I’m sure I wasn’t the only person rubbing my eyes and pinching myself for the first 40 minutes of the Force-Rebels game on Saturday night. With the form lines of both sides coming into this match, there was just no way that I was seeing what I saw consciously.
It had to have been a dream.
Moreover, if it was a dream, then a lot of people on Twitter were sharing it with me.
Of course, it wasn’t a dream, it was very real. Too real, in the case of the Melbourne Rebels, whose decision to make six changes to the starting side which beat the Cheetahs well in Melbourne the previous week, was always going to look foolish if the Force won.
But even they wouldn’t have expected to make the Rebels look that foolish.
The Rebels’ decision to get the hook out first in the 27th minute of the game – just as the Force secured the fourth-try bonus point – and then again at halftime tends to confirm the move didn’t go so well.
And the faces of the hookees leading into halftime said it all; they were bereft of all clues as to what had just gone on.
For this, credit must obviously go to the Force, who came out breathing fire, with Alby Mathewson running in the first try while the nib Stadium crowd were still taking their seats.
From there, the Force just rumbled through the Rebels in all facets of play, but in attack particularly.
Matt Hodgson, playing his 100th match for the Western Australian club, was leading a forward pack inflicting all sort of damage on their opponents, and in their skipper’s honour.
The breakdown battle in the opening exchanges was as brutal as it was one-way.
Ben McCalman has started 2014 very well, and young backrow partner Angus Cottrell isn’t too far behind him.
The early confirmation of breakdown, and indeed forward dominance, ensured Mathewson was served up front foot ball at will, and from that the Force looked to attack at will – almost for fun at times.
And like we’ve all suspected, the Force do indeed have plenty of attacking talent out wide when they’re able to provide the quick ball they need.
Wallabies winger Nick Cummins and fullback Jayden Hayward were both excellent, and took advantage of even the slightest opportunity.
I still maintain Zack Holmes will give the Force a more natural attacking flyhalf, but I was pleased for Sias Ebersohn to prove me wrong, for the first half of this match at least.
And that’s how this game needs to be viewed, if we’re all honest with ourselves, Force supporters included.
The Force led 32-0 at the break, and didn’t trouble the scorers again for the rest of the match.
Where in the first half, the Force were able to establish ascendency on the back of 60% shares of territory and possession, once this swung back in favour of the Rebels in the second half, the Force were a shadow of their very-former selves.
That should be the worry for the Force going forward. With their share of territory back under half, and their possession closer to only 40%, the Force didn’t really fire a trick in the second 40 and, more’s the point, didn’t really look like they would fire a trick, either.
And so this is why the “we showed ‘em” commentary coming out of the west after the win was received with bemusement.
The calls from the Force and from Force supporters for respect have some degree of rationality about them, but this rationality has to be give-and-take.
If the Force had gone on with the job in the second half and really put the Rebels away by 50 like they perhaps should have, then I’m sure the credit for the win would’ve flowed more freely.
The fact the Force didn’t score after halftime proves they still have a long way to go before they can be spoken of in the way some of their supporters might be expecting them to be spoken of now.
And I don’t say that disparagingly at all; the Force has a wonderful band of passionate supporters over there in Perth, and I genuinely couldn’t be happier for them after the win.
But their celebrations do need to be tempered just a touch. And I’m going to trot out a favourite line of mine again to make this point: the Western Force are not only as good as their last game, they’re only as good as their next game.
Over the next month, the Force face the Highlanders in Dunedin, the Chiefs at home, the Reds in Brisbane, and the Waratahs at home, before the rematch against the Rebels over the Easter weekend.
If the Force want to be taken seriously and have the Super Rugby competition take them seriously, they’ll win at least two of those games against quality opposition, and ideally one away from home too.
And I’ll look forward to singing their praises if and when they do.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I know the heat is an issue; I'll cop to dodging a Perth Glory game that got set in the early afternoon because it was just crazy out there. Your second point is exactly what I'm talking about; Perth has been anything but a fortress for the Force. And I've watched them do it, as well as throw away point after point through deplorable kicking. But those were 7pm matches. I was on my way this last saturday to watch Glory's state team play up in Inglewood, the conditions were a bit warm but nothing really untoward, and the Force's game started two hours after my game finished. When I've spoken to Force supporters, it sounds like things have transitioned from people who are going to watch their team try and win to people just going because rugby and beer is a nice way to spend the afternoon. The biggest problem the Force seems to have is that its been years since they've been able to offer their supporters even a glimmer of hope for better things on the horizons. My wife works with a couple who apparently transferred loyalty to the Reds because they just got sick of the Force's ability to pull defeat from the jaws of victory. Hell, I actually got down to nib for Force v Reds when we let the Reds score late and the prevailing mood among supporters seemed to be relief that they'd only thrown the win away for the draw, not the loss. The supporter base isn't in a healthy headspace with that kind of thing. We've all seen the Force win big before; but Brett's right, it never actually means anything, does it? It's just a little morale booster in a losing season. There's only so long you can get supporters to buy into "maybe this year will be better". At least they're bringing on more WA juniors. If there's anything we like over here, it's seeing a few more of the local lads taking on the rest.
Chivas
Guest
They had two penalty shots directly in from in the second half 22 out earned through forward dominance. Perhaps you missed those Brett.
