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Yep. It's time to get into the Rabble
Wounds run deep as Western Force prepare for Friday’s big grudge clash with Melbourne Rebels
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Sun, 7 March 2021 2:00AM
THE Western Force’s drought-busting Super AU win is done and dusted. Next up is the grudge clash with the Melbourne Rebels.
Force coach Tim Sampson let his side celebrate Friday’s emotional 20-16 Super Rugby AU victory over the Waratahs at Bankwest Stadium.
But he quickly turned the focus on HBF Park and Friday night’s bitter match with the Rebels - the side controversially saved by Rugby Australia four years ago as they swung the axe over the Force.
“We created history. It was big moment,” Sampson said.
“It’s important to celebrate moments like this but the guys are smart. They know they have to get back on the horse pretty quickly.
“We’ll turn our attention pretty quickly to the Rebels.”
The win at Bankwest Stadium came 1329 days after the Force’s last Super victory, ironically the 40-11 flogging of the Waratahs, with 1092 days in exile before they were back into the new-look competition last year.
It ended a nine-game Super Rugby AU losing streak and heaped more misery on the Waratahs who are now three games without a win.
The Force rallied from 13-0 down and battled out the last 20 minutes with 14 players after reserve hooker Andrew Ready was red-carded for punching.
Sampson was pleased with the late defensive effort.
“We knew we were going to be up against it. To defend at the end like that shows great signs,” he said.
“We have belief that we can finish on top of teams.”
Force first try scorer, second-rower Fergus Lee-Warner, said it was “unreal” to get the first win.
“Morale’s high. The boys are pretty stoked. We weren’t at our best but it’s unreal to get the win,” he said.
“That’s just one ‘W’. The focus is now on the Rebels.”
Lee-Warner revealed centre Richard Kahui had tough words after the Waratahs scored an early try from a rolling maul.
“Richard asked us if we were awake, told us it was time to wake up and get on with,” Lee-Warner said.
“We had a few errors in that first 20 minutes.
“We were a bit complacent but turned the screws in the second 20 of the first half. It was grind in the second half after we got the red.”
Lee-Warner was on the end of a pass from flanker Tim Anstee who made a massive line break for his first-half try. Anstee smashed his way for his own early in the second period.
“I was screaming for it because I was unmarked and I could see Tim was slowly getting chased down by (Jack) Maddocks,” Lee Warner said.
“Luckily I got it down.”