The Force went down to the Sharks on Saturday night.
What did we learn from the clash?
1. It only takes two
The Force was competing tightly with the Sharks in the opening stages but one false move unravelled their efforts. A yellow card for Curtis Rona left the Force a man down deep in their own half and the Sharks pounced. Two minutes was all it took for the Force’s hopes of victory to be effectively snuffed out.
2. Lance steadies the ship
Jono Lance had been rotated on to the bench in recent weeks for the Force but he repaid coach Dave Wessel’s faith to promote him on Saturday. Lance was super defensively, with 11 tackles and a turnover, as well as taking the lead in attack.
3. On the road again
The Force have a heavy travel schedule in the back half of their season but they couldn’t take any joy from their first South Africa leg. Of the Australian teams, only the Rebels have come back from South Africa with points, after a draw with the Sharks a fortnight ago. The Force now head to Buenos Aires to try and clinch their first away win of the year.
4. Bosch strikes again
Curwin Bosch is about to link up with the South Africa U20s but not before he inflicted a bit more pain on some Australian opposition. The 19-year-old has been a revelation for the Sharks this season and three penalties of his boot gave the Sharks a handy buffer. Finishing off a freakish try was his final act of the afternoon.
5. Coleman in the clear
Adam Coleman played the opening 40 minutes of the Force’s clash with the Sharks and the most positive part about it for Force fans is the lock will be available again next week. Coleman hadn’t taken the field since round two before Saturday afternoon, with his return timely for the Force and the Wallabies, as the June Series approaches.
