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Joined October 2009
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Since 12 November 2009, Rod Maqueen, along with the rest of the Melbourne Rebels leadership and management team, has put a lot of emphasis…
If I was Graham Henry, I’d be a concerned man right now. Looking at the stats and the amazing performance of the All Blacks…
The final building blocks are falling into place for the Melbourne Rebels, as ‘we’ now have 30 players contracted to the club. We have…
At 33 years of age, the question begs asking: could Brock Edward Lesnar be the most over-hyped MMA fighter ever? With a total of…
[caption id="attachment_24710" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="1984 Grand Slam Wallabies Mark Ella, Steve Williams, current coach Robbie Deans, Alan Jones, Roger Gould, Simon Poidevin and Andrew…
Herewith, an open letter I have mailed to Premier John Brumby and James Marlino to have the Cage Fighting ban lifted. Unfortunately, the letter…
With just hours to go, the time is right to pour some petrol on those propaganda flames. Once again, I found myself reflecting on…
For just over two years we’ve heard speculation around the ‘if’ and ‘when’ regarding Melbourne being awarded the fifteenth franchise in Super Rugby. The…
Great work Stuart! And good meeting you yesterday!
Melbourne beat Tonga to start 'Rebelution'
I was obviously only playing devil’s advocate with this article based on trends, I seriously doubt anyone would ever prefer to lose a few matches. The Kiwis are building good momentum, and based on current form, they should be a shoe in to become the 3rd country to win the World Cup for a second time (Even though it took them 7 attempts, Australia 6, South Africa 4)
Are the All Blacks peaking too soon?
Brian. Really?
The Springboks lost to ‘The South American Jaguars’ in the Free State in 1982.
That’s an invitational team of amateur players from Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.
Good work.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Uhm…You know the sport’s only just turned professional in Vic right? Pretty tough to produce wallabies if there’s no opportunities for the players. Look at Perth and Canberra, a few years into the franchises, and they’re both producing Wallabies, and the same will happen down here. With that said, Rocky Elsom was born right here in Melbs.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Oh please, do you ‘own’ the game? This is very small minded of you to want to host big Union games in two states.
Qld: Fred Lea, an Englishman in 1880 he was able to sway two of the local clubs, Brisbane F.C. (founded 1867) and Wallaroo (1878), to try rugby.
NSW: Conducting its inaugural meeting in 1865, the now defunct Sydney Football Club holds the honour of being Australia’s first rugby club
Vic: Club rugby was formally organized in Victoria when the Melbourne Rugby Union (MRU) formed in 1888. Some of the 1888-1889 New Zealand Native football team matches were played in Victoria and England also sent a touring team.
Victoria first played rugby against New South Wales in Melbourne in 1894 and sent its first team to play in Sydney in 1895.
Just because Victoria is AFL country does not mean that we’re new to Rugby Union.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
“USA, Canada, Russia, Georgia and the like to play the Aus BaaBaas ( Aus A) on a annual basis in places like Darwin and Hobart” I’d actually travel to go watch that! Great excuse to see the country, and watch Rugby.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
I’d flood my kitchen if need be. General Admission seats in the nose-bleed stands now going cheap.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
I had a supporter sporting an Argentinian flag as a cape sitting next to me on Saturday, and he said their team being included in the ‘Toughest competition in the world’ is the best thing that could ever happen.
This proved to me that we’ve become a bit immune to these occasions and need to take a step back and appreciate it for what it is. 10 years from now I’m sure Rollo will be publishing another article like this about the amount of Argentinians in the crowd at the Adelaide tests.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Dan Vickerman – South African, Clive Rathbone – South African, David Poccock – Zimbabwean. James O’Connor – NZ and South African parents. George Gregan – Zambia. Captain Kirk Howard – South African (He’ll run onto the field for the Wallabies around 2032)
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Go Gary you legend! The writer of this article also fails to see the value the ‘ex-pats’ brings to Wallaby rugby in the long term. Complain all you want but half the revenue of ticket sales are paid by these ex-pats, and their kids grow up to play for the Wallabies one day.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Would you look at that, Wallabies have lost 3 times in Melbourne in 49 years. Bring on the Brisbane/Sydney/Perth stats.
