The Western Force have ended their year on a high with a 31-25 victory over the NSW Waratahs in Perth.
They defied an early deficit and several bursts of heavy rain for their seventh win of the season, one of their best ever tallies in a year.
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So what did we learn?
The Force may have had their best season in over a decade, but there’s a feeling of what could’ve been, even in a massive year for the club.
The hosts did very well to rally, with their set-piece inspiring the comeback, braving the elements for the win.
However, the victory will just leave fans dreaming of an elusive finals berth after finishing four points behind the ACT Brumbies.
Their late loss to the Highlanders earlier in the year and a pair of defeats to the Brumbies top the list of regrets.
But ultimately, it’s a massive step forward for Simon Cron’s men, who should celebrate the progress made in 2026.
The build-up to the game was about the Wallabies wingers but it wasn’t a contest as Dylan Pietsch blew everyone away.
Pietsch has been the form winger in Australia and dominated the Waratahs, with his cut-back for his second try the perfect blend of his power and acceleration.
He finished with a team-high five tackle busts, two line breaks and two tries, firming as a lock for the Wallabies.
Max Jorgensen would be his likely wing partner, also excellent at the back for the ‘Tahs.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii left little doubt he was fully fit heading into the internationals.
The centre was a brutal battering ram in the midfield, with his run in the 65th minute to pick of the bunch as he skittled defenders to nearly score a wonder try.
His physicality in defence was exceptional, whilst causing some early trouble with his aerial pressure.
The superstar is a genuine game-breaker and a big weapon for the Wallabies.
The look on Jake Gordon’s face told the whole story as the Wallabies incumbent looked in serious doubt for the July series after a potential Achilles injury.
Gordon instantly hit the deck with a non-contact, lower leg injury after trying to accelerate from a quick tap late in the first half and was carried from the field.
The scrum half has been one of the first picked and would be a massive blow if out for the Wallabies, leaving either Tate McDermott or Ryan Lonergan to fill the void, with Kalani Thomas and Louis Werchon potentially battling for the final spot in the squad alongside Teddy Wilson.
It capped off a horrific first half of injuries for the visitors, losing Pete Samu (knee) and Miles Amatosero (concussion) in the first 15 minutes.
The Western Force loves creating chaos from kickoff as they gave Harry Potter a taste of his own medicine.
Potter infamously scored one off a kick-off for the Force but found himself scrambling after the Waratahs failed to re-gather after a Jack Bowen penalty, coughing the ball up for Dylan Pietsch to score. It came after Ben Donaldson tried a similar play earlier in the game.
The restarts were an issue throughout the night as the wet conditions added to the problems but it’s something that has plagued Australian teams consistently.
