RECAP: The Western Force have ended their year on a high with a 31-25 win over the NSW Waratahs.
It marks their best season in 12 years, finishing seventh with their seventh win of the season.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
Force flanker Carlo Tizzano and winger Dylan Pietsch were the standouts as they both scored doubles in the horrendous conditions.
The Waratahs had built a 20-7 lead, only for the Force to hit the front and cement their victory after Tizzano's second of the night.
The visitors were dealt a cruel blow as Jake Gordon limped off with a potential Achilles injury.
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Force 31-25: The Waratahs will get one last chance as Kurtley Beale is pinged for going off his feet.
The visitors kick close to halfway as they try to secure their own lineout ball, only to be called not straight.
Force 31-25: The Waratahs try to launch a counter-attack from their own 22 as Max Jorgensen's half break looks promising, only for the Force to turn them over and win the penalty.
Kurtley Beale steps up for the long-range penalty but it's well left.
Force 31-25: Ben Donaldson's inch-perfect 50-22 has the Force on the verge of sealing the game.
Donaldson's kick is inch perfect and while the Force can't collect the lineout, they will get the feed at scrum-time but the Waratahs keep fighting and force the turnover.
Force 31-25: Carlo Tizzano makes it two as he scores another rolling maul try.
The flanker powers his way over to now offically tie the Super Rugby record for the Force and give them the lead.
Waratahs 25-24: An unlikely kick from Nic Dolly has the Force firing as they flip field position late in this game.
Dolly steals the overthrown lineout and boots it 50 metres, with great scramble defence leading to a rushed clearing kick that doesn't leave their 22.
Waratahs 25-24: The Waratahs are back in front and it's Apolosi Ranawai who gets it down.
The cult hero prop does it again, reaching out to find the line after a TMO check.
Force 24-20: A brute of a run from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has the Waratahs on the Force's goal-line.
The centre charges through after getting the ball from the lineout, bursting through it least three before just being brought down close to the line.
Force 24-20: Carlo Tizzano nabs his 31st Force try, setting the all-time Force try-scoring record (even though it's not their Super Rugby record).
It comes off the back of another strong scrum, with Tizzano peeling to the right and going again for the line.
Tizzano goes top for the Force, if you include his try in Global Rapid Rugby and against the British & Irish Lions.
Waratahs 20-17: The Force is applying the blowtorch on the Waratahs as they look for the lead.
It's a fourth and fifth penalty against the Waratahs's scrum as the Force keep repacking the scrum five metres out.
Waratahs 20-17: Dylan Pietsch is near-unstoppable as the winger cooks the Waratahs' defence again.
He flies down the wing but just can't get the ball to Jeremy Williams, leading to the knock-on.
This and a dominant Force scrum is doing the damage, winning their third penalty.
Waratahs 20-17: Misinale Epenisa strikes from close and the Force are back in this.
The Force win a crucial lineout as they march to the goal-line, with the prop powering over from a metre out.
Waratahs 20-12: The Force are rolling to start the half despite a thumping shot from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii halting their momentum.
Mac Grealy does very well to snap the ball and nail the 50-22, though the Waratahs pinch their lineout.
Waratahs 20-12: Jake Gordon is in serious trouble as he goes straight down clutching his leg.
He tries to go quick from the tap and knows instantly it's trouble, carried from the field with a potential Achilles injury according to the broadcast.
Waratahs 20-12: Dylan Pietsch produces a brilliant run to get his second.
Zac Lomax comes off his wing to find Pietsch, who steps back inside and beats four Waratahs for the try.
Waratahs 20-7: The rain is seriously coming down in Perth as the Force hunt to reduce the lead.
The hosts are camped inside the Waratahs 22 after a high shot from Joey Walton, with further scuffles post-tackle quelled before the TMO check sends the centre off for ten.
Waratahs 20-7: The Waratahs have restored their lead as Harry Potter scores against his old side.
Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have found their rhythm as they keep making big metres, before leaving the Force down on numbers for Ioane Moananu to find Potter untouched.
Waratahs 13-7: Dylan Pietsch has one of the weirder tries of the year after scoring basically from the kick-off
The Waratahs miss the collection from kick-off and it spills in-behind. Harry Potter looks to re-gather the ball but can't put it down, leaving Pietsch to dive back over his body and put it down.
Waratahs 13-0: The Waratahs are adding to their lead as Jack Bowen slots another penalty.
It comes off a powerful run from Max Jorgensen as the fullback breaks the line well inside his half, leaving the Force scrambling and giving up the offside penalty.
Waratahs 10-0: Carlo Tizzano nearly goes close to the line but is held up over the line.
It comes after a powerful run from Vailoini Ekuasi that has the visitors on the back foot.
Waratahs 10-0: Jack Bowen adds to the Waratahs lead with a penalty goal.
Carlo Tizzano thinks he has the breakdown steal but the referee calls him for hands past the ruck.
Waratahs 7-0: This feels like the reverse of their last clash as the Waratahs pour the pressure on the Force.
The ball hits the deck and Andrew Kellaway toes it ahead, nearly getting it back before some physical defence has the Force clearing their line.
Pete Samu has succumbed to that knee injury, replaced by Clem Halaholo.
Waratahs 7-0: Ioane Moananu has the opener as he catches the Force napping around the ruck.
The focus is around a penalty advantage for taking Jake Gordon out at ruck time but suddenly the gap opens for the hooker to pick it up and go over untouched.
Jeremy Williams saves the Force as he steals a crucial lineout on his five-metre line.
Darcy Swain then comes up with another lineout steal shortly afterwards but the Force are still camped in their 22.
A smart chip and chase in-behind from Andrew Kellaway is gathered by Mac Grealy for the goal-line dropout.
Both players come together briefly as tensions flare but it's minor.
What's more concerning is Pete Samu slipping and holding his knee, the number eight is in agony as he tries to play on.
An early chance goes begging as Jack Bowen misses an early penalty to the left.
The conditions don't help his case as the ball falss off the tee right before he's about to kick, having to quickly put it back on and go quickly
Jack Bowen has the ball in hand, and this game is underway in Perth!
The storms are surrounding the grounds but it doesn't stop this game from getting underway as the Force win it back.
Tries: Pietsch 2, Epenisa, Tizzano 2
Cons: Donaldson 2/4, Beale 1/1
Pens: Beale 0/1
Tries: Moananu, Potter, Ranawai
Cons: Bowen 2/2, Debreczeni 0/1
Pens: Bowen 2/2
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Force-Waratahs clash as the Super Rugby Pacific regular season comes to a close.
Neither team can make the finals, but there is still a lot on the line with Wallabies positions up for grabs.
There's storms around in WA but fingers crossed they dodge HBF Park but as I've written this, the rain starts to fall.
FORCE (1-15): Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vailoni Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Zac Lomax, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Sef Fa'agase, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Boston Fakafanua, Kurtley Beale
WARATAHS (1-15): Jack Barrett, Ioane Moananu, Dan Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Angus Scott-Young, Jamie Adamson, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Jack Bowen, Andrew Kellaway, Joey Walton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen
Replacements: Oniti Finau, Isaac Kailea, Apolosi Ranawai, Ben Grant, Clem Halaholo, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Triston Reilly
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Ollie Kellett
The Force's clash with the Waratahs will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