Sat, 31 Jul 2010 – Australia v New Zealand 28-49 @ Etihad Stadium – Loss
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 – Australia v Italy 34-12 @ Etihad Stadium – Win
Sat, 14 Jun 2008 – Australia v Ireland 18-12 @ Telstra Dome – Win
Sat, 30 Jun 2007 – Australia v New Zealand 20-15 @ MCG – Win
Sat, 17 Jun 2006 – Australia v England 43-18 @ Telstra Dome – Win
Sat, 25 Jun 2005 – Australia v Italy 69-21 @ Telstra Dome – Win
Sun, 13 Jun 2004 – Australia v Scotland 35-15 @ Telstra Dome – Win
Sun, 09 Nov 2003 – WC QF – France v Ireland 43-21 @ Telstra Dome –
Sat, 08 Nov 2003 – WC QF – New Zealand v South Africa 29-9 @ Telstra Dome
Sat, 01 Nov 2003 – WC Pool A – Australia v Ireland 17-16 @ Telstra Dome – Win
Sun, 26 Oct 2003 – WC Pool C -England v Samoa 35-22 @ Telstra Dome –
Fri, 17 Oct 2003 – WC Pool D – New Zealand v Canada 68-6 @ Telstra Dome
Sun, 12 Oct 2003 – WC Pool D – Wales v Canada 41-10 @ Telstra Dome
Sat, 11 Oct 2003 – WC Pool D – New Zealand v Italy 70-7 @ Telstra Dome
Sat, 21 Jun 2003 – Australia v England 14-25 @ Telstra Dome – Loss
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 – Australia v France 29-17 @ Colonial Stadium, Melbourne – Win
Sat, 07 Jul 2001 – Australia v Lions 35-14 @ Colonial Stadium, Melbourne – Win
Sat, 08 Jul 2000 – Australia v South Africa 44-23 @ Colonial Stadium, Melbourne – Win
Sat, 11 Jul 1998 – Australia v New Zealand 24-16 @ MCG – Win
Sat, 26 Jul 1997 – Australia v New Zealand 18-33 @ MCG – Loss
Sat, 25 Jun 1994 – Australia v Italy 20-7 @ Olympic Park – Win
Sat, 01 Jul 1961 – Australia v Fiji 3-3 @ Olympic Park – Draw
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
There’s nothing wrong with that. Long term it does mean that you have Saffer and Kiwi players turning out for the Wallabies.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Mate, I can’t think of a single stadium in South Africa where the AB’s and the Wallabies ‘like’ to play. Maybe Newlands, back in the 90’s. As for a stadium of preference for the Wallabies in New Zealand? None. What you need to do is toughen up, and get the Aussie crowd behind the team, something lacking at the moment. The Aussie spectators seem to think that the best way to cheer for the Wallabies is by boo’ing the opposition which is quite bad taste.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
I just wasted 3 minutes reading this.
Firstly, your argument that Melbourne is like an away game is ungrounded. What about playing the Springboks in Perth where there’s more South Africans attending than Wallabies? Actually, I was at Suncorp Stadium two weeks ago, and the crowd was close to 50/50 there too. That leaves the strong hold in Sydney as Australia’s answer to Twickenham, and that probably pleases you as a Syndey resident, and you want to keep the sport all to yourself, win or lose!?
Cast your mind back to 2007, MCG where the Wallabies beat the All Blacks, and you’ll note that was the last defeat handed to the All Blacks on Austalian soil. In Melbourne. At the MCG.
“The home-grown supporters do not know the difference between league and union” Are you serious? Did the Australian supporters show up with Wallaby jerseys or Kangeroo Jerseys? It was in fact Wallabies jerseys as I was at the game wearing mine. Victoria has Rugby Union at school, club, and now Super 15 level, and it’s been around for more than 100 years. Your naive statement that ‘people don’t know the game as it’s AFL country’ is far fetched and ungrounded.
