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With Super Rugby one more weekend away from resuming after the international window, the Melbourne Rebels last night hosted the Hurricanes, in a match designed to keep both squads ticking over for the closing rounds.
Promised rain held off for most of the day, only to set in an hour before kick off, and never relenting throughout the match, which was played at Holmesglen Reserve, home of Harlequins Rugby Club.
A sloshy, muddy pitch and plummeting temperatures thus made for testing conditions for the two sides, as well as the small band of hearty (or foolish?) supporters who braved the weather.
Despite both sides playing with plenty of endeavor, it was no surprise to reach half-time at 0-0, the brightest spot being the electronic scoreboard, which shone so brightly through the gloom it was surely visible from space.
To be fair, both sides turned down kickable penalties, keen to test their set pieces, and the combination of two well-organised defences, and the slop underfoot made for a scoreboard stalemate.
Under a sympathetic and relaxed Andrew Lees – perhaps refereeing against type but all the better for it – the game opened up after half-time, although not in the way the home crowd was hoping.
At 49 mins replacement halfback Ben Meehan darted away from a quick penalty tap, before drifting into centerfield looking to link with his outside backs, however his looping pass was picked off by Wes Goosen, who scooted 65 metres, to open the scoring for the Hurricanes.
Perhaps shocked at finally being called into use, the scoreboard promptly packed it in, also missing the Rebel’s immediate strike-back; winger Tom English picking up a loose ball and racing across to score. With Jack Debreczini unable to convert, the Hurricanes led 7-5.
Fullback James Marshall then made one of the game’s few clean breaks, on 53 minutes, and so Goosen had his second, which ex-Rebel Jason Woodward superbly converted from the side-line. 14-5 to the Hurricanes.
By now the Hurricanes were asserting their dominance; partly a function of squad depth, their replacements adapting better to the conditions and pace of the game.
And so the tries kept coming, lock Michael Fatialofa running onto a short pass off a ruck to score in the 63rd minute, and then from the kick-off, impressive centre Matt Proctor running up the sideline, chipping ahead and cleanly gathering a deflection, before racing 50 metres to the corner.
With both of these tries sensationally converted from the sideline, this time by Otere Black, the Hurricanes were suddenly out to 28-5.
Despite the atrocious conditions, both teams continued to play positively, and the quality of the ball handling will have pleased both coaches.
The Rebels managed a deserved try to Siliva Siliva, from a well-constructed line-out maul drive in the 75th minute, which was unconverted, but the final act was reserved for the oft-maligned Woodward, finishing off a chain passing movement out wide. This time Black wasn’t able to convert, leaving the final score Hurricanes 33 Rebels 10.
By now the scoreboard was back up, although lagging behind at 31-10. It was that sort of night, where keeping dry was more important than the score.
In the final wash, the Hurricanes will feel that the trip over was well worth the effort; more opportunity for Proctor and Vince Aso to cement their midfield combination, and for Black to get game time at this level.
Most impressive was 20-year old Hawkes Bay flanker Hugh Renton, filling big shoes in the shadow of Ardie Savea, but relishing his opportunity to start.
For the Rebels, their best was Jordy Reid, who lorded over the midfield collision area, pulling off a series of smashing hits. And while both Nic Stirzaker and Reece Hodge (at inside centre) were tidy, the Rebels still lacked a little penetration.
Of particular note was Lopeti Timani starting the match at No 8, and making a very good fist of it too, tidying up some wobbly scrum ball and still forging over the advantage line.
The Rebels are yet to announce a 2017 replacement for lock Luke Jones, which may serve to keep Timani in the second row but, sizing him up against the ‘Canes Victor Vito, he looks to have the perfect build for a Test No 8.
The match finished on an amusing note, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen showing the smarts and footwork of a half-back instead of a front rower, slipping past several of his teammates to ensure he got to the hot showers first.
But perhaps the biggest smiles were on the faces of the non-playing Rebels; players like Tamati Ellison, James Hanson, Adam Thompson and others; happily cheering their teammates on from the sanctuary of a covered spot well out of the rain.
No matter how much you love rugby, sometimes there are nights when it’s best to leave the kit bag at home and watch someone else do the dirty work.