I’ve loved reading the comments and reactions to the first two trial games from the Melbourne Rebels. Whatever the results, there seems to be a genuine will for the team to improve and do well in their second year.
At the very least, the Rebels should be congratulated for setting the bar high in their trials, choosing to face the hardest trio of opponents – the Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders – of any of the Australian conference teams in the pre-season.
The previous two trials had shown the Rebels to have something of a Jekyll and Hyde quality about them – improvements in attack and structure were tempered by simple errors and a lack of depth.
Damien Hill had taken a phased approach with his squad for the first two trials, playing four distinct squads against the Chiefs, and two against the Blues. The Crusaders, however, would face only an extended squad.
The game against the seven-time champions would be the first time the match-day XV could be judged on their laurels.
All Black Israel Dagg opened the scoring for the Crusaders after 16 minutes, with Tyler Bleyendaal claiming the assist and the conversion to put the visitors up 7-0.
Despite the early concession, signs were good for the Rebels – they were strong in defence, where their line was a lot quicker to the breakdown than in previous weeks, and their work from set plays was well-planned and effective in setting up attacking chances.
That hard work was rewarded in the 23rd minute, when Lachlan Mitchell broke the Crusaders’ line and sparked a run down the right wing, passing off to James O’Connor who weaved through the remains of the Canterbury defence, passing off to Gareth Delve who charged over the line for the Rebels’ first try. O’Connor converted to level the scores.
Ten minutes later, it was the O’Connor show all over again, as the new signing, teaming up extremely well with Danny Cipriani at fly-half, received the ball from the breakdown and weaved majestically through three Crusaders to put the ball down and claim the lead at half-time.
It wasn’t to go the way of the home side in the end, though, as the Crusaders took control early in the second half, with Dagg putting a second try down, again assisted by an exemplary Bleyendaal, to even it up. Sam Whitelock then broke through a gap in the Rebel line to make it 19-14.
However, in a match situation in which the Rebels were prone to collapse last year, the defence held strong, closing down several Crusader chances with ease.
Indeed, later in the match – and without O’Connor and Cipriani, both who left within the hour – the home team were still creating chances. Lloyd Johannson and Luke Holmes were both incredibly close to putting down a winner, both of which were stopped by the smallest of errors.
It has been an interesting few weeks for Rebel watchers. At times, there have been concerns that the issues of last year – defence, converting opportunities, and depth in the squad – would not be cast off so quickly.
However, when you see what the new players have added to the squad, and combine that with the vast improvements made in areas such as defence, there’s no reason to believe that the Melbourne side couldn’t give the competition a shake.
They may not yet be a championship team, or even a finals team, but they are now a very good team, and will administer their fair share of upsets this year. Whatever 2012 may hold, it is a very exciting time to be a Rebel.
Get on board, Melbourne.
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