Rebels v Force - Round 5 - Super Rugby 2012

[FiveStarStu]

MELBOURNE REBELS v WESTERN FORCE​

FRIDAY MARCH 23, 2012​

AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE​

RECORD - MELBOURNE 1 FORCE 1​

LAST - FORCE 27 def MELBOURNE 24, 2011 R18, AAMI PARK​

Huge match. Force get up and they're right in the hunt for the conference. Another loss for the Rebels and that would surely be that.

Both teams' most consistent feature, though, is their inconsistency, so who knows what will be dished up on Friday night.

 

[Waylon]

The Force have been dominating possession and territory in their games. They just have a pop gun backline to do anything with the ball and the opposition has time to roll a smoke between phases. They have poor attacking structures and the backs look like they never train together.

The Force are a dogged, scrapping outfit. They are vulnerable to the counter because of the high numbers they commit to the breakdown and the large reserves of energy the pack exerts to maintain possession with a gain line attacking strategy involving the flop, flood and seal philosophies.

The rebels have some backs who could hurt the Force on the counter and from set piece

It will be close

Force by a penalty

 

[Forcefield]

It'll be really interesting to see the starting line-ups that each team trot out. You'd have to back the Force at the breakdown, but it might not come to that. Like the Hurricanes, perhaps guys like O'Connor and Beale will tear through our defence on the counter attack and put the game beyond reach. But will Beale play? And will Cipriani? A 10/12 combination of Cipriani and O'Connor might be vulnerable regardless of the quality of the Force attack. If I were the Rebels, I'd have a big midfield out of whoever is fit of Johannsen/Inman/Mortlock/Gerrard and a zippy back three out of O'Connor/Beale/Vuna/Kingi. The Force are bound to make a handful of really poor kicking choices that are poorly chased. Rebels should play to the counter attack. I wonder how brand O'Connor would cope with being shifted to the wing?

 

[Waylon]

Hopefully the pack is putting in the long steels to "brand O'Connor"

We want Judas to bleed

 

[GaffaCHinO]

100 bucks to however rips that crap off his wrist!

He should be sued for product placement or subliminal marketing Something.

Pocock to leave a lasting impression...on his ribs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Waylon]

Isn't it his "balance bracelet" or something

That'll do me

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

mate of mine was chatting with timmy davo today and said he's nursing some quad soreness, i'd suggest that's the icing on the cake that brings saffy into the s tarting line up and davo onto the bench
do not like the talk of inman not being available this week.

 

[daz]

Hopefully the pack is putting in the long steels to "brand O'Connor"

We want Judas to bleed

And yet last year you probably wanted to have his baby. Did he steal your bag of lollies on the way out or something?

 

[daz]

Another loss for the Rebels and that would surely be that.​

.

Aww, come on Stu; all it means is that the Rebels would have to win all of their remaining 11 games. Is that too much to ask?

 

[Forcefield]

And yet last year you probably wanted to have his baby. Did he steal your bag of lollies on the way out or something?

Yes he did. They were sitting on the counter near the door and then they were gone. I knew it was him because there was a smear of hair wax where the lollies had been. They were good ones too- those lolly teeth.

 

[Waylon]

And yet last year you probably wanted to have his baby. Did he steal your bag of lollies on the way out or something?

I was hoping he had knocked up half the twenty somethings in Perth to spread the rugby genes.

I hate backs personally.

I'm looking forward to his encounter with the Force backrow. You can expect the weasel to kick a lot

 

[todd4]

3/21/2012
Force ready to repel Rebels

By RugbyWA Media

Emirates Western Force Coach Richard Graham has made only minor adjustments to his 22 man squad for the club’s clash against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night with dynamic winger Nick Cummins returning to the starting XV and experienced lock Toby Lynn to the reserves.

After a strong statement in their one point win against the Waratahs last weekend Graham has stuck with the majority of his run-on side. Cummins and prop Kieran Longbottom are the only changes.

Longbottom, along with Pek Cowan, Nathan Charles and Salesi Ma’afu have formed a formidable front row combination in 2012 with each player making significant contributions in the opening month of the competition.

“I think the performance of our front row has been wonderful and they’ve given the side real impetus at the set piece as well as around the ground,” Graham said.

“We’ve been able to rotate our front row forwards in terms of starting on the ground or on the bench which has assisted in the management of those guys.

“Pek Cowan is arguably the form loosehead prop in Australian rugby at the moment however given the short turnaround and his substantial workload so far this year I’ve made a rotation and looked to maximise the use of the resources available to us,” Graham said.

