Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen has declared the Waratahs as the deserved favourites to win their first Super Rugby title in 2011. The Waratahs aren’t rated in the top three by most bookies but Macqueen says he considers them the top contenders.
The new Melbourne franchise face a baptism of fire on Friday night when they kick off the season at home before an expected full house at AAMI Park against NSW.
“We’re really not looking beyond the first game,” former Australian and Brumbies mentor Macqueen said before training on Tuesday.
“That might sound surprising, but that’s going to give us a better idea as to where we stand and I think that after that we’ll be setting goals and sorting ourselves out from there.
“We’ve said from day one we want to be competitive … but we’ll be more specific as far the points we’ll be looking to get in the ensuing weeks.”
The last Australian team to enter the competition was the Western Force, who finished last and won only one match in their debut season in 2007.
External expectations are higher for the Rebels, even if Macqueen claims that challenges don’t come much tougher than first-up against the Waratahs.
“It is a big test for us and we’ve been aware of that,” he said.
“The Waratahs are full of Wallabies, they’re a side that has played together for quite a few years and so they’re getting better at what they’re doing.
“I think that they deserve to be favourites this year in the Super competition, probably of all the Super teams.”
Although the bookies have tipped NSW to win the Australian conference, perennial powerhouses the Crusaders and the Bulls, along with the Hurricanes, are listed as the overall 2011 title favourites.
Macqueen will name his starting lineup on Wednesday, with most interest on whether former Wallaby Julian Huxley is fit to take his place at fullback.
Huxley, 31, has been battling osteitis pubis and has only played part of one of the Rebels’ four trial games.
“Julian just didn’t train for some of the parts yesterday as a precautionary measure,” said Macqueen.
“Most of our players are fit to play, which is one of the things we were worried about earlier on, how many injuries we had.
“We’re looking pretty good at this stage.
“… we’ll be announcing the side tomorrow and there will be a few disappointed players.
“But one thing that has come out in this competition is that the whole 30 odd players will end up getting a run because it’s such a long year.”
bill
Guest
Speaking of Waugh the old "Waugh-horse" and Tom Carthorse reminds me of that joke about the difference between a warhorse and a carthorse ... a warhorse darts into the fray ...
Worlds Biggest
Guest
As long as Waugh is the running the Show it's hard to envisage the Tahs winning a Title. Ditto with Hickey as 2 IC and the continued selection of Tom Carthorse. I can't wait for it to all start however some things don't change in Tahland.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
This is just rubbish. A weak attempt at re-inforcing the underdog tag and nothing more. The Waratahs wont go the distance over the season anyway but I can sense an upset this weekend and would love to see them on the back foot from a loss from the Rebels. Schadenfreude from a Kiwi Queenslander.
TembaVJ
Roar Guru
http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/News/ArticleDetails/tabid/270/ArticleID/1455/Default.aspx rebels 22, Cipriani on the bench... Looks like a solid team
TembaVJ
Roar Guru
If the Rebels pull it off and they can, it would blow Melbourne's lid, it can only be good for the game in Aus.
Eric
Guest
A Rebel win would be great for rugby. If it gets close, watch Phil Waugh do 25 crabscuttle runs from first receiver, gaining a nett -5mms, and Beale, Mitchell, Turner et al redundant in the outside backs.
sheek
Guest
From memory, The Brumbies were monstered 40 something to 10 something by the Waratahs in their first ever S12 game back in 1996 at the SFS. But the Brumbies quickly re-grouped & ironically missed the play-offs through a lack of bonus points (something they were very good at for many years afterwards). I don't know how this (Rebels v Waratahs) game is going to pan out. Unlike 1996, the Rebels are playing at home. I imagine the atmosphere will be electric. My head says the Tahs will prevail perhaps by about 10-15 points. The game will be willing. But gee, it would be something if the Rebels could cause a first round boilover.
jameswm
Guest
Firstly - Macqueen's tactic of putting the pressure on the Tahs is obvious. Oldest trick in the book. Secondly - you really think the Tahs will be complacent for their first game of the season? You're kidding. The forwards will come out to monster their opponents and the backs will (hopefully) try to play at a speed the big Rebel centres can't keep up with. The Tahs tend to start the season well. Complacency arises after a good win playing a supposedly weaker team. They like everyone have no idea how good the Rebels are and haven't played, so how can they be complacent? On the contrary, they will be wanting to go down in the record books as the first team to beat the Rebels.
Jason
Roar Guru
Macqueen knows what he is talking about. Put your house on the Tahs! Safest bet ever.
Nathan
Guest
as a one-eyed all blacks & Hurricanes man, i can confidently say they have no chance of winning this year. too many hot & cold players in key positions, with a brand new coach- it won't happen! i reckon the Blues & Crusaders will finish ahead of them this year. Waratahs are a chance but their coach is their biggest problem. they did a 180 turn at some stage last season and suddenly began playing attacking rugby, will they perservere with this attacking strategy this year? also they might struggle to beat the Reds who have better players in key positions, so Waratahs mightn't finish top of their conference. will be impossible to win the whole thing unless you finish top 3 overall.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Definitely cant be ruled out - I think Tahs complacency is just as big a factor as Rebels being fired up... Saying that - I still tipped the Tahs, maybe more wishful thinking than anything else
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Odds are just the weight of money behind each team - at this stage reputation from prior years counts for more than the current roster/form/etc. Its not the bookies getting it wrong, its the punters. Every year Crusaders and Bulls are top 2 on reputation alone (Not that I disagree with this in 2011) - agree that tahs should be ranked in the next group with Hurricanes and Stormers ahead of the next group of Reds, Blues, Brumbies and Sharks
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
"Rebels will be seriously pumped for their first game" That is the reason I actually tipped them for this round.....its a long shot, but I don't think you could rule it out.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Oldest trick in the book - name the upcoming opponents raging hot favourites and entrench the underdog tag. As a Tahs fan I am concerned about this one - Rebels will be seriously pumped for their first game while the Tahs are likely to be complacent. Will be much closer than it looks on paper. Unfortunately for the Rebels it is a long season and the adrenaline which will push them in this game will fade over the course of the season... Good luck to them though - certainly putting the right structure in place to compete in a few years time
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
While there's nothing all that unusual about a coach talking-up the team he's about to play, I have been somewhat surprised (bordering on puzzled) as to why the bookies have rated the Tahs as a likely 5th place in the comp. They do seem after all a better team on paper than they were in 2010. Perhaps there's something about the new format that I've failed to factor-in. Or perhaps it's just bookies getting it wrong? I mean what do they base these thoughts on? All I've seen todate is a few trial games. Go the TAHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!