The Melbourne Rebels posted their first ever away win, 26-25 over the Western Force in the Super Rugby clash at Perth’s NIB Stadium on Saturday night.
The Force looked like rectifying last week’s drubbing by the Stormers with a thrashing of their own by notching an early 15-0 lead.
But they allowed the Rebels back into it before a charging run from lock Sam Wykes put winger Rory Sidey over for a 65th minute converted try that took them to within one point.
The Force looked like stealing the game with a run down the right side by flyhalf James O’Connor with nine minutes to go but a pass back inside was knocked down.
The Wallabies representative then had a chance to take the game with a penalty but his shot at goal from out wide was waved away.
The Force opened up the scoring with a try to Wykes in the fourth minute with O’Connor able to convert.
Less than five minutes later O’Connor ran 50 metres virtually untouched before putting young hooker Nathan Charles over the line for a 12-0 lead.
Melbourne began their claw-back in the 15th minute with a successful penalty goal to Danny Cipriani.
That was repeated two more times in the first half by the flashy England flyhalf, with the Force’s ill discipline costing them their early lead.
Cipriani’s own discipline came into question when he deliberately shouldered a Force player chasing a kick in what was a blatant obstruction and earned the Perth side three points.
The Rebels got their first try in the 20th minute when fullback Mark Gerrard crossed in his first game since round four when he suffered a shoulder injury.
The former Wallabies back was unlucky to be yellow-carded six minutes later after a high tackle on Force winger David Smith which had the 15,000-strong crowd gasping in shock.
However on replay it looked a lot less serious with Gerrard striking Smith high across the chest.
It was 15-14 to the Force at halftime and the Rebels took the lead soon after the break with lock Hugh Pyle intercepting a Cameron Shepherd pass 30 metres out and scoring on debut.
Five minutes later the Melbourne outfit extended their lead in a clever play by Cipriani who the Force had presumed was taking a penalty shot at goal.
Instead he kicked across field to winger Richard Kingi who gathered the ball and scored.
The loss leaves the Force alone at the bottom of the Australian conference.
Devastated Force coach Richard Graham said his side had paid the price for taking the pressure off.
“Simply we didn’t pay them enough respect,” he told reporters.
“To get to an early lead like that, it’s about the things that got you that lead and we went away from it and allowed them back into the game.
“Two tries in the second half at this level is inexcusable.”
Adding to the Force’s woes was a shoulder injury to flanker Matt Hodgson, who faces the prospect of joining fellow loose forward David Pocock on the sidelines.
Rebels coach Rod McQueen was pleased his side was able to hang in the game against a “desperate” team.
“They’re starting now to believe in themselves and that’s paramount to having a good side and I’m pretty happy with that,” McQueen said.
“We’ve talked about what’s wrong with our away games and the players themselves have been pretty determined to get themselves up.”
Rebels captain Stirling Mortlock said Cipriani’s decision to kick across field instead of taking the penalty shot was something the side had worked on.
“Danny’s a pretty enterprising person and just as I was about to point to the sticks he kicked it across,” Mortlock said.
katipo
Guest
Fair try. More telling was the missed penalty kick from JOC. I am keeping a close eye on all the Aussie goal kickers this year. Come World Cup time the Wallabies need to have an 80% + kicker that kicks the presure goals. Mat Giteau isn't that. JOC has looked the best so far this year...
Mitch
Guest
The ref hadn't pointed to the posts yet for the Kingi try. Mortlock pointed to the posts to tell the ref they would be taking the shot but Cipriani quickly kicked it. See this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYtwX8OOet0
Freddie
Guest
With regards to the Kingi try what is the rule on when a penalty kick has been accepted and has to be taken? From my memory of the incident the ref had pointed to the posts and the guy had run onto the pitch with the kicking tee.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
hmmm, is it me or is this more coverage of this game than the SMH gave? Can't recall seeing it in Sunday's paper, as it would have gone to print too soon, and wasn't in today's paper. Typical.
