LIVE: The NSW Waratahs are holding onto a 20-14 lead over the Western Force after 35 minutes at HBF Park.
The Force have the bragging rights after their win earlier in the year, taking down the Waratahs in Sydney.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
They are boosted by the return of flyhalf Ben Donaldson, recovering from a quad injury.
As for the Waratahs, they are fresh off a disappointing defeat to the ACT Brumbies at home.
The visitors welcome back their own group of Wallabies, including Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Pete Samu and Jake Gordon.
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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
Cons: Donaldson 1/2
Pens:
Tries: Moananu, Potter
Cons: Bowen 2/2
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.
