George Bridge makes up for howler as Western Force defeat sloppy Moana Pasifika
Friday, 27 February 2026
At Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe: Moana Pasifika 19 (Millennium Sanerivi 19’, Melani Matavao 76’, Allan Craig 80’ tries; Patrick Pellegrini, Jackson Garden-Bachop con) Western Force 35 (Darby Lancaster 6’, Darcy Swain 33’, George Bridge 40+1’, Carlo Tizzano 62’, Leonel Oviedo 69’ tries; Ben Donaldson 5 con). HT: 7-21.
George Bridge was guilty of one of rugby’s cardinal sins when failing to ground the ball in squandering a certain try in the Western Force’s priceless 35-19 win against Moana Pasifika.
The former All Blacks winger of 19 tests, who has enough experience of scoring tries, was sauntering over the line for the Force in Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific clash in Pukekohe.
Bridge was unaware that Denzel Samoa was lurking, hellbent on prizing the ball free of the ex-Crusader’s grasp because it was his knock-on that gave the visitors their window to attack.
Moana’s right winger had indeed done enough to dislodge possession, with a late TMO check revealing Bridge’s blunder despite Ben Donaldson’s conversion.
Bridge, as a seasoned professional back in Super Rugby after a stint in France, was embarrassed by the error, although it was incidental once giant lock Darcy Swain scored from the Force’s next attack.
The 30-year-old said it was a “coach killer”.
“Not ideal, but obviously made up for it afterwards. And we got the win, so happy about that,” he told Sky Sport.
Operating at centre, then wing in the second half, Bridge wasn’t deterred from remaining in the thick of the Force’s play in a rare away victory that snapped an eight-match losing streak stretching back to last April.
In fact, it was just their second Super Rugby win on New Zealand soil from their last 25 attempts. Their last was against Moana in Auckland in 2022.
Bridge got his redemptive moment when diving low to give the visitors a deserved 21-7 lead at the break. Coach Simon Cron might have decided against mentioning his howler with such a commanding position they maintained to close out their success.
“Bridgey and I will be chatting. It’s probably the wrong time right now,” Cron told Sky Sport on full-time. “I’ll give him half an hour.”
Counterpart Tana Umaga wouldn’t have enjoyed what his Moana side produced for long spells. They fell off tackles and were conceding cheap penalties to give the Force more territorial advantage.
Moana’s record after three rounds dropped to 1-2 and concerns should be rising about their prospects of improving on last season’s great strides. Their game was lifeless in the second half.
Without the totemic Ardie Savea, loose forwards such as Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Semisi Paea and Miracle Faiilagi did little to account for his influence in a home match Moana really should win if they want to make the playoffs for the first time.
The new attacking focal point of first five-eighth Patrick Pellegrini and Ngani Laumape in the midfield struggled to click and gain any control. Handling was slack and Moana couldn’t string plays together to escape their own half.
Referee Paul Williams brutally also told both packs their scrummaging “was not up to Super Rugby standards” early in the second half.
The contest descended into an ugly grind, a tough spectacle for anyone dotted around Navigation Homes Stadium hoping for a festival of attacking rugby.
There was a sense of relief when busy Wallabies loose forward Carlo Tizzano extended the Force’s lead after the hour.
Classy first-five Donaldson was cleaner with his kicking game, Hamish Stewart landed a thumping 50/22, and the Force drove home their advantage with reserve hooker Leonel Oviedo rumbling over.
The hosts finished with some attacking flourish and late tries for Melani Matavao and Allan Craig, denying the Force a bonus point, but it was far too late.
Moana’s start was poor, summed up by the setting sun blinding lock Tom Savage when he fumbled a lineout.
They were sloppy in possession and vulnerable to Darby Lancaster’s speed on his first Force appearance. The former sevens flyer broke the deadlock.
The visitors were powerless to stop Millennium Sanerivi’s opener for Moana, the hooker shimmying and smashing past defenders imperiously.
His surge complemented their scrum dominance. Otherwise, there was a physical stalemate. Willing lineout drives were held back and Moana’s knack of pinching turnovers made the Force cautious around the ruck.
Still, Umaga’s men couldn’t dig themselves out of trouble as the Force bounced back from opening home defeats to the Brumbies and the Blues in Perth.
What’s next
Moana head down the road for a daunting clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton next Friday night.
The next leg of the Force’s tour takes them to Dunedin to face the Highlanders next Saturday night.