The Melbourne Rebels produced one of their best games under Kevin Foote to dominate the Western Force 52-14.
They bashed the Force up front and ran away with the contest in the second half to send Reece Hodge off as a winner at home.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
As for the Force, it's a costly slip-up and now needs a major result to book their spot in the finals.
So what did we learn?
1 A PULSE
The Melbourne Rebels did what they needed to do to keep their slim finals hopes alive, although fans will be wondering where that final 30 minutes was in those close defeats.
The thumping victory gives them the best for and against of the teams fighting for that final spot in the top eight. They now need results to go their way.
A Drua win against Moana Pasifika isn’t catastrophic but they will be hoping they don’t get a bonus point.
To qualify, the Rebels need a win over the Brumbies desperately. They then need the Blues to defeat the Highlanders and Chiefs to defeat Force.
Not an easy task but not out of the question if they sort their own backyard first and foremost.
2. HOME AND AWAY
The Force needs to do some serious soul-searching before next week’s must-win match against the Chiefs.
Simon Cron won’t want to return to AAMI Park anytime soon after yet another thumping loss in Melbourne.
The Force are perfect at home but seem to lose all shape once they make the trip across the Nullarbor, with coach Cron questioning their preparation after yet another defeat on the road
They will welcome a return to HBF Park, although will need something special (and results to go their way) to beat the ladder-leaders and play finals football.
3. BRUTE POWER
The Rebels preach a ‘fast and fearless’ brand of Rugby but sometimes brute strength does the job just as effectively.
With no Tom Robertson and Santiago Medrano, the all-Wallaby front row of the Rebels went to work. Matt Gibbon admitted after the game they looked to target the youthful front-row and it paid dividends
Sam Talakai ran over the defenders to end the half for his first Super Rugby try almost eight years after his debut.
He was supported in kind by Gibbon and Jordan Uelese as they got the better of the Force at scrum time constantly. They pushed them back sometimes in excess of 20 metres, capped off by a great 5m scrum that ended with a Josh Kemeny try.
4. WELCOME BACK IZACK RODDA
It was a successful return from injury for Force lock Izack Rodda.
He came on with 35 minutes to go and made an instant impact to charge down Ryan Louwrens’ box kick to set up Sam Spink’s second try.
It adds to the incredible depth the Wallabies have at lock, with Matt Philip continuing to return.
Philip was elite for the Rebels around the set-piece game and delivered a team-high 13 carries, whilst young gun Josh Canham continues his breakout season.
5. A TALE OF TWO MILESTONES
The Rebels gave Reece Hodge the perfect send off at home as he passes Tom English for most appearances for the club.
The versatility Hodge has found his home in the centres and will likely play a major role in Eddie Jones’ Wallaby squad.
Hodge is the heart and soul of the Rebels and talked about how the moment hit him on the drive to AAMI Park. He will become their first centurion next week in Canberra in a crucial game against the Brumbies.
As for centurion Michael Wells, it will be a game to forget. Wells was stoic after the loss, critical of the simple mistakes that allowed the Rebels to cruise away for the win.