Sandgroper
Guest
Nathan, The weather is a factor here. Heatwaves are not coducive to great crowds. The largest seating area is also the west facing stand so an evening game where the ambient temp is 35 degrees is magnified when you are staring into a setting sun. Having said that Perth people will turn up if they reckon the team, regardless of code, is fairdinkum about winning and competitive. Too often we have seen the Blue Jobs seem to give up good leads and scrape a loss out of a seemingly unassailable lead. String some consecutive wins together and the faithful will turn off Foxtel and resume their seats at the Force Field(nib stadium). Rugby is much more pleasant to watch and play later in the year. Right now as I type this at 1540h WST it is thirty seven degrees with a slight sea breeze. no howling Fremantle Doctor. To expect people to watch and play in these temps is about as smart as a soccer world cup in the Middle East in Summer. In a few weeks time the conditions will improve, and by then the schedule will probably have us playing in the sub Antarctic.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Western Force Home record: 2006 - 0W 1D 5L 2007 - 4W 0D 3L 2008 - 3W 0D 3L 2009 - 4W 0D 3L 2010 - 2W 0D 4L 2011 - 1W 2D 5L 2012 - 2W 0D 6L 2013 - 3W 1D 4L Total - 19 W 4D 33L Rather on the grisly side. Where once they had crowds well above 20k, sometimes above 30k. the two crowds this year, on a pair of plum saturday night fixtures, have been 10.5k and 9.8k. I don't know what it is that the club can do to turn things around but they sure as hell need something to give them a boost. They've had big wins before, they've even handed out bigger thrashings. But you're right, Brett, consistency is their biggest bugbear.
georgie
Guest
I like the way Zack Holmes plays you have to remember he played only a few minutes of Super Rugby last year.He came up against the best two Aussie teams and his forwards were going backwards.When he gets his chance again he will show his X factor.
petez
Guest
I suppose it really doesn't matter much, but watching the highlights of the Hodgson "try", when ball was kicked ahead by Mathewson, all the Force pigs were in front of him, and off-side. Kick was chased by Mohrahan, who was on side but not the kicker, and he missed it. Surely the 2 Force forwards who fought over the scraps had moved toward the ball as it was kicked, and were still off-side ?
jeznez
Roar Guru
True that!
Johnno
Guest
I know and that's why i like debates on the roar on rugby the differences, I know jeznez we have some different views on what we want from our rugby teams in OZ. But what we both want, is for the Wallabies and OZ rugby to be strong,it's settled!
jeznez
Roar Guru
As a Tah man I feel for you while being supremely glad we got him.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Guthro was a loosehead, wouldn't be in competition with Weeks. But given our issues at TH I would be very concerned if we had an ineligible marquee in that position. Where we have quality lock options in a number of teams I am quite open to a franchise that has some junior locks getting some one experienced to help mentor. similar with our halves, we have good ones around the country - I have no problem with the Force having someone in who helps the entire team be better. You and I want quite different things Johnno and neither of us will convince the other to change but you know what? That's ok.
AndyS
Guest
No, unlikely indeed. They did the search last time and found a pretty highly rated coach, but the ARU was happy enough for the 'Tahs to step in and take the opportunity to upgrade instead.
Johnno
Guest
So Jeznez say a Van Humprhies standard lock was avaliable about that standard, you'd prefer we went local then, even if say a Bakkies Botha standard lock wanted to move to OZ and play super rugby? And with Albe Mathewson at the force was that good, as he slowly drove out the influence of local wallaby Brett Sheehan at the club whose now gone to Wasps? Brett Sheehan under a protectionist policy should be seen as a more than a suitable local? And say a Laurie Weekes example. What if a Guthro Steenkamp prop wanted to move to OZ, should local Laurie Weekes path to super rugby be blocked by a Steenkamp standard prop?
jeznez
Roar Guru
I've spoke about this before. I would prefer a local in the spot but given no suitable senior lock being available in Oz I think JPot being brought in is great. In time i hope we don't need to look outside but there is a definite role being delivered by him to the Tahs and I think he is getting benefit himself which he will take with him when his time at the Tahs is done. IMO after two games the best marquee import the Tahs have had. To be fair his competition is a past it Anesi and a player who didn't fit the game plan in Pretorius.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Isn't something I think will happen - rather it is where I would prefer the team focus if they want to keep improving.
AndyS
Guest
That is a pretty collosal 'if'Jez - IMO the ARU is more than happy with the state of affairs at the Force ATM...
Correction, SARU has a policy of one overseas players per franchise, Allistair Coetzee has plenty of wingers to choose from, they decided to contract the Samoan winger, same as we have had an American looseforward, or Michilack, etc.
AJ
Guest
Without wanting to take anything from the Force, who were like maniacs breaking out from the farm, but how many times did the back three Rebels players let the ball bounce? In that first half it seemed (on TV) like there was a huge gale behind the Force and a flint hard field on which there were some wicked bounces. Take note teams visiting NIB Stadium. Force very impressive, maybe there should be an 8 try extra bonus point.
Johnno
Guest
A good coach will do alot for the force no doubt jenzez, look at Jake White at the Brumbies! But the Force would benifit if they were allowed 5 imports, of Albe Mathewson there now, or a Delve or the South African Pottiger at the Tahs", he has been very handy. On that Jeznez by the way, do you think it's wrong Pottiger is at the Tahs, his impact has been large and positive, but let's not forget Jez, he is south african will never be able to play for the wallabies, and is denying a local an oppurtunity at a higher level. Biltongbek would not be happy, as he has a locals only policy. He wouldn't be happy with the stormers, signing a samoan winger, who will never be able to play for south africa as he has played 20 tests for Samoa. In all of south africa, the stormers couldn't find 1 winger, and went for an import in this samoan test player.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Johnno, I think the Force squad is coming along nicely the starting 15 is pretty solid with my main question mark over Rasolea - like CH suggested last week I'd like Cummins to move in one. If the ARU did want to give the Force a lift I'd like to see them bring a really top level coach - I'm not sure who is out there and would be available. The Brumbies showed last year (and Guus Hiddink showed with the Socceroos) that you don't need to go and recruit a bunch of superstars if you have the right people in charge.
jameswm
Guest
The force are as good as any team when playing well? *shakes head*