The efforts of his entire squad last week pleased Graham who pointed to the influence of the bench as one of the catalysts for the club’s first win. He’ll again rely on their input as they aim for back to back victories on the road.

“I thought our bench had a significant impact in winning the game last weekend, everyone who came on really contributed to the effort,” Graham said.

“I have no doubt they will play a big role in the outcome of the game on Friday and I have tremendous confidence in our depth and the ability of everyone to have an impact when called upon.”

After making an impressive debut last weekend recent signing David Harvey has again been selected at fullback although his versatility is expected to see him called upon to exert more influence in the midfield.

“I thought Dave’s first performance in Super Rugby was solid and as we learn more about him we’ll use him a lot more in the front line as opposed to playing 15,” Graham said.

With four of the club’s first five matches away from home the team has already spent 33 hours in the air and they haven’t yet left Australia. That prompted Graham to prepare his side on the east coast this week to aid in recovery and ensure they’re fresh for Friday’s encounter.

“What was important was to minimise the amount of travel and maximise the amount of time in recovery and preparation for this fixture on Friday night,” said Graham.

“The Rebels are a good side who have been fighting to get results and haven’t been far away from closing out games. Clearly at home they’ll be looking to start strongly to assist in getting a result.”

Going out of the 22 are youngsters Ben Seymour and Phoenix Battye but they’ll get game time on AAMI Park as the Emirates Western Force A tackle Rebel Rising in a curtain raiser match.

2012 FxPro Super Rugby – Week 5
Rebels v Emirates Western Force
Friday, 23 March 2012 at AAMI Park
Kick-off: 4.40pm (AWST) / 7.40pm (AEDT)

1. Kieran Longbottom
2. Nathan Charles
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Sam Wykes
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Angus Cottrell
7. David Pocock (Captain)
8. Matt Hodgson
9. Brett Sheehan
10. James Stannard
11. Alfie Mafi
12. Rory Sidey
13. Will Tupou
14. Nick Cummins
15. David Harvey
Reserves
16. Ben Whittaker
17. Pek Cowan
18. Toby Lynn
19. Richard Brown
20. Justin Turner
21. Winston Stanley
22. Samu Wara

http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/905/ArticleID/5824/Default.aspx

 

[Dumbledore]

Rebels by 3.

 

[Charlemagne]

The Rebels seem to have the same problem that the Force had last year, they seem to run out of steam in the last twenty, have to agree that the Force have pop gun back line, Harvey looked alright but does not have the speed for a fullback perhaps he should be in at 10?


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[Moono75]

I think the Force have a better team and were a lot more composed against the Tahs. Got the first win on the board. Now it is absolutely essential to take that same competitive attitude into the game against the Rebels. If they do they should be able to win.

 

[FiveStarStu]

1. Nic Henderson
2. Adam Freier
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Luke Jones
5. Hugh Pyle (vc)
6. Jarrod Saffy
7. Tom Chamberlain
8. Gareth Delve (c)

9. Nick Phipps
10. Danny Cipriani
11. Cooper Vuna
12. James O'Connor
13. Lachlan Mitchell
14. Mark Gerrard
15. Richard Kingi

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Ged Robinson
17. Rodney Blake
18. Alister Campbell
19. Tim Davidson
20. Michael Lipman
21. Lloyd Johansson
22. Julian Huxley

Best XV we could have fielded. Saffy gets his first full run, Lipman back, Kingi at 15, Mitchell given 13 on form.

We'll give it a red hot go I reckon.

 

[Jets]

Rebels by 15. Force suckered punched the Tahs last week but if the Rebels run the ball, like they should with that team, then I think they will have the better of the Force.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

on balance that is a much better starting 15 than last week.
the right move to shift kingi back to 15 in lieu of huxley who must be thanking his luck stars all of inman, beale and mortlock are injured.

despite what the age says for the weather, the radar shows pretty clear skies across the country at the moment, so we could get lucky and have things stay pretty dry for tomorrow. if that's the case, i think we've put forth a great squad to play some running rugby.

only thing i might have changed id kingi to 14 and gerrard to fullback, but i suppose kingi provides a bit more spark. should see gerrard slotting back to field kicks and return with his boot when we're in a more defensive position.

 

[suckerforred]

And Beale still broken....

 

[Nusadan]

Hey guys, am in Melbourne for the week, was hoping to go to the Rebels match tonight, staying in East Melbourne, however my son who's with the Storm league club and celebrating his 18th birthday, prefers a good meal at a pub and watching his beloved NRL on TV there...

So anyone in the Rebel Army can suggest a venue to watch both the Super Rugby and NRL with good grub please?