The Western Force have been given a very tough draw for the 2015 Super Rugby season, with only two home games in the first seven rounds of the competition. These seven rounds include an opening round clash against the reigning champion Waratahs and a South African tour in rounds six and seven.
Their first home game will be in round three against the Hurricanes, which is always a very tough fixture.
If the Force were to go 3-4 in the first seven rounds before the bye it would be a very impressive effort.
Their South African tour is much tougher this year as they will be versing the powerhouse Durban Sharks and the Bulls, who are very strong when playing in South Africa. They will need to leave South Africa with at least a 1-1 split.
After their round seven bye they will have two games in Perth against the Stormers and the Cheetahs. These are two crucial games where they must go 2-0 before heading to New Zealand for two weeks in a row to verse the Chiefs and Blues.
Leaving New Zealand with a 1-1 split, again would be very impressive.
They then have five weeks of being in Perth, with four home games and one bye. They will need to go 3-1 at a minimum in these games.
They will then have one more game against the Rebels over in Melbourne. This will most likely be a must win game for the Western Force, and I imagine the season will end much like last years, with a last round win on the road determining their fate.
So now, I put to you my very, very early end of season prediction.
The Force will go one better than last season and finish on a 10-6 record, scraping into their first playoff appearance.
2015 Western Force Draw
ROUND |
DATE |
MATCH |
VENUE |
KICK OFF (local) |
|
1 |
Sunday, 15 February |
Waratahs v Force |
Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
4.05pm |
|
2 |
Saturday, 21 February |
Reds v Force |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
6.40pm |
|
3 |
Friday, 27 February |
Force v Hurricanes |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.00pm |
|
4 |
Friday, 6 March |
Brumbies v Force |
GIO Stadium, Canberra |
7.40pm |
|
5 |
Friday, 13 March |
Force v Rebels |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.00pm |
|
6 |
Saturday, 21 March |
Bulls v Force |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
5.05pm |
|
7 |
Saturday, 28 March |
Sharks v Force |
Growthpoint KINGS PARK, Durban |
5.05pm |
|
8 |
BYE |
||||
9 |
Saturday, 11 April |
Force v Cheetahs |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.45pm |
|
10 |
Saturday, 18 April |
Force v Stormers |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.45pm |
|
11 |
Friday, 24 April |
Chiefs v Force |
Waikato Stadium |
7.35pm |
|
12 |
Saturday, 2 May |
Blues v Force |
Eden Park, Auckland |
5.30pm |
|
13 |
Saturday, 9 May |
Force v Waratahs |
nib Stadium, Perth |
5.40pm |
|
14 |
BYE |
||||
15 |
Saturday, 23 May |
Force v Highlanders |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.45pm |
|
16 |
Saturday, 30 May |
Force v Reds |
nib Stadium, Perth |
5.40pm |
|
17 |
Friday, 5 June |
Force v Brumbies |
nib Stadium, Perth |
7.00pm |
|
18 |
Friday, 12 June |
Rebels v Force |
AAMI Park, Melbourne |
7.40pm |