Rebels hold off Force
23 Mar 2012
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Rebels’ 30-29 win over the Force in Melbourne.
The Rebels led 24-12 at half-time, but a strong second-half performance from the Force saw the visitors gain a 29-27 advantage late in the final quarter. The Perth team held the ascendancy and built good momentum, before a Mark Gerrard penalty edged the Rebels ahead. While possession jumped hands several times in the dying moments, the hosts had the composure to close off the match and achieved their first win of the season.
The Rebels suffered some injury blows in the pre-match warm-up, with inside centre James O’Connor and fullback Richard Kingi pulling out with hamstring injuries. However, flyhalf Danny Cipriani, who was struggling with flu last week, was highly influential in the team’s impressive start to the match.
The Melbourne side was very clinical on attack as Cipriani’s playmaking skills created early scores. This saw them surge into a 14-0 lead, with centres Lachlan Mitchell and Lloyd Johansson dotting down in the opening 15 minutes after some smart backline interplay. A counter attack, which was inspired by Gerrard from inside the Rebels 22, put Cirpiani through for a clear run to the whitewash.
The English flyhalf limped off with a hamstring injury moments later, a loss that clearly made a negative impact as the Force hit back with two tries via flanker David Pocock and inside centre Winston Stanley to reduce the deficit to 12 points at the break.
The Force maintained their momentum in the second half, scoring 10 points in eight minutes as wing Alfie Mafie beat three defenders to dive over while fullback David Harvey added a conversion and penalty. Outside centre Nick Cummins then powered through from close range to grab a telling try, one that gave the visitors the lead for the first time.
The Rebels lacked the fluency they had on attack in the first half, but capitalised on the Force’s ill-discipline. Pocock’s men conceded several penalties at the death, and Gerrard slotted one of them from a difficult angle as the Rebels sneaked in for the win.
77 Comments
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23 Mar 2012, 12:14 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-49: Yes especially after the Force’s win last week over the Waratahs.
23 Mar 2012, 12:14 pm
Force the scrum force….force the penalty!!!!
23 Mar 2012, 12:16 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-51: Correct, a sure pick just doesnt happen as often anymore..
23 Mar 2012, 12:17 pm
@Hoops(Hoops)-52: What! Did they kick it over?
This game can just end now my nerves cant take it anymore. Now I know how Grantie feels! lol
23 Mar 2012, 12:18 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-53: Yip this season is unpredictable! You need to go with your gut feel when you feel an upset coming. The season has been very entertaining thus far lets hope for more.
23 Mar 2012, 12:18 pm
Yes The force did not deserve this with their useless options at end
23 Mar 2012, 12:19 pm
Ag k@k
Can’t get that lucky twice in one morning I suppose
23 Mar 2012, 12:20 pm
Will make for an intresting end to the comp for play off spots..
23 Mar 2012, 12:21 pm
anyone watching… how did the saffa guy jarred saffy do…?
23 Mar 2012, 12:26 pm
Wow 2 from 2! I feel very lucky today! Think I should buy myself a lotto ticket!
23 Mar 2012, 12:30 pm
Next one. Sharks by 3.
23 Mar 2012, 12:33 pm
Yay, my Superbru is 2/2!
Next up, go Waratahs! Vrede, I hope you were correct in picking that game. Don’t make me regret not going with JC.
23 Mar 2012, 12:35 pm
Two from two for me as well. My wild card is the brumbies over the Landers could go titsup with that one.
23 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-62: @stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-63: What were your margins for the 2 picks? I had Hurricanes and Rebels by 3.
23 Mar 2012, 12:44 pm
Another 1 pointer!! WTF???
23 Mar 2012, 12:57 pm
damn this force team.
23 Mar 2012, 13:00 pm
I didn’t go with margins. It was just my picks on the other thread. After the last few weeks I am half expecting these tight margins in every game.
23 Mar 2012, 13:22 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-64:
I had Hurricanes by 7 and Rebels by 5. Both ended up being 1-point wins but I’m certainly not complaining!
My other picks in case anyone is wondering:
Waratahs by 12 (I don’t know what I was smoking when I picked that margin)
Crusaders by 14
Brumbies by 2 (Highlanders have to lose sometime, right?)
Bulls by 10
Stormers by 13
I like Superbru, I get the thrill of gambling without having to actually pay any money.
23 Mar 2012, 13:40 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-37: dont have a replacement as Sonny Bill is on bench, dammit man O’Connor was my captain, now i’m gonna lose top spot for sure
23 Mar 2012, 19:25 pm
On the contrary I have played Superbru for the last 3 years and decided not to do it this year. There is a lot to like about it but I have found on balance there is more not to like.
The boring, oversaturated super rugby format which sees rugby from Feb to Aug tipped the scales. I’m just not interested in putting my picks in week in and week out for so long.
For me, when watching rugby as a neutral, it has always been about willing on the underdog, and enjoying the upsets thoroughly. With superbru I found myself cheering on (mostly) the favourites and this detracts a lot from my own enjoyment as I don’t want to see the Crusaders whup the Rebels by 30, I don’t want to see the Reds thrashing the Cheetahs by 18, etc. Not playing this year, what a release to be able to just enjoy the results which ever way they go!
Also, I cannot recall ever picking against my team. Just wasn’t ever prepared to do it – coupled with the belief that my team can win every game. So I could never take the whole thing seriously enough in the first place.
23 Mar 2012, 19:37 pm
I do well on Bru, also back my team.
Won a prize as well.
Enjoyment depends on performance,
On 74% tonight..
Is there any truth that Bulls and Crusaders fans enjoyed Bru more over a few years stretch? Think about it…….
23 Mar 2012, 19:40 pm
Oeps 72% after last game.
23 Mar 2012, 19:58 pm
Oh I was consistently in the top 10%. It helps having a team that mostly wins.
I was more talking about the other games, as a neutral.
23 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
There are a total of 125 games in the competition.
Each team plays 16 (excluding play offs).
A small drop in the ocean. It is the other 100+ games which count a lot more, whether you are a Bulletjie, Crusader, Cheetah or Rebel.
23 Mar 2012, 20:15 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-74:
In the last couple of years you must have done well punting the Stormers for wins. I’m sure that stuck in your throat a bit.
23 Mar 2012, 20:21 pm
Well this is dull as dishwater.
Spooner you are not in a confessional.
24 Mar 2012, 03:13 am
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-75: @Dawn(Dawn)-76: Well, let’s see. I picked the Crusaders to beat the Stormers twice in CT last year,
And they did on both occasions.
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