Melbourne Rebels defeat Western Force despite red card and stadium light drama
A 14-man Melbourne Rebels have dug deep to post a gutsy 10-7 win over the Western Force in a drama-filled Super Rugby AU match in Perth.
The Rebels shot out to a 10-0 lead in the 62nd minute of Friday night’s match when a sizzling run from Marika Koroibete set up a try for scrumhalf Joe Powell.
But the game took a turn in the 69th minute when the Force scored a try through substitute Jack McGregor and Rebels lock Ross Haylett-Petty was red-carded for his action in the lead-up.
Haylett-Petty struck Force substitute Tomas Lezana in the head with his shoulder as he went in to tackle.
There was more drama when the lights at HBF Park went out in the 74th minute – just as the two teams were about to pack down for a scrum near the Force’s try line – halting the game for 10 minutes.
The Rebels were forced to defend grimly for the rest of the match, and they hung tough under intense pressure – and also won a penalty on the Force’s scrum feed in the final minute – to seal their first win of the season.
“I’ve never been involved in a game where the lights cut out, a red card – what a game,” Rebels flyhalf Matt To’omua told Channel 9.
“Three away games to start the year is tough, so for us to get the win is huge.”
The Force were sloppy in the first half, committing a host of errors and losing three key lineouts to hand the Rebels field position time and again in front of 7762 fans.
Force flyhalf Jake McIntyre missed a penalty in the 20th minute and then failed to find touch with a penalty kick four minutes later.
Rebels hooker James Hanson almost scored a try in the 25th minute, only for the ball to squeeze out as he was being tackled over the try line.
But the Rebels were on the board a minute later when they put the Force under the pump for six phases before swinging it wide for winger Lachlan Anderson to cross.
Japan star Kazuki Himeno will get his first taste of action in Highlanders colours this weekend, but his Super Rugby Aotearoa debut will have to wait another fortnight. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/kXFIOrkaMN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 12, 2021
The Force had just 17 per cent territory and 28 per cent possession in the first half.
McIntyre’s kicking woes continued early in the second half when his attempted kick for touch from a penalty sailed over the try line.
Star Force fullback Rob Kearney also failed to find touch with a penalty kick.
The Force were given a reprieve when To’omua hit the post with a tricky penalty kick in the 53rd minute.
But there was no stopping Koroibete’s run, which sliced open the Force’s defence for Powell to touch down in the corner.
The Force lifted a gear after that, and a series of deft passes in the 69th minute found its way to McGregor to score.
Force captain Ian Prior nailed the conversion from the sideline to make it 10-7.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
26 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments