The Rebels have been in the news recently, and in all honesty, it’s a credit to us: you don’t get attention if you aren’t a threat. No one gave us a hope in hell of winning games this season, especially after the Waratahs gave us a touch up in round one.
There’s been plenty of banter from the media about our culture, and I’d like to just say that what has been reported as “fact” couldn’t be further from the truth.
We’re a club with players from all walks of life, and the Rebels have worked hard to establish a great culture around the club. I’m loving it here.
Having such a quality player like Kurtley Beale sign on with us shows the rugby world where we want to be and that we have a desire to be the best.
We feel the New South Wales bias against us, and we’re always going to cop that flak, but it’s all part of what is a rivalry that will grow and grow.
I don’t know much about the talk around James O’Connor and Quade Cooper, but the Rebels aren’t in the competition to make up the numbers, and we’ve been able to let our game do the talking.
Admittedly, sometimes we’re terrible, and we’ve copped it for having a trait of turning up one week, and going missing the next.
It’s tough being so on and off, and we’ve talked a lot recently about consistency. We’ll need to make sure we’re on when taking on the Blues this weekend as we’re on their turf and face a tough test on the road.
News greeted me this week that I’ve been nominated Super Rugby player of the year. Obviously, it’s good to get recognition but in terms of what it means for getting back into the Wallabies, I haven’t gone that far. I’ll keep doing my best week in week out for the Rebels.
The coaches asked me to move into the 13 jumper in the last week, after trying it out at training. I originally played at outside-centre years ago as a junior, and previously with Stirling Mortlock, so it’s been really good to get back there.
I’ve enjoyed getting my hands on the ball more, and we’re good solid pairing with myself and big Stirling hitting the line. I’m looking forward to it again this week against the Blues, and will be watching the Waratahs versus Reds game closely as we take on both in the next two weeks.
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The big prop has only scored three tries in his career with the last coming in 2010.
The kick failed to pass the 22-metre line.
In the Canterbury region, it's not claret but pinot noir.
The Crusaders scrum was dominant, so rather than risk yellow cards or penalty tries, Melbourne's coach replaced the three forwards at once.
The referee initially awarded the try but had to overturn it - presumably on advice from TMO.
Melbourne's scrum was embarrassed by the push from the home side.
