Con Lezana y Miotti, Western Force ganó a Rebels en Melbourne- With Lezana and Miotti, Western Force beat Rebels in Melbourne

Western Force apunta al  tercer lugar de los play-off en Super Rugby Australiano tras ganar al último aliento a los Melbourne Rebels  por 16-15 (6-12) con el try del flanker suplente Tim Anstee, a la salida de un maul,  y que fue convertido por el apertura tucumano Domingo Miotti, goleador al sumar tres penales.

El flanker santiagueño Tomás Lezana fue proclamado Hombre del Partido en el AAMI Park de la capital del Estado de Victoria en el profundo sur de Oceanía. También jugaron en el ganador el medio scrum porteño Tomás Cubelli y el pilar derecho bonaerense Santiago Medrano.

El scrum fue el arma determinante para Force, y tras rechazar los ataques de los Rebels, en duro segundo tiempo dominado por los visitantes, y donde también  surgió la línea de tres cuartos  más hábil de los locales.

"Los partidos entre Rebels y Force están  siempre se juegan con mucha intensidad, y el de hoy  fue una locura. Nuestra defensa mostró espíritu del equipo y nos da confianza contra los Waratahs, la próxima semana", exclamó el centro y capitán de Force, Kyle Godwin".

Western Force jugó con un hombre menos por tarjeta amarilla al flanker Kane Koteka, pero Miotti redujo el pasivo  con dos penales y poner el 12-6 al descanso luego de que el apertura Wallaby Matt Toomua embocara tres penales. En el complemento Miotti sumó el tercer penal.

Los invictos Queensland Reds y ACT Brumbies, tienen los dos primeros lugares asegurados por lo que Rebels y Force compiten por el lugar restante.

Para los Rebels: 5 Penales, 1  de Reece Hodge,y 4 de  Matt Toomua.

Para Western Force: 1 Try de Tim Anstee, más 3 Penales y 1 Conversión de Domingo Miotti. Tarjeta Aamarilla a Kane Koteka.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Frank Lomani, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Lewis Holland, y 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt Toomua (captain),  y 9 Joe Powell, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, y 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea,  y4 Robert Leota, 3 Pone Fa'amausili, 2 James Hanson, y 1 Cabous Eloff . Supentes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Steven Cummins, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Tom Pincus, 23 Jeral Skelton

Western Force: 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin (captain), y 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Domingo Miotti, y 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Tomás Lezana, 7 Kane Koteka, y 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Sitaleki Timani, y 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, y 1 Tom Robertson. Supentes: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Jack Winchester, 18 Angus Wagner, 19 Kieran Longbottom, 20 Ryan McCauley, 21 Tim Anstee, 22 Brynard Stander, 23 Ian Prior

Árbitro : Damon Murphy. Jueces de líneas> Amy Perrett, y James Quinn
Oficial de televisión: James Leckie

With Lezana and Miotti, Western Force beat Rebels in Melbourne

Western Force aims for third place in the Australian Super Rugby play-offs after beating the Melbourne Rebels at the last breath 16-15 (6-12) with substitute flanker Tim Anstee's try, after a maul, and that was converted by the Tucumán’s fly half  Domingo Miotti, scorer by adding three penalties goals.

Santiago del Estero’s flanker Tomás Lezana was proclaimed Man of the Party at AAMI Park in the capital of the State of Victoria in the deep south of Oceania. Also playing in the winner were the Buenos Aires’s  scrum half Tomás Cubelli and the Buenos Aires’s tight head prop Santiago Medrano.

The scrum was the decisive weapon for Force, and after rejecting the attacks of the Rebels, in a harsh second half dominated by the visitors, and where the more skilled three-quarter line of the locals also emerged.

"The games between Rebels and Force are always played with a lot of intensity, and today was crazy. Our defense showed team spirit and gives us confidence against the Waratahs, next week," exclaimed the center and captain of Force, Kyle Godwin .

Western Force played flanker Kane Koteka one man less to a yellow card, but Miotti cut the liability with two penalties and made it 12-6 at halftime after Wallaby fly half  Matt Toomua made three penalties goals . In the complement Miotti added the third penalty goal.

The undefeated Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies have the top two secured as Rebels and Force compete for the remaining spot.

For the Rebels: 5 Penalties, 1 from Reece Hodge, and 4 from Matt Toomua.

For Western Force: 1 Try by Tim Anstee, plus 3 Penalties and 1 Conversion by Domingo Miotti. Yellow card to Kane Koteka.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Frank Lomani, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Lewis Holland, and 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt Toomua (captain), and 9 Joe Powell, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, and 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea, and 4 Robert Leota, 3 Pone Fa'amausili, 2 James Hanson, and 1 Cabous Eloff. Reserves: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Steven Cummins, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Tom Pincus, 23 Jeral Skelton

Western Force: 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin (captain), and 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Domingo Miotti, and 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Tomás Lezana, 7 Kane Koteka, and 6 Fergus Lee-Warner , 5 Sitaleki Timani, and 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu'u, and 1 Tom Robertson. Reserves:: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Jack Winchester, 18 Angus Wagner, 19 Kieran Longbottom, 20 Ryan McCauley, 21 Tim Anstee, 22 Brynard Stander, 23 Ian Prior

 Referee: Damon Murphy. Linesmen, Amy Perrett, and James Quinn Television Officer: James Leckie