The Melbourne Rebels have learnt their lesson and vowed not to make the same mistake when they face the NSW Waratahs on Friday.
The Rebels appeared to be a team on the rise as they opened their 2015 Super Rugby season with an impressive 20-10 win over 2014 runners-up the Crusaders – their first-ever win outside Australia.
In particular the pack, with speed and punch from backrowers Sean McMahon, Scott Higginbotham and Colby Fainga’a and power from locks Luke Jones and Lopeti Timani, looked a genuinely threatening force.
But Rebels co-captain Scott Fuglistaller said they were quick to put the win behind them ahead of the clash with the Waratahs at AAMI Park for fear of paying the same price as they did last year.
In 2014, the Rebels were praised for a big win opening round win over the Cheetahs only to lose 32-7 to the Western Force 32-7 next up – a crushing loss which Fuglistaller said effectively derailed their season.
“We’ve spoken about taking one week at a time and not getting too carried away,” Fuglistaller said.
“Last year we got ahead of ourselves after that first game and that really stung us and we got really hurt in Perth and that derailed our season.
“We had some strong performances after that but it really hurt us and stopped the momentum that we had building from pre-season and into that first game.”
Fuglistaller said Rebels were wary of wounded defending champions NSW following their own shock defeat by the Force.
He said last weekend’s 25-13 loss would have stung NSW.
“They will be hurting after last week in front of the home crowd,” Fuglistaller said.
“They will have a point to prove.”
The Rebels have made one forced change with halfback Nic Stirzaker suspended for foul play, with Luke Burgess No.9 and Ben Meehan on the bench.
NSW have lost Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu to a knee injury, with Stephen Hoiles now starting.
“We’ll have to make up for that level of physicality that Cliffy provides around the park, so everyone really has to up the ante in that regard,” Waratahs skipper Dave Dennis said.
He believed the Rebels would be high on confidence after their win in Christchurch.
“We just want play our style of rugby,” Dennis said.
“We felt we didn’t do that last week, I think it was pretty obvious to everyone.”
Former Rebels assistant coach Nathan Grey, who’s now with NSW, said Melbourne would lose little with the experienced Burgess in the line-up.
“He (Burgess) takes the line on really well, he’s dangerous around the ruck and he’s a good voice at the back of their defensive rucks, so he’s going to be someone who we are going to have to definitely keep our eye on.”
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Melbourne's scrum was embarrassed by the push from the home side.
