Rebels cause the biggest upset in weekend of boilovers
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Local ball sports experienced more boilovers this weekend than a TAFE cooking class. But I’m adamant that not even the most clinically insane followers would’ve expected the unforeseen bubble and fizz result of the Rebels win over the Crusaders.
It was one of those results that make you think you’ve actually drunk more than you thought on a regular Saturday sitting of footy and refreshments.
Your pickled brain drives you to quickly stumble out the door so you can trawl through your yellow recycling bin to do a recount on the stubbie intake for the evening.
But even after all of the eye-rubbing and crooked calculation of standard drinks is finished, the result was still there blazing like a beacon for reality in the top right-hand corner of your screen. It proudly stares you in the face as your muddling tormentor and sends your mind on a mad search for something comparable.
Trust your VB-soaked pupils, as you are not hallucinating. This is an Australian union miracle.
Was what transpired at AAMI Park on Saturday night the biggest upset in Super Rugby history?
The most successful franchise in competition history, crammed to the back teeth with blue chip Kiwi talent and on a run of 6 wins in 7 games up against a bits-and-bobs outfit from a kindergarten-level rugby city with 1 lonely win in their last 6 outings.
An organisation with a plush and velvety history of repeated success against a mob who only decided on their team colours a few years ago.
The Melbourne Rebels, so easy to lash as the poster boys for the lack of depth in Australian rugby since becoming the nation’s 5th hungry mouth needing a talent feed, somehow came from behind and then closed out a stunning victory against the Crusaders, the biggest and scariest dog in the pound.
These sorts of match results have been known to spike the numbers of inquisitive phone calls to the WADA switchboard or the SANZAR anti-corruption unit in the past.
Fair enough, the Crusaders began the match with internationals Israel Dagg, Ben Franks and Kieran Read inside windcheaters on the pine, but the gulf in class between the two outfits on the team sheets was still Grand Canyon-esque.
And it appeared to be a stock standard evening at the work depot for the Christchurch outfit when they defied being on the wrong side of possession and territory to lead 19-10 at half time.
However, only medically-diagnosed fruitcakes and the most rusted-on and delirious of the Rebel’s small but resilient supporter group could’ve dreamt of the astonishing and unlikely froth of the second half.
On the back of a sparkler from Kurtley Beale, a post-it note reminder performance to Robbie Deans from Nick Phipps and some tireless beavering from Hugh Pyle, the Rebels were able to defy arguably the entire international rugby community by keeping the Crusaders scoreless and romping to easily the most notable victory in their short existence.
So what was the spur in the Rebel rear-end that drove this rare rugby trinket for the ages?
I would like to say it was a brilliant tactical rug-pull laced with sparkling turns of dexterity, but it was mainly meat and potatoes rah-rah that got the job done.
Fundamentals like inspired and industrious defence, nabbing points when the opportunities presented themselves and having Danny Cipriani back in the UK shagging saggy c-grade brit popstars and passing out at Spearmint Rhino nightclub for good.
Rebels coach and household rugby name Damien Hill described it as the ‘best win in the club’s history’, and duly so considering the stuff-all amount of times they’ve sung the team song.
In a weekend of heavenly uncertainty with Goliaths in all corners crying down the phone to their mums, the Rebels were the Davids that shone the brightest.
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The Crowd Says (20) | Page 1 of Comments
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May 15th 2012 @ 5:26am
mania said | May 15th 2012 @ 5:26am | Report comment
saders needed this loss. it shows them that they cant always do the minimum and walk away with a win. hopefully this fires them up for the business end of the season.
May 15th 2012 @ 8:59am
sixo_clock said | May 15th 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Lovely writing Dane, you have a talent.
What mania said with the proviso that the game plan and execution by the Rebels was very near perfect. The Rebels retained it as long as they could, fought hard and smart to get it back, were disciplined, quick enough and tight in defence and niggled their way to the win. Good Rugby. Anyone who bothers to read my stuff will understand my belief that with application of the basics every game is winnable. The Rebels squad know this now and trust each other.
Other Roarers concentrate on player potential whereas team potential is the seam that every coach and captain must tap. You can’t do much to counter gifts such as Morne Steyn, Dan Carter with the boot except to limit his chances. Similarly players like Robbie Fruean’s ability to bust a line must be closely covered. These things were done and the Rebels self belief will see more of the same.
As a member of the Rebels Club I still have a huge two week old grin and I am very proud of the men from Melbourne.
May 15th 2012 @ 9:07am
mania said | May 15th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
6oclock – full congrats to the rebels and i fully agree with you. team work is the singular biggest decing factor in winning a game. rebels had much better team work.
