Cooper Vuna hugs Richard Kingi after coming back from a club-imposed suspension to help the Rebels defeat the Western Force on Saturday night. Picture: Paul Kane. Source: Getty Images
THE Melbourne Rebels' win against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night released a pressure valve on the battling Super Rugby team.
The Rebels travelled to Perth last week after a poor tour of South Africa during which they conceded 15 tries in their big losses to the Sharks and Cheetahs.
Even worse, the Rebels sent home two players, Kurtley Beale and Cooper Vuna, for fighting on the team bus after their record 64-7 loss to the Sharks in Durban.
Amid speculation about the future of coach Damien Hill, the Rebels could have fallen apart against the Force, but they didn't.
Under the new leadership of Wallabies backrower Scott Higginbotham, the Rebels banded together and showed some real spirit and character.
"Every team goes through ups and downs and it's about how you bounce back and what your reaction is," a relieved Hill said. "It was left up to those 22 players and they did a tremendous job."
The Rebels raced to a 15-0 lead after 20 minutes following tries to second-rower Hugh Pyle and winger Jason Woodward.
But they lost momentum towards the end of the first half.
In a gutsy decision, Force captain Matt Hodgson twice passed up a shot at a penalty goal in the Rebels' 22 to go for a try and he was vindicated when outside centre Winston Stanley scored in the right-hand corner in the 33rd minute.
Two penalty goals to South African five-eighth Sias Ebersohn then reduced the Rebels' lead to 15-11 at half-time and the Force was back in the game.
At the half-time break, Hill made a crucial decision to play fullback James O'Connor at five-eighth instead of rookie Angus Roberts.
With Beale suspended indefinitely for his part in the Durban incident, the Rebels needed the more experienced O'Connor to direct them around the park.
O'Connor produced a polished performance, setting up a try for winger Richard Kingi with a beautifully delayed pass.
Another try to Woodward was disallowed after a tap-on pass from O'Connor was judged to have gone slightly forward.
Woodward scored his second try in the 68th minute after gathering a loose pass from O'Connor before chipping and winning the chase to the ball.
O'Connor's conversion gave the Rebels their match-winning score of 30-23, which was identical to the result between the two teams in Melbourne in the opening round.
The two wins against the Force are the Rebels' only two victories so far.
The Rebels must really enjoy facing the Force, having now beaten them in five of the six games they have played.
They will have an opportunity to go back-to-back when they host the Southern Kings in Melbourne on Saturday night, especially if O'Connor plays five-eighth.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP
No comments:
Post a Comment