Hi guys, please please please tell me how to put in the smaller rubber insert into the Yamaha centre stand?

I`ve tried boiling water, grease, fairy liquid, brute force and nothing is happening. Because of its length it just keeps bending when trying to put pressure onto it in any way. Trying to get it from the other side with needle nose pliers is just damaging it. I`ve spent 3 hours trying to get this thing into the hole!

It got to the point where i was going to cut it off and simply glue the damn thing on!

Can you advise?