Waratahs v Western Force: Super Rugby Saturday preview

A battle of two sides who have made strong starts to the new Super Rugby season takes place at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday evening when Waratahs play host to Western Force.

The hosts have won their opening two games of the campaign, beating Highlanders 37-36 and Fijian Drua 29-24, having ended the 2024 season with six consecutive defeats.

Force, meanwhile, have won two from three, edging Moana Pasifika 45-44 and the Brumbies 45-42 in two high-scoring thrillers, before being beaten 28-24 last time out against the Reds.

Waratahs v Western Force betting preview

Tahs off to a quick start

Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar must be delighted to see his side make a double winning start this season and he has made three changes for this test, among them Lawson Creighton debuting at flyhalf and centre Joey Walton returning after a groin injury.

Prop Siosifa Amone was the hero of the hour in the opening win over the Highlanders, crashing over twice in the final 13 minutes of the game, but he is only on the bench here.

Last time out, the Tahs also struck late on to down the Drua, with a penalty try three minutes from time proving decisive, with both of those victories having come at Allianz Stadium.

McKellar's side now have an opportunity to secure a hat-trick of wins on home turf and another close encounter could be on the cards, with six of the Waratahs' nine home Super Rugby fixtures having been decided by five points or less.

And it is clear where the Tahs will feel that they can get the job done, as seven of the eight tries they have scored across their opening two games having been scored by their forwards.

Tizzano a scoring machine for Force

The Force have been involved in three very close games so far this season, scoring 45 against both Moana and the Brumbies, but only winning those two matches by a combined total of four points.

And a four-point margin went against them last time out as they were beaten by the Reds, leaving head coach Simon Cron no doubt concerned about his side's defensive displays to date, while being boosted by welcoming back captain Jeremy Williams in the second row.

However, he will also know that his side keep going until the end, with fullback Ben Donaldson scoring and converting his own try to win the game against Moana with the last play of the game.

Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa crashed over late on to earn the win against the Brumbies, but the Force were stung themselves last time out as a Filipo Daugunu try gave the Reds the win.

The star of the Force's offensive play so far this season has been flanker Carlo Tizzano, who scored two tries against Moana, one against the Brumbies and another double in the defeat to the Reds.

Tizzano, who has also registered five tries in five appearances for the Wallabies to date, finished off last season by crossing in a 24-19 loss to the Brumbies, so he is clearly a huge danger to the Tahs line and can be backed at 2.50 to score a try at anytime on Saturday.

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Waratahs v Western Force odds

Waratahs - 1.44
Western Force - 2.80

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.