Yes the All Blacks supporters in the crowd was chanting ‘All Blacks’, but not because they outnumbered the Wallabies, but rather because the Wallabies supporters didn’t take the lead with chants and supporting their teams. That’s ALSO not a Melbourne problem, as I’ve watched Wallaby tests in 3 cities in Australia, as well as a few cities outside of Australia.
A naive article, and a waste or a read.
The stupidity of Melbourne for a Bledisloe Cup match
Wow, when did the article turn into a lynch mob? Easy to point out their losses, but one needs to consider that the tour with a considerably weaker team during end of year tour, and have political challenges they need to meet in effort to retain favour with the government. Taking that into consideration, one will note, when the chips are stacked, and pride is at stake, they field their best team, they win world cups, and tri-nations.
Don’t judge them with one eye!
Nev.
The end of the Springbok era
The ‘air campaign’ was conducted by a number of players in strategic positions. Fourie Du Preez, a master of putting the loose forwards, and wings under pressure. Morne Steyn, with accurate kicks to the corner, and Frans Steyn kicking bombs into the opposition 22 with our pace men chasing after it.
Come 2010, we have Ricky January who’s only effective kick in 80 minutes is usually the kick for touch to end the game, and Zane who, unfortunately does not have the big boot on him, although he’s a great player. This leaves Morne Steyn. One player to target and put under pressure. If that’s done, our kicking game is disabled. That was done with great success.
What I don’t get, why…OH why, do the Boks, when they’re 17 points down, with 20 minutes to go, kick for the posts? Don’t they have faith in their loose forward and their back line to score tries? It’s a waste, and a strategy the opposition can find sleep easy with.
The end of the Springbok era
I agree 100% The Springbok strategy seems to be: Plan A. Win the game. Plan B. Lose the game but behave like thugs, leave all common sense and the door.
Now, why don’t they play like this when they’re winning? It all points to the Boks being a frustrated team without a game plan, if all else fails, become bullies.
Unwarranted, bad form. I’m a Springbok supporter, and it’s humiliating to have to be associated with this type of play time and time again. There’s a line one should not cross between being a physical and intimidating side, and being an embarrassment and a few of these players cross the line way too often.
The Boks have to play more rugby, less thugby
Cheers mate, I got the balance off your comments offline. And I concur 😉
Rebels foreign player quota is a blessing
Unfortunately the Eureka flag’s been hijacked and misused by multiple trade union groups as well as bikie groups, and I think we should steer away from association with them. What we should do is take it back though, and we’ve done well to customize the Rebel Army logo to represent our Victorian heritage considering the Eureka Stockade and the Victorian coat of arms. It also aligns nicely, and compliments the (unpublished) Melbourne Rebels logo. Check it out, and tell me what you think. Our new site’s up and running at www.rebel-army.com
Your proposal to come through for the first game is great, If you can possibly get together a group of supporters, we can see how we can ensure you get a game day experience you’ll never forget!
Rebels foreign player quota is a blessing
you seem to forget, 15 years ago, it was Waratahs, and Reds only. Did you have the same opinion when Brumbies started up? They ended up playing in the finals five times, winning twice in a period of seven years.
My point is just, more opportunities will generate more interest. I’d like to get a few statistics on how many current League players played Union in School/Unie/Clubs, but switched to League due to lack of opportunities at the top level.
Rebels foreign player quota is a blessing
They definitely will be. We discussed this with Rod MacQueen last night, and each player will be a dedicated mentor to a school and/or a club in Victoria. Here we’re talking about mentoring and training off and on the pitch. Rebels will be investing in Victorian Rugby in the long term.
Rebels foreign player quota is a blessing
From The-guy-with-the-wrestling-mask, a big thank you for taking notice of the Rebel-Army Brett! Win or lose, we’ve loved every live game this season. It’s been a very special season being able to get so close to the action, and the Army regulars being able to get up close to and meet the players. Despite some unfortunate losses at home the crowd seems to be growing week after week, and I think this will spike exponentially when the Rebels start putting together back to back wins!
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