Western Force vs Moana Pasifika: Preview

This will be just the second ever Super Rugby meeting between Western Force and Moana Pasifika and the first at Western Force’s home-ground ;Western Force won the only previous meeting between these two sides(48-28 in May 2022)

History:

The Western Force have won their last two Super Rugby matches at HBF Park; the last time they enjoyed a longer winning run at their home venue was a five-match span from March to May in 2014, while Moana Pasifika are yet to win an away game in the Super Rugby Pacific, losing all seven of their previous games as the away team on the day by an average margin of 22 points per game. The Western Force have won their last two SuperRugby Pacific games played against teams from outside Australia; the last and only previous time they won more in succession in Super Rugby competitions was a five-game streak from May 2013 to May 2014.

Interesting facts:

• Moana Pasifika have scored four or more tries in each of their last four games in Super Rugby Pacific after doing so only once in all their 12 games in the competition prior.
• Moana Pasifika (54%) and the Western Force (54%) have the highest possession rates of any teams in  the 2023 Super Rugby  Pacific season, with Moana Pasifika having four minutes of time in possession more than the Force this season.

• The Western Force have  made 28 entries into the attacking 22m zone this  SuperRugby Pacific season,more than any other team in the competition and four more than MoanaPasifika(24).

Players to watch:

• Timoci Tavatavanawai (MoanaPasifika) has beaten 17 defenders in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season,the most of any player in the competition and 11 more than any Western Force player.