Katipo
Guest
Fair enough re the bye points. I'll have to get used to it I guess because it isn't going to change. But, for interests sake here is the points table at end of Roubnd 7, in current standing order, with the bye point stripped out. Played/Points/Team 6 25 Stormers 6 22 Reds 6 22 Cruasders 7 25 Blues 6 18 Waratahs 6 17 Bulls 6 17 Highlanders 7 20 Sharks 7 15 Rebels 6 9 Brumbies 7 12 Chiefs 6 8 Hurricanes 6 8 W Force 7 9 Lions 7 8 Cheetahs
Wingersliketowatch
Guest
Rebels are going ok Re mortlock - he is a great defender and also better when he is surrounded by class. With oconnor and Ione or Mitchell and Beale alongside him he would not have to play more than his role. Just a thought re the suggestion by others that he may fit into wallaby team. Who is going to tackle sbw before he slips it to a speedy all black?
jamesb
Guest
rebels are doing well IMO for the Rebels to have a successful debut year, is to win 5 or 6 games out of 16. that would be a good foundation to build on for their second season and beyond
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Hey Greg Crowden - are you still describing the Rebels as the "five point bye team"?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"with the Crusaders" should read "with the Hurricanes". Sorry.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
A brief comment on "Mortlock was unable to get past ..." and "didn’t see Mortlock break through at all" - Tana Umaga made a point of NOT breaking through during his last stanza with the Crusaders, but threatening to all the while. Ma'a Nonu and others profited mightily from his tutelage during that period.
nathan
Guest
in your face Brendan Cannon. Rebels beat your mob away from home, and already have 3 wins this season, look a lot better than the force in their first year
The Bush
Guest
Gary, Why do you say Nick Cummins as earnt a spot in the Wallabies side, especially (and presumably) at the expense of Mortlock? Whilst I agree that I didn't see Mortlock break through at all, he was more noticable on the field than Cummins. In fact, I didn't see Cummins take the ball more than a few steps all game. Whether that was a result of not getting any ball out wide at speed I dunno, but so far I haven't seen anything from him to suggest he's a Wallaby. He was better on the wing last season (though I appreciate they are undermanned at the moment). Sam Wykes was good I agree, and you can never have to many second rowers pushing for spots, considering last year we were still turning to Dean Mumm to fill the gap (uselessly) for the Wallabies.
The Bush
Guest
The shock was Cipriani not being sent off for one fo the most blantant professional fouls I've seen this year... Do you really reckon Kingi looks great at fullback? I think he still looks like he's about to wet the bed under the highball. But he's lightening fast and great at attacking the line (like the scrum-half he is).
Phil
Guest
Go the Rebels!
Twickenham
Roar Rookie
I agree with PeterK. Current system is definitely better.
Vegacat
Guest
Four points for a win, four points for not playing? Go figure!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I disagree. The old way was to give zero points for a bye. Then what happened is top teams dropped out of the 4 when they had a bye and the other top teams won. So you either get a distortion at the bottom for weak teams getting 4 points for a bye when they normally lose or a distortion at the top when you get zero points for a bye when the top teams normally win. I believe the current method is better.
Fairplay
Guest
JOC is being asked to do too much, he badly needs some decent centres; maybe there will be some difference when Ripia eventualy turns up to play .
Gary
Guest
Another game the Force should have won but threw away. By my count that makes three this season. All in all another disspointing effort by the Force, although as always there were some individual brilliance on display. JOC of course. Sam Wykes has certainly earnt a place in the Wallabies squad as has Nick Cummins. My other observations: 1. Stirling Mortlock was unable to get past Nick Cummins and Gene Fairbanks, though not for lack of trying. I watched him all night waiting for him to break through but it just didn't happen. 2. The Rebels did not make good use of their bench. It's good to see that the new team is shaping up nicely. The WA Vs Vic rivalry that already existis in other sports is alive and well in Rugby.
Aware
Guest
Where was Rodney Blake?