, including two across the ditch against the Chiefs and Blues.
“We probably didn’t start the way that we wanted to, but it shows the grit of the boys and we really bit down on the mouthguard, and we managed to get the momentum back and kept coming and coming, and it’s a great win ahead of the bye,” captain Jeremy Williams said.
George Poolman saw plenty of the action after coming on for Dylan Pietsch early during the Force’s win over the Highlanders at HBF Park on April 05, 2025. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Highlanders skipper Timoci Tavatavanawai rued his side’s end to the first half, where the visitors let the Force back into the contest by scoring two late tries.
“We let them in, in the last ten minutes by our mistakes, giving away penalties and it hurt us in the end,” the wrecking-ball back said.
