Decent showing: Danny Cipriani
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The Force ended their Super Rugby season with a victory under their belt after a late Willie Ripia penalty saw off the Rebels 27-24 at AAMI Stadium.
With only pride to play for in Melbourne, both sides struggled to display a clinical edge until the hour mark, when the Rebels once again went to sleep.
Tries from David Smith and James Stannard sealed a good finish to 2011 for the visitors, who next year will miss Smith and James O'Connor.
The Rebels knew that they could not avoid the competition's wooden spoon going into this game but they will take encouragement from their debut effort in Super Rugby. Three wins were picked up in total while their shining lights came in the shape of Jarrod Saffy, Richard Kingi, Nick Phipps and vice-captain Gareth Delve.
Friday however saw the much-publicised Danny Cipriani put in the performance his side were needing as he added direction to the Rebels. Aided by the assuring figure of Stirling Mortlock, who scored the leveller on 74 minutes, the duo were unlucky to be on the losing side on Friday.
As mentioned, the game only came to life after 60 minutes as up until then the game was dominated by four penalties each from Cipriani and James Stannard.
But then came a moment that Kingi will lose sleep over tonight as he misjudged a long pass from the Force and ultimately made room for wing Smith to cross wide out. Stannard then went over just three minutes later as it looked as though the Rebels were capitulating.
It proved not to be the case though as in controversial circumstances, Mortlock got over wide on the left wing when it looked as though the Rebels had knocked on earlier in the passage. His conversion to take the lead fell short and then Ripia knocked over the winning points.
The scorers:
For Rebels:
Try: Freier, Mortlock
Con: Mortlock
Pen: Cipriani 4
For Force:
Tries: Smith, Stannard
Con: Ripia
Pen: Stannard 4, Ripia
Rebels: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Richard Kingi, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Adam Byrnes, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Lachlan Mitchell, 21 Peter Betham, 22 Julian Huxley.
Western Force: 15 Patrick Dellit, 14 Alfie Mafi, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 David Smith, 10 James Stannard, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock (c), 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Sam Wykes, 4 Ben McCalman, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Kieran Longbottom.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Mark Swanepoel, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Cameron Shepherd
Referee: Garratt Williamson
Comments
Ramage says...
How much longer is this muppet Pearce going to be kept on board as either a referee or assistant . Once again he has had an effect on a game which has or could have had an influence on who wins the game.
1 Crusaders v Reds as an assistant failed to see a forward pass which led to a Reds try and failed to see a knockon that led to the Reds getting field position to be in a position to kick a goal to win the match.
2. Following week failed to alert referee Dickinson that the ball had not been hooked and come out of the tunnel on his side of the scrum leading to a try for the Reds against the Force.
3 This week failed to see the knock ons that led to Mortlock's try and when asked by the referee if there had been a knock on assured the referee that there had been no knock on. Thus had the Force not slotted the goal later would have meant a win by the Rabbles which was not deserved.
Yes, the referees too should have seen the offences but I do know that often they can be obscured by players in their line of sight and rely on the support of their assistants. However it has been clear that the help from this muppet Pearce will not be there. Whilst the Highlanders have won the 2011 Schoolboy Award for teams, muppet Pearce must win the Schoolboy Award for Referee decisions. Another who has shown the occasion is too much for him and he his use by date has gone.
Posted 03:23 19th June 2011
dylster says...
definitely agree Lebo & lawynd!
Did you watch the Brumbies against the Rebels last week? It was hard to tell the teams apart, and the Storners & Force use the same colours?!
Re the Highlanders yeah see what you mean, but thought they should have kept the blue and yellow and just used the yellow a bit more
Posted 23:29 17th June 2011
lawynd says...
@Lebo - I don't know why more of the Super Rugby franchises don't wear kits derived from one (or more) of the ITM/Currie Cup teams they draw players from; it would help their identities with the supporters too.
Posted 20:09 17th June 2011