Rebels edge Force in Perth snorefest

Rugby used to be regarded as a winter sport – getting the blood circulating and the temperature up amidst the winter chill. Not so, in Super Rugby 2016, it would seem.

In Perth on match day the mercury climbed to 40°C, they say, but by the evening kick-off it had subsided to a hot 25°C and may have dropped even lower.

The match was not a great spectacle. For one thing there climax to the match was ruined by numerous stoppages, mainly for cramp, leaving the field strewn with players lying down in agony. Heat plus muscular activity are likely to produce cramp, and it's sore. Surely on such days there should be breaks for drinks with electrolytes.

That was not the only factor contributing to a dull match. Poor handling certainly did so, but the redeeming feature was the obvious intent of both sides to play constructive rugby. Having backs running across the field did not make for constructive back play. But both sides did it.

The Rebels seemed to make no excuses because of their halfback problems. First scrumhalf and newly appointed captain Nic Stirzaker was not regarded as sufficiently over the reconstruction of his shoulder to be able to play. Then just before the match flyhalf Jack Debreczeni withdrew. That necessitated moving Mike Harris from fullback to flyhalf and Reece Hodge from left wing to fullback. Then Harris was injured early in the first half and Hodge, who looks more like a flank, was moved from fullback to flyhalf. It was the 20-year-old's first Super Rugby match, and yet he did it all with remarkable calm and scored 20 of his team's 25 points.

Ten of those points came from kicks at goal. He kicks every kick, near of far, in the same way, which is good for consistency, and he has a big boot. His kicks at goal soared high and far.

The scoring in the first half was 17-13 in the Rebels favour. The second half was just 8-6.

There have been and will be better matches than this.

There were three tries in the first half, two to the Rebels.

Hodge opened the scoring with a long-range penalty after Marcel Brache had been penalised at a tackle. The next score was also nine minutes later when Jono Lance, who scored all the Force's points, goaled a penalty. He did it again 10 minutes later – 10 minutes in which the only notable but of rugby was a break by Ben Tapuai.

The Rebels won a line-out on their right, went left and came back right where Tamati Ellison burst between Brynard Stander and Chris Alcock and then gave inside to Hodge who scored. 10-6 to the Rebels after 31 minutes.

Two minutes later it was Lance's turn. The Force were bashing at the line and Lance checked, straightened and stretched for the try in Laurie Weeks's tackle. 13-10 after 33 minutes.

Just before half-time the Rebels attacked and peripatetic All Black Adam Thomson forced his way over in the right corner, the try confirmed by the TMO. 17-13, which was the half-time score.

Lance scored a penalty goal after 43 minutes and Hodge one after 56 minutes. 20-16. Another Lance penalty on 60 minutes brought the Force to within a point of the Rebels at 20-19 but for the next 20 minutes they did not score. The Rebels did and again it was a break by Ellison off a great [pass by Colby Fainga'a that sent Hodge over as Ellison and a would-be tackler succumbed to cramp. That made it 25-19 after 63 minutes and the game eventually stumbled on to a Rebels' victory.

Man of the Match: Jono Lance is the Force's obvious candidate and Reece Hodge the Rebels' candidate. The Force also had industrious Dane Haylett-Petty and the Rebels had captain Sean McMahon and scrumhalf Ben Meehan. It's a pity that Colby Fainga'a did not start. Our choice is Reece Hodge, who adapted so well to his new and changing circumstances and gave his side the chance to win.

The scorers:

For the Western Force:

Try: Lance

Con: Lance

Pens: Lance 4

For the Rebels:

Tries: Hodge 2, Thomson

Cons: Hodge 2

Pens: Hodge 2

Teams.

Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Marcel Brache, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Angus Cottrell, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Guy Millar, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.     

Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Chris Alcock, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Semisi Masirewa.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon (captain), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Mick Snowden, 22 Jonah Placid, 23 Dan Hawkins.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Graham Cooper (Australia)

TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)

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