Gabby Petersen couldn't sleep.
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The ACT Brumbies back was riddled with anxiety about her first game in 18 months. So when coach Dan Hawke called on game day to say she had been pushed into the starting side, those nerves went to another level.
But Petersen churned out an impressive 51-minute stint as the Brumbies claimed their first win of the Super W season with a 27-19 triumph over the Western Force at Viking Park on Sunday.
COVID-19 struck the Brumbies camp on game day with Japanese internationals Mana Furuta and Makoto Lavemai forced out of the line-up, bringing Petersen into the starting XV for her first game since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament 12 months ago.
"Oh my gosh, I was already nervous coming off the bench. I had a terrible sleep, just anxious about it all," Petersen said.
MORE RUGBY UNION
"When [Hawke] told me I was starting, that was enhanced completely. At the same time, the physios prepared me for the bench knowing if someone went down in the first 10 minutes, I'd have to play 70 minutes anyway. I was on the bench knowing I could play 80 minutes, so when he said I was starting, I knew I was ready.
"It feels good, it was so much fun out there. It's nice just getting the first one out of the way. I didn't feel like I was 'back', I've always felt like I was a part of the team."
An Ash Hewson penalty was all that could split the two sides for the bulk of the opening half before Grace Kemp charged over to give the hosts a crucial eight-point lead heading into the break.
Lillyann Mason-Spice split the Force defence from close range to sew up the result with eight minutes left on the clock. The visitors returned serve two minutes later but that effort was resigned to the consolation pile with an eight-point deficit proving insurmountable.
Prop Niki Paterson was named player of the match in her first start for the Brumbies despite suffering a shoulder injury - her award meant so much she nearly cried when her name was called out - while Michaela Leonard impressed in her first game since returning from New Zealand.
"I'm really proud of the way [Petersen] has handled herself over the past 18 months, coming back from her second ACL. To come out there and play a really solid 50 minutes shows what she is going to be capable of in the future. She's still only a baby," Hawke said.
"I'm just happy for the girls knowing how much work they've put in over the past four or five months to get a result, grateful.
"We were a lot more patient in our attack. That's something we challenged them with during the week, just to trust our attack shape and if we get that process right, then we'll score points. We were also a little bit more disciplined this week."
The Brumbies' toughest task is yet to come. Hawke's side will close out their campaign against the ladder-leading Fijiana Drua in Brisbane this week.
The Drua have claimed four bonus point victories in as many starts. They are the only team to have beaten the NSW Waratahs in competition history.
"We've still got to tidy up the breakdown and be more disciplined around there, and just trust the game plan against Fiji," Hawke said.
AT A GLANCE
Super W round five: ACT BRUMBIES 27 (Penalty try, Grace Kemp, Rebecca Smyth, Lillyann Mason-Spice tries; Ash Hewson 2 conversions; Hewson penalty) bt WESTERN FORCE 19 (Turiti Galiki, Zakiya Kereopa, Madeline Putz tries; Nicole Ledington 2 conversions) at Viking Park.
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