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How the Western Force plan to build on breakthrough win in grudge match against Melbourne Rebels
Western Force winger Marcel Brache says his team won’t get carried away with last week’s breakthrough triumph over the Waratahs, but he’s hoping to belt out another winning tune after taking on the Melbourne Rebels.
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The Force posted their first Super Rugby win since 2017 when they came from 13-0 down to beat the Waratahs 20-16.
After the team song, Force players belted out Adele’s classic hit ‘Someone Like You’.
The move is set to become a tradition, with each win to be accompanied by a different song.
Brache said the motivation had come from watching Chorley FC – a semi-professional soccer club based in Lancashire – do the same thing.
“I saw a video and it looked amazing,” Brache said.
“It was an amazing connection for their team. And I thought after our team song it would be something for us to do, sing a song each week.
“That worked, and if we win on Friday night we’ll choose another song and belt it out.”
The Rebels and Force have a complicated history, with both franchises pitted in a fight for survival when Rugby Australia announced it would axe a club at the end of 2017.
The Force ended up getting the chop, with coach Dave Wessels and a host of star players defecting to the Rebels.
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To add salt to the wound, the Rebels inflicted two heartbreaking defeats on the Force when the Perth-based franchise were reintroduced into Super Rugby ranks last year.
The first contest went to extra time, with Isi Naisarani scoring a try to secure the 25-20 win for the Rebels.
The rematch was just as enthralling, with Cabous Eloff scoring in the final minute to lift the Rebels to a 34-30 win.
Former All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed his retirement from both rugby union and rugby league as he prepares to resurrect his boxing career.https://t.co/WWqrPMnwKq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2021
Brache knows Friday night’s match will be pumped up in the media, but he said the current team at the Force are intent on starting a fresh chapter.
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And he said the players quickly moved on from last week’s win.
“As soon as we landed back in Perth, we were set about taking on our next target, which is the Rebels this Friday,” Brache said.
“And what a challenge that is. They’ve been so good and so efficient and clinical in their first couple of games. So if we’re not on our game, they’re going to capitalise on that for sure.”
The Rebels are looking for their first win of the season after suffering narrow losses to the Reds (23-21) and Brumbies (27-24).
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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