Rebels 2012: the Real Madrid of Super Rugby?
Roar Pro By Gavin Norman, 20 Jun 2011 Gavin Norman is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Melbourne Rebels, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Super Rugby 2011
It was finally announced on Saturday that James O’Connor will join close friend Kurtley Beale at the Rebels in Super Rugby season 2012. O’Connor and Beale are seen as the bright future of Australian Rugby, both in anyone’s starting XV for the Wallabies.
They join a backline full of other big names – Phipps, Cipriani, Mortlock, Gerrard.
So will the Rebels ‘suffer’ the tag of being the Real Madrid of Super Rugby?
It’s something the Brumbies know all too much about.
In 2010 the Brumbies successfully lured Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom back to Canberra (from Perth and Europe respectively).
They combined to form a roster with 13 players on ARU contracts, the most of any province at the time.
Fittingly, they were dubbed the Real Madrid of Australian Rugby at the time.
When the dust settled on the 2010 Super 14 season, the Real Madrid of Super Rugby had finished 6th on the table, missing out on the finals. We all know about the subsequent events in season 2011.
For the Rebels in 2012, the yardstick would be a big improvement on winning the dreaded wooden spoon.
To keep things in perspective though, the Rebels exceeded all expectations in 2011, obtaining three wins (their first ironically against the Brumbies in round two).
By their own standards, the players would admittedly be disappointed with some performances, missed tackles, wasted opportunities and so on. Especially for a team who highly respect their fans and are in turn respected by their fans.
Moving forward a season, the Rebels can expect greater expectation from their fans, which is understandable, as well as the forever critical media (especially those north of the border).
The addition of Beale and O’Connor magnifies this (the pros outweigh the cons). Both can also expect potential individual pressure, again by the forever critical media. Obviously this comes with the territory.
This brings us to the million dollar question, at the start of every season: what is an acceptable pass mark for the Rebels?
In season 2011, it was simply being competitive, which was lacking at times (coming from a loyal supporter). The Rebels of 2012 will be more youthful, skilful and have more knack for flair then its counterpart in 2011. This is further signified with Hill stepping up to replace Macqueen in the coach’s box.
Ideally the Rebels should get the four points against some of its great Australian rivals (Brumbies and Force) and the lesser performing sides from 2011 (Chiefs, Lions and Cheetahs). The best indication of improvement would be to claim victories against teams that were pushed at times in 2011, such as the Sharks, Waratahs and the Reds.
Team cohesion aside, the best insight supporters will get will come in the upcoming Tri-Nations series and subsequent World Cup.
As I alluded to earlier, Beale and O’Connor are expected to be in the starting XV, with Phipps, Mortlock and Gerrard potential bolters. Cipriani is also a likelihood, provided Martin Johnson can put aside what is seen as a petty gripe.
Unfortunately, the Rugby world will have to wait seven or eight months to truly see if the Rebels of 2011 will revel or suffer in their role as the Real Madrid of Super Rugby in 2012.
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- Explore:
- Melbourne Rebels, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Super Rugby 2011
June 20th 2011 @ 9:12am
Rickety Knees said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:12am | Report comment
The Rebels defence is the problem – Beale and O’Connor can’t fix that.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:22am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Very true. They won’t fix that issue overall, other then there individual contributions (Beale and O’Connor are very good defensively).
I hate to single out players, but Cipriani, vuna and Huxley are the main culprits in the backline.
As we all know, it’s a team effort.
I hope people don’t miss the point of this article also.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:16am
Dan said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:16am | Report comment
“Fittingly, they were dubbed the Real Madrid of Australian Rugby at the time.”
I’m a Tahs supporter, and I can tell you as funny as I found that statement about the brumbies, it was never “fitting”… Having a solid chunk of a single countries players who’ve had rep experience doesn’t make them a “real madrid” of rugby. We don’t have anything close to that in the SH and it always sounds ridiculous when these kinds of analogies start flying around.
The Rebels will have a fantastic back line next year, there’s no doubt about it. James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale are – along with Quade Cooper – Australia’s most dynamic attacking players and among the best in the world. Mark Gerrard is indeed a handy man to have in any team as his tactical kicking is probably better than any other player bar Dan Carter, but Mortlock is passed his prime. So yes, they’ll have a good backline next year and a servicable forward pack. Does this make them a Real Madrid? Hell no. Real Madrid has fielded sides with more stars than any one national team could ever hope to muster – they had close to world 11s. So the analgy is a little trite in my opinion… if Melbourne had snared Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Brian O’Driscoll, Pier Spies, Sonny Bill Williams, Andy Sheridan etc, then “the real madrid of rugby” would be pretty apt. But as it stands they’re still just a side who’ll have a dynamic attack if their forwards manage to give them a bit of decent ball.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:31am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Very true Dan.
The Real Madrid statement is pretty much a poke at the media from last year regarding the Brumbies.
