Rebels thrashed as Force run riot

[The InnFORCEr]

AAP
Justin Chadwick
March 8, 2014, 7:42 pm


The Melbourne Rebels were brought crashing back to earth in brutal fashion on Saturday night with a shock 32-7 Super Rugby loss to the Western Force in Perth.

The Rebels had been irresistible in last week's 35-14 demolition of the Cheetahs, while the Force looked set for a long season after being thumped by the Waratahs and Brumbies in their opening two games.

But the Force turned things around in dramatic style, scoring four tries in the opening 27 minutes on the way to the bonus-point victory in front of 9895 fans.

The Rebels were held scoreless until substitute Telusa Veainu scored a belated try after the fulltime siren.

The win lifted the Force off the bottom of the table, and snapped their four-game losing streak against the Rebels.

Skipper Matt Hodgson scored a try in his 100th match for the Force, while flanker Angus Cottrell, former Reds winger Luke Morahan and scrumhalf Alby Mathewson also scored.

The Force led 32-0 at halftime, with scrumhalf Mathewson key to the early onslaught.

The Rebels were beaten in nearly every aspect of the game, with the Force enjoying 75 per cent possession in the opening 30 minutes.

Rebels coach Tony McGahan made a surprising six changes to his starting line-up, and the mass changes backfired badly as the Force took control from the outset.

Mathewson started the riot in the second minute when he sold the dummy to Rebels lock Caderyn Neville before strolling over.

Hodgson's bravery then set up the second try, with the former Wallaby launching himself at a high ball to open the door for Morahan to cross.

And the inspirational skipper had a try for himself in the 24th minute when he pounced on a lucky bounce.

The four-try bonus point was in the bag by the 27th minute when Rebels flyhalf Angus Roberts dropped a high ball, allowing Cottrell to cross a few phases later.

McGahan had seen enough by that point, dragging prop Max Lahiff and lock Neville from the field in a desperate bid to spark his side.

Flyhalf Bryce Hegarty was also thrown into the fray at halftime and the changes paid dividends as the Rebels stemmed the flow.

However, it was too little, too late as the Force cruised to their first win of the year to celebrate Hodgson's milestone in grand style.

"It's a big learning curve for all of us. We're all responsible for the result," McGahan said.

"I thought the Force were terrific tonight. They really played for each other.

"They brought a real intensity, a real emotional attachment to each other and they deserved the result."

Force skipper Hodgson praised the team's hot start.

"I think that's the best 30 minutes we've played at the club in its entirety. So to come out and play like that ... is something I'll never forget," Hodgson said.

Force coach Michael Foley said the win was good reward for the team's hard work.

"That's a nice performance to have early in the season," Foley sad.

"It's been a long time since there's been a bonus point here for us.

"I think the way they responded to some of the criticism this week was very good."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...orce-run-riot/

[jono]

Isn't it a bit shitty how in the headlines of the news Articles, the force didn't win the game. The rebels lost it.
Bunch of wankers. The rebels didn't lose the game. They got a complete pantsing early on which it was impossible to recover from

[Alison]

It's better than Growden's effort - he managed to bag the Force in an article on ESPN ostensibly about Pat McCabe FFS!! Check the first part of the second para in this article.

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby...ry/217547.html

I sent them a tweet saying it was pathetic and childish how he managed to take a swipe at us every single time he writes.

[Stone Cold]

It would have been even more but we kept coughing the ball up near our try line in the second half.

[Herbasimplex]

Happy for them media to be talking about another team in negative terms rather than us TBH. If the Rebels are put to the sword by the Crusaders the negative media and pressure on the team will intensify, especially (here's hoping) if we get over the highlanders and the Rebels go to the bottom of the table. I would rather the media leave us alone for a bit to sort ourselves out and get some wins under our belt, they'll come to the party eventually if we win a couple.

[GIGS20]

I doubt that Herb, there's a lot more money tied up in Melbourne than there is in Perth.

[Macattack]

It would have been even more but we kept coughing the ball up near our try line in the second half.

I agree, HOWEVER, I was still quite pleased with our second half (not as much as the first half of course) - there was such a big chance we would try and defend the lead with the Rabble eroding it every few minutes, instead we kept our cool, our intensity and kept attacking! Bloody good to see and let's hope it gives our boys enough confidence to keep up that sort of effort, structure and intensity

[James]

Interesting stat: We have always taken points away from a game against the Highlanders. The only two losses we've had (2006, 2007) saw us win losing bonus points.

[The InnFORCEr]

Interesting stat: We have always taken points away from a game against the Highlanders. The only two losses we've had (2006, 2007) saw us win losing bonus points.

Was at our first and only match at Carisbrook. My first and the Inaugural InnFORCEers Tour to NZ. We were a bit early at the ground as the can bars (trestle table behind a roller door with a pallet of Speights on the ground) were just opening. I only asked for "two" and to my delight was handed two six packs of Speights.

Now that is what I call the responsible service of alcohol