May 15th 2012 @ 10:52am
Dane25 said | May 15th 2012 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Thanks for the feedback six, and I’m bloody pumped for you after 2 ripper showings from your boys at the Stockade. I am also slightly jealous as I am a poor and mistreated Waratahs man.
May 15th 2012 @ 9:51am
Geo said | May 15th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Interesting to note that Cipriani has left and the two games without him the Rebels have played blinders. well it is not surprising as his position was a turnstile for the opposition.
May 15th 2012 @ 12:44pm
RebelRanger said | May 15th 2012 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Many people fail to realize that JOC is actually the missing factor. The Rebels played similar cohesive rugby beating the Force when O’Connor was out. And have played so with Beale at 10 offering some direction for the team. Beale has played predictable rugby taking to to the line and hitting guys running options, occasionally taking the tackle to mix it up and putting the foot down when there’s a mismatch. This has enabled the team to be position themselves and the results speak for themselves.
I remember Cipriani getting benched now and then so we’ve played a lot of rugby without him with similar results. Every game with O’Connor on the other hand has been structured but fast exciting rugby.
May 15th 2012 @ 1:18pm
stillmatic1 said | May 15th 2012 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
love this post, rebel. a new team should be conservative so that they can forge a good team culture and standard across the board and in all aspects of play. having beale calm down a wee bit and not having the lone ranger JOC around has tighten the play of the rebels. and 2 games in a row they have looked good. need to get consistancy in defence though. no good coming close or winning one week then conceding 40 odd points the next week.
very impressed with the rebels faithful in the stands, they make a lot of noise and add atmosphere, so great work there. the style of play and intent of the rebels in these last 2 games should show everyone that throwing a couple of flaky x factor players into a team doesnt do them any favours. can JOC rein his game in a bit (good, skilled player though he is)??
May 15th 2012 @ 1:39pm
Dane25 said | May 15th 2012 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
Agree on the AAMI Park faithful, Melbourne once again proving they are the kings of embracing any type of sport thrown their way!
May 15th 2012 @ 2:07pm
RebelRanger said | May 15th 2012 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
Thanks Stillmatic1, usually when I ciritisize JOC people get all defensive and say theres something wrong with me.
Definitely agree with the ‘lone ranger’ call. Thats how I see his play, a run first – pass later type. Maybe with more experience he will mature and see the attack doesn’t revolve around him.
I see him best on the wing. I want him to develop a Billy Slater type game where he can slot in at first receiver when needed but mostly play on looping attacks as a secondary playmaker. This way hes not a waste on wing.
Defence is still a problem but intensity in another one methinks. We come out guns blazing in the first 20 then kind of take the foot off the pedal. Crusaders didn’t show the killer instinct they usually do and the Rebels were able to close it out.
The crowds are fantastic at the Stockade. I always leave with a hoarse throat and sometimes come home and watch the game on TV just to hear us. Big ups to the Rebel Army as they start most of the chants. Might trade my Premium membership next year as those around me are not as vocal as those behind the goal posts.
May 15th 2012 @ 12:03pm
redsnut said | May 15th 2012 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
I totally agree.
What a fantastic team win against the huge odds.
Keep it going.
May 15th 2012 @ 4:49pm
Sprigs said | May 15th 2012 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
Sometimes coincidences can lure people into drawing doubtful conclusions.
Any team in the world would give almost anything to have JOC in their side.
Apart from teamwork, I think the presence of Kurtley Beale was the main factor that lifted the side to victory. Had JOC been there the hiding dealt to the opposition would have been even more overwhelming.
It helped that the Crusaders miscalculated and left Dagg on his dags.
What a wonderful Friday night.
May 15th 2012 @ 5:53pm
RebelRanger said | May 15th 2012 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
I agree like the conclusions drawn from the departure of Cipriani.
Proof of this? Western Force seemed to let go.
Just the presence of Kurtley Beale? Now that’s something worth paying for haha.
Without giving any explanation as to how JOC would have contributed your post seems empty.
May 16th 2012 @ 9:26am
Jutsie said | May 16th 2012 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Rod Macqueen seems to endorse the opinion that the rebels are a better team without cips, its not so much the on-field behaviour rather the effect his off-field indiscretions had on the team culture they were trying to build.
JOC has had a few misdemeanour’s in his time but they seem more like one-off events that most young blokes go through rather than a pattern of behaviour like cipriani.