On paper they looked impressive, but for many failed to deliver.
As a Rebels supporter, all we really want is improvement and a greater competitive effort (as I point out).
June 20th 2011 @ 12:26pm
Danny_Mac said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
You need to sack a few coaches, and fail to deliver a HELL OF A LOT MORE if you want to be the Real Madrid of rugby! =P LOL
June 20th 2011 @ 12:35pm
Dan said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
I will be interested to see how Victoria go next year I must admit. I really hope they do well, and I’m very glad they’re in the competion now. They will have a fabulous attack next year, but they’ll struggle if they don’t sort that defence out.
On a more superficial note, I also wish they went with a colour other than blue for their team strip – it feels like every second side in Super Rugby wears a blue-blue/blue-white strip (Stormers, Brumbies, Blues, Waratahs, Bulls, Force, and now Rebels)… would dark green, dark purple). They’re a new side, why couldn’t they go for dark purple (like that one off England jersey – looked half decent), dark green (ala the Rugby League Kangaroos or boks).
June 20th 2011 @ 12:56pm
p.Tah said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
the Melbourne Storm are Purple, it’d get a tad confusing for the Mexicans
June 20th 2011 @ 12:59pm
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
It’s the state sporting colours of Victoria. It is a pronvinicial Rugby competition after all.
June 20th 2011 @ 2:39pm
Dan said | June 20th 2011 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
I know, but you’d think with the number of teams running around in blue they might come up with something a litte different anyway. They could have used the colours from the state flower or something like that.
Just saying that with every team wearing blue it’s a bit silly.
June 20th 2011 @ 2:45pm
Darwin Stubbie said | June 20th 2011 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
totally agree … given they’re called Melbourne and not Victoria – there was an opportunity to introduce a different colour – you’ve only got to see watch a mess the game v the Brumbies was to realise the folly of having yet another team in blue …
June 20th 2011 @ 3:15pm
Dan said | June 20th 2011 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
Exactly. I actually like the idea of going with purple as it gives Melbourn a little bit of continuity. Keep the current design, but just use a dark purple and red instead of dark blue. Then make the away jersey whatever you want – away jerseys don’t really have to conform to tradition colours
June 24th 2011 @ 12:35am
Matt said | June 24th 2011 @ 12:35am | Report comment
We would have looked glorious in the colours of our state Flower Dan, the Pink Heath is such a lovely and hardy mountain flower, however I think that Stade de France Paris might get a bit stroppy with another team wearing the pink. I must agree though I have made the comment too that blue is not exactly uncommon in S15, though for mine (with my one rebels eye open) the most pleasing to look at.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:16am
Mals said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Gavin, The Rebels will have some more than capable backs next season but what forwards are they targeting/recruiting? Elsom perhaps?? Their front row stocks in particular need strengthening & with the retirement of Greg Somerville this will be magnified.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:29am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:29am | Report comment
I haven’t heard anything regarding forwards. It’s a point that has been fairly rasied.
As Dan points out, the forwards are servicable. Weeks and Zilla will step up for Somerville next season.
Moving forward, the bulk of the Internationals are in the forwards, so long term youth needs to replace them (unfortunately). Hugh Pyle has been great, Luke Jones has also shown glimpses, so there is a future there.
June 20th 2011 @ 9:30am
johnny-boy said | June 20th 2011 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Very interesting to see Cory Jane might be headed to Perth. He’d love it there and an outstanding replacement for JOC. Are the flood gates about to open ?
June 20th 2011 @ 10:10am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 10:10am | Report comment
The Force of late have been replacing alot of their backs with Internationals (Smith, Ripia), when they should be looking for youth/at the grassroots. Obviously still recovering from the loss of Cross, Mitchell and Giteau.
Stannard is the exception and has been great for them at fly-half.
June 20th 2011 @ 1:20pm
El Gamba said | June 20th 2011 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Dellit? Sidey? Inman (another Rebel for 2012..) Cummins? Turner (very promising couple of games before his knee – hopefully he’ll get a chance next year). I might even through JOC in there, he was too small for rugby in queensland!
Unfortunately for the Force again this year injury was a big problem, last year it was some big names, this year it was a number of the youth which really hampered the development of combinations in the backs. This was obvious in their inability to finish at times.
Stannard is the example not the exception.
June 20th 2011 @ 3:44pm
Working Class Rugger said | June 20th 2011 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Kyle Godwin. Keep an eye out for this kid. Local product and very promising. Will be 20 next year (I think), guided the Force backline very well in the trials pre-Super Rugby. Needs a little more time to develop physically but we could begin to see glimpses of the kid from next season on.
June 20th 2011 @ 5:39pm
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
Good to see a WA product coming through.
June 21st 2011 @ 11:31am
El Gamba said | June 21st 2011 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Heard about him – Soaks boy.
