Blues recover from Perth wobble to clinch dominant win against Force in Super Rugby Pacific

Saturday, 21 February 2026

At HIF Health Insurance Oval, Perth: Force 32 (Harry Johnson-Holmes 12’, Carlo Tizzano 40+2’, Bayley Kuenzle 67’, Ben Donaldson 79’ tries; Donaldson 2 con, 2 pen) Blues 42 (Joshua Fusitu’a 6’, Stephen Perofeta 21’, Zarn Sullivan 42’, Torian Barnes 53’, Cole Forbes 60’, Josh Beehre 70’ tries; Perofeta 6 con). HT: 17-14. Yellow card: Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Force).

The Blues clinched their first win of the season with a dominant second half putting the Western Force to bed in breezy Perth conditions on Saturday.

Responding from an opening defeat to the Chiefs last weekend, Vern Cotter was looking anxious as the hosts troubled his side throughout a testing Super Rugby Pacific clash.

He would nonetheless have enjoyed how they grabbed control when they needed and the improvement of first five-eighth Stephen Perofeta in commanding the stiff breeze, including some sublime conversions.

They were denied a bonus-point success, winning 42-32, but it was a better attacking display with six tries and just what the Blues wanted to ignite their campaign in round two.

The Force, even in an alternative venue at Perth’s HIF Health Insurance Oval, are often tricky to beat on their patch, although the Blues still haven’t lost to them since 2008.

The deck was hard, the wind strong and the locals packed on a traditional grass bank might have believed an elusive win over the Aucklanders was unfolding before them. The hosts were leading at half-time.

Three tries in 18 minutes wiped out that prospect, as Cotter’s men dug their heels in and powered forward. Josh Beehre hit opposing lock Darcy Swain with a forceful tackle that demonstrated the strength the Blues can impose.

Beehre deserved his late try that finished the Force’s resistance, despite them hitting back with Bayley Kuenzle and Ben Donaldson’s scores to rub out the Blues’ bonus point.

The Blues were reluctant to kick with the wind in their face in the first half. When the gusts were behind them, Zarn Sullivan, who was otherwise solid at fullback, launched a distant bomb dead from his own half.

High kicks were a lottery in the swirling breeze, but Perofeta landed accurate bombs to pin the Force back.

Short passes were the safer option and when right wing Cole Forbes touched down after an hour from another relentless stream of carries near the Force’s line, the Blues had the upper hand.

Sullivan was on the spot to regain the lead after another excellent run from openside flanker Dalton Papali’i. Rookie loose forward Torian Barnes came off the bench to give them more breathing space with his impressive cameo.

Anton Segner was excellent again in their loose forwards and carried with the venom Cotter wants from his pack. Caleb Clarke, too, looked menacing when coming off his left wing and Fin Christie remains vital to keeping the Blues’ big men moving at speed.

One notable presence among the home side’s backs was former All Black and Crusader George Bridge, playing at centre and in the thick of everything the Force mustered when challenging the Blues in spells in either half.

Cotter’s frustration was obvious when Perofeta dropped a simple pass in the first half. In the coach’s box, he briefly discarded his regular cap and resisted slamming it on the table.

He might have done more damage when the Blues squandered good chances to attack from their half before the break. Hoskins Sotutu’s surge came to nothing. Lineouts went astray. The Force were alive.

They were in front when Donaldson’s sweeping 50/22 turned defence to attack in a flash. Wallabies loose forward Carlo Tizzano was over, leaving the Blues in a hole when trudging off the large oval.

Whatever Cotter might have said in the sheds appeared to get through to his troops.

There was little intent to go wide from either side from the outset. Both were committed to short carries with the aim of knocking the other to bits. Defences were quick, forceful as the afternoon sun lowered in Western Australia.

Phase by phase, the Blues led with familiar close-range tries for prop Joshua Fusitu’a and Perofeta.

The Force struggled to defend the onslaught in their 22, losing hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa to the sinbin before Perofeta strolled over.

The hosts were nevertheless desperate to bounce back from last week’s 56-24 hiding in Perth against the Brumbies, an embarrassing result before their fans in round one.

Without possession until the eighth minute, the Force clattered through the Blues with their first attack. Prop Harry Johnson-Holmes’ try indicated the visitors would not stroll to victory.

Donaldson’s boot was largely accurate — but for an inexplicable miss under the posts — to keep the Force ticking on the scoreboard. The Blues, however, had galloped clear for a crucial opening win.

What’s next

The Blues remain in Australia and head across to the Canberra cauldron for the rigours of a contest with the Brumbies next Saturday.

The Force fly across the Tasman seeking a rare win on New Zealand soil against Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe next Friday night.