Everything the Reds touched went wrong; an endless succession of collapsed scrums, lost lineouts, knock-ons, missed line kicks, turned over ruck ball and inferior field position.

The Force did most of the damage in a controversial first spell and led 18-3 at half time, the same score as the two sides held in their 2006 meeting.

The Reds' woes were compounded with two yellow cards and a subsequent red card for wing Peter Hynes, and a penalty try in the first 10 minutes. Halfback Chris O'Young scored the second try for the Force and wing Cameron Shepherd kicked two penalties and a conversion, with a sole penalty to Reds fullback Andrew Walker in reply. The Force dominated territory, stole three Reds lineouts and almost scored a third try along the way.

The second half, fortunately for the Force, bore no resemblance to the 2006 match. The Reds gained more territory but with no better result, while the Force finished with a late flourish, scoring tries to Shepherd and wing Digby Ioane to ram the win home and collect a bonus point.

Western Force 38
Tries: O'Young, Shepherd, Ioane, Penalty try
Conversions: Shepherd 3
Penalties: Shepherd 4

Reds 3
Penalties: Walker

Australian rugby may have shelled out millions of dollars to retain Lote Tuqiri but the Waratahs cannot buy a win after being out-gunned 16-10 by the Stormers in the Super 14 clash at Sydney’s Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.

In another dreadful, mistake-riddled performance, the Waratahs remain winless from their last four matches and are now in one of their worst slumps in their Super rugby history.

The Waratahs are now rooted in second last position on the Super 14 table, one point ahead of the Queensland Reds with the reputation of these two traditional Australian rugby powerhouses in tatters.

WARATAHS

Tries: Penalty Try

Conversions: Hewat (1)

Pen Goals: Hewat (1)

STORMERS

Tries: Watson

Conversions: Grant (1)

Pen Goals: Grant (3)

The Brumbies have had a poor start to their three-match South African tour going down 38-20 to the Cheetahs in their Super 14 match in Bloemfontein.

The Cheetahs led 14-0 at half-time and kept the Brumbies scoreless until 50th minute when the Australian outfit mounted a late challenge with tries to Adam-Ashley Cooper and Mark Chisholm.

But Cheetahs skipper Juan Smith sealed the match with a try in the 71st minute before Brumbies reserve scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs scored a chip-and-chase try on the final siren.

Cheetahs 38
Tries: Falie Oelschig, Gavin Passens, Richardt Strauss, Philip Burger, Juan Smith
Conversions: Willem de Waal 5
Drop Goal: De Waal

Brumbies 20
Tries: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mark Chisholm, Patrick Phibbs
Conversions: Julian Huxley
Penalty: Huxley

Sportal