June 20th 2011 @ 10:00am
Darwin Stubbie said | June 20th 2011 @ 10:00am | Report comment
The RM statement is, as has already been pointed out, ridiculous and that’s even if it were confined to the Aust conference .. but the premise is also flawed to look merely at this years results and say they should get the four points next year against the Brumbies, Force, Chiefs, Lions and Cheetahs .. based merely on the fact of picking up 2 backs who don’t actually bolster an area which has been severely lacking – backline defence …
History shows expansion sides take years to get up and running and one big factor that’s been missed (not including the requirement of a decent pack) is the draw for next year … this year the Rebels were handed and armchair ride .. if next year reverts to a normal travel schedule – I wouldn’t expect them to do anything better than this year – and in fact possibly regress
June 20th 2011 @ 10:12am
sixo_clock said | June 20th 2011 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Nice article Gav,
We may have a better set of laws regarding the scrum next season too. This could change the role of the front rows marginally. We might even go back to the days of straight feeds and a contest by hookers. That in itself is going to be a new minefield for the altitude-challenged rakes who are currently holding contracts.
The pass mark for next season will be to lose the wooden spoon. S15 is a mature comp so to do what they have done is part unknown quantity but mostly luck but still fills we club members with hope for the 2012 season. However being a mature comp it will be a while before they can enjoy the depth of NSW or Qld and quality reserves is probably the most profound factor in winning this comp. You say what? Caleb Ralph! Still fit! Playing subbies! Less than half an hour away! You have got to be joking!
Defense these days is primarily about structure. RM around the handover mentioned that it will be a major focus in the pre season training. It will improve. (please).
June 20th 2011 @ 10:48am
johnny-boy said | June 20th 2011 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Also read Cipriani is to be given a second – or is that 3rd or 4th or 5th chance ? This will not end well. The Cipriani’s of this world get a kick out of pushing the envelope every time as far as they can. Just to see what the limit is. And Cipriani obviously hasnt reached that limit yet, so he will try to push it a bit further. It’s an upbringing thing. Macqueen is a deluded fool if he thinks he can reform him.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:37am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Well he’s technically Hill’s problem now. Look to be honest we don’t know really wants happening behind the scenes, I won’t speculate.
All I know is, he’s a talented player and was pretty much the last player to leave the field on Friday night, signing autographs for kids. He even gave away his boots.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:13am
King of the Gorgonites said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Top effort with the Army this year Gav.
The Leinster game promises to be intersting. a good development opportuinty for the squad. I assume they are playing a few games over in Europe?
June 20th 2011 @ 11:42am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:42am | Report comment
3 in total according to the post match function on Friday night.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:19am
Melina said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:19am | Report comment
Why r they being dubbed the real madrid of rugby? You can’t compare one sport to another. And real madtrid is an amazing team that deserves respect.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:43am
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Melina, read the article. As I point out, it’s a poke at the media from 2010 regarding the Brumbies.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:48am
sixo_clock said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Entering the lexicon is not respect? Over-sensitivity is a flaw.
June 20th 2011 @ 12:05pm
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Not over-sensitivity, just stating the point.
I’ve had a few people read the title and not really look at the article.
Big Steve has it right also. Next time I’ll have to put a disclaimer in.
June 20th 2011 @ 11:52am
Big Steve said | June 20th 2011 @ 11:52am | Report comment
i think he was comparing the fact they have bought star players from other clubs like real madrid.
the rebels will have a good back line, I think they also picked up Inman from the Force. Assumeably this pushes Gerrad to the wing and the backline will be:
9: Phipps
10:Cipriani
11:Mitchell/Vuna/Betham etc
12:O’Conner
13:Inman
14:Gerrad
15:Beale
Huxley and who ever doesnt start on the wing on the bench.
Inman and O’Conner are both good defenders and as sixo mentions above another preseason should help them develop their backline structures and improve the defence.With all involved having a full year of experience in Super rugby together you would expect the game plans and team structure to have significant improvment in the next year.
If the forward pack can be competitive they should get off the bottom of the ladder.
June 20th 2011 @ 12:20pm
Shore Thing said | June 20th 2011 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Rickety Knees,
Playing Beale and JOC and 10/12 WILL fix alot of it as defence problems is in order:
1 Pretty Boy
2 Huxley
3 Vuna
4 Kingi (at FB).
5. Phibbs
In 2012 Id have
9: Phipps
10:Beale
11:Vuna (needs defencive positioning coaching)
12:O’Conner
13:Mortlock
14:Gerrad
15:Rooney
Huxley as cover for 10,12, 15 on bench
Pretty sound to me!
June 20th 2011 @ 1:07pm
Gavin Norman said | June 20th 2011 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
No Cipriani? Rooney is not there next year, off to Toulon. You’ve caught my drift though. I’ll say this again, we’re not going to win the title.