Rebels 0 Waratahs 43
If the Melbourne Rebels thought it was going to be a tough season of Super Rugby, they found out how tough, going down 43-0 to the Waratahs at AAMI Park. Two tries in the first half and five in the second secured the Waratahs the win, a bonus point and the Weary Dunlop Shield.
The defeat couldn’t dampen the spirits of a partisan 25,524 crowd, however, on a night of celebration for the Rebels. Despite being out of the contest early in the second half, the Rebel Army remained in full voice throughout, even breaking out a Mexican wave late on.
Two yellow-cards did not help the Rebels cause but the Waratahs, and their slick backline in particular, deserve great credit for their slight of hand and fleet of foot. Consistently the gain line was broken and support runners were always on hand for the offload or overlap.
The passion off the field was reflected on it, with a bruising opening quarter fought out by two sides determined to not concede an inch.
An indication of how compact the contest was can be seen in the first score taking 25 minutes to arrive. Waratahs skipper, Phil Waugh, forced his way over the gain line and in the following phase the elite NSW backline shifted it wide at speed for Kurtley Beale to touchdown in the corner. Lachie Mitchell did his best to drag the Wallaby flyer out of touch but television replays showed the try was legal. Barnes missed the conversion from the left touchline.
The Waratahs doubled their advantage on 32 minutes in a move straight from the training ground. The ball was picked off the lineout and handed immediately to Berrick Barnes who delivered a precise right-footed kick behind the onrushing Rebels defence. The ball bounced perfectly for Drew Mitchell to scoop up, step inside Julian Huxley and cross in the left corner. Barnes again failed to add the two points.
The 10-0 lead lasted until halftime.
Most of the rest of the first half was a tight affair, fought up front – at times literally. The first action of note in the game involved referee Mark Lawrence sin-binning Kevin O’Neil and Dean Mumm for acquainting themselves after just seven minutes.
The Rebels saw plenty of the ball in the early stages and looked more assured in contact than throughout the preseason. The fierce Waratahs attack on the breakdown prevented the speed of ball required to generate overlaps and it was only when the ball went to the boot of Danny Cipriani and Lachie Mitchell that the Rebels looked like creating something from nothing.
Cipriani, on early following a shoulder injury to James Hilgendorf, was heavily involved throughout. A try-saving intervention shortly after his arrival thwarted what looked like a certain Beale try, while his 39th minute penalty from 40 metres was the Rebels’ only shot at goal for the half.
Break from gave Beale the chance to stretch his legs but Cipriani read the play well and thwarted what looked like a certain try.
The second half began badly for the Rebels. After two minutes of the restart Ged Robinson was sent to the bin and from the resulting scrum Tatafu Polota-Nau drove his way over. Barnes missed his third kick of the night.
Just five minutes later Drew Mitchell crossed for his second and guaranteed the Waratahs a bonus point. With Robinson off, the Waratahs opted to take scrums at every opportunity and from a set-piece on halfway good hands and quick passing created space for the speedster to run in under the posts. Barnes opened his account for the season at the fourth time of asking.
Beale reinforced the man advantage, snagging his second of the night after 52 minutes as the Waratahs midfield continued to stretch the play. Barnes’ conversion from the right touchline made the scoreline 29-0.
The Waratahs’ sixth and seventh tries arrived in quick succession. Centre Rob Horne rewarded his side’s domination of the ball by finishing in the left corner before captain Waugh pushed his way over from the base of a maul. Barnes and Beale added two points each time.
A late Rebel resurgence threatened to break their Super Rugby duck but the Waratahs held firm.
A great occasion, a disappointing result, but the seeds of Rebelution have been sown.
Rebels
1. Nic Henderson, 2. Ged Robinson, 3. Greg Somerville, 4. Adam Byrnes, 5. Kevin O'Neill 6. Hoani Macdonald 7. Michael Lipman, 8. Gareth Delve (vc), 9. Sam Cordingley, 10. James Hilgendorf 11. Luke Rooney, 12. Cooper Vuna, 13. Stirling Mortlock (c), 14. Lachlan Mitchell, 15. Julian Huxley
Reserves: 16. Heath Tessman, 17. Laurie Weeks, 18. Alister Campbell, 19. Jarrod Saffy, 20. Nick Phipps, 21. Danny Cipriani, 22. Afusipa Taumoepeau
Head Coach: Rod Macqueen
Waratahs
1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Al Baxter, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Dave Dennis, 7. Phil Waugh (c), 8. Ben Mowen, 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Lachie Turner, 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Benn Robinson, 18. Sitaleki Timani, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Brendan McKibbin, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Ryan Cross
Head Coach: Chris Hickey
Referee: Mark Lawrence
The Rebels re-group and welcome the Brumbies to Melbourne a week Saturday
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