Also I think JOC has had a few poor games (ACT & the first NSW game) but he has also had some blinders like against the cheetahs and blues. His defence will improve the more he plays at 12 and the more he works with Muggs, he has no issue with tackling its more to do with positioning. He doesn’t shy away from physical contests like cip’s does, just look at how he got his injury, his a tough little bloke.
Anyway the article that quotes macqueen regarding cips:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/postcipriani-rebels-the-beale-thing-20120515-1yp0j.html
May 16th 2012 @ 6:58pm
RebelRanger said | May 16th 2012 @ 6:58pm | Report comment
Ah well I cannot argue with Rod. Case closed. Although I honestly thought we had implemented a stronger culture. I follow Lipman on Twitter and he’s always having fun without getting out of control why can’t everyone else?
Yeah JOC can be forgiven as he is still getting experience. Can’t expect him not to enjoy his success.
Cheetahs and Blues? Cellar dwellers. You know I was at that Blues game and honestly did not think he carved up. from memory he had an awesome linebreak (created by using his speed to get around a few blokes) but then he didn’t pass it to carry on the play. His try was catching a ball 2m out from the line unopposed. I know he’s clutch from the Bledisloe in Japan but needs to show us the Rebels his worth as he has clogged up our salary. That defensive performance against the Brumbies was a big let down. I’ll await a game where he proves me wrong.
May 16th 2012 @ 10:12pm
Jutsy said | May 16th 2012 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
I was actually pretty impressed with the cheetahs for the most part this year, they are willing to throw the ball around alot more than most sth african (or aussie) teams. They’ve had a few contenders for try’s of the year (the 80m team try against the crusaders comes to mind).
Its a shame goosen got injured cos his easily the best running no. 10 in sth africa.
May 15th 2012 @ 5:22pm
nickoldschool said | May 15th 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
Nice article Dane. Mortlock’s the Delve of the backline. He’s lifting the confidence in everyone around him.
May 15th 2012 @ 6:48pm
mervn grimley said | May 15th 2012 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
I’m one of the the aami park faithful and if you think were loud on the telly you should here us at the ground!!!
I reckon JOC with KB will be fine, look how Kurtley has matured.
The best thing about the game was we won it rather than the crusaders losing it, we outplayed them. Everywhere. I reckon Rodzilla was stiffed with those penalties and actually had a very good game.
Cipriani – don’t miss him. The phrase “an englishman abroad” comes to mind, did nothing for his reputation at all.
They’re were winners across the park and have been discussed elsewhere. I will say though looking at the crusaders as time slipped away they looked beaten and perplexed as to what was happening. They should get the message that you just can’t turn up to beat the lower ranked teams, I wouldn’t like to play them next week.
Just a note about melbourne. There are plenty of very knowledgeable rugby fans down here, a lot are expats etc (i’m originally nsw).
There is a big level of junior participation and lots of good clubs, and plenty of newer clubs. The other thing, it’s really, really easy to get to the ground and is I reckon the best viewing rugby ground in the country, I look forward to seeing it full for a rebels game. The LIons play us next year, perhaps with all those northern tourists we should get a full house, should be a top night.
The Melbourne Rebels are COMING!!!!!!!!!!!! watch this space, closely.
May 15th 2012 @ 8:10pm
Dane25 said | May 15th 2012 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
Good stuff Merv! Sounds like Melbourne isn’t a town who has been the recipient of a planted franchise, with diehards like yourself and the rest of the Rebel fans down there along with good participation from juniors upwards, the joint looks like a ruggers stronghold for the future.
May 16th 2012 @ 9:33am
Crazy Horse said | May 16th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
JOC is definitely a Lone Ranger rather than a team player, albeit one of tremendous talent, probably as a result of emulating Giteau who had a very big influence on the impressionable youngster when both were at the Force. self centred gits both. Hopefully he will mature into a team player.
It will do him no harm at all to sit in the stands and watch the Rebels and Wallabies win without him. Hopefully it will teach him that no one is irreplaceable.
May 16th 2012 @ 3:10pm
Sprigs said | May 16th 2012 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
I think there is something about JOC that annoys a certain kind of guy.
Perhaps it is boyish looks? Or that he didn’t bow too easily to senior males? Or that he seems happy — unlike many grumpy old men suffering from relevance deprivation syndrome. Or is it about his one comment on his brand, or his visibility in TV commercials?
There has been a strange desire to discipline him, to punish him, exclude him, deny his talent.
Yet on the ground, he is clearly a star who can get through opposition defences like few others, who electrifies his own team and spectators alike. He scores tries, kicks goals, defends well.
There may be a valid argument about what position he is best at, what suits his team best. But no selector in his (or her) right mind would exclude him from a team if they had the choice.