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Rebels defence coach John Muggleton was the inspiration behind last night’s stunning 28-19 win over the Crusaders at AAMI Park.
The Rebels were down 19-10 at the break after giving away four kickable penalties, butchering their 65% possession, winning the rucks and mauls 49-23, and spending 4 minutes 16 in the Crusader’s quarter compared to 1 minute 6 in reply.
Once they tightened their discipline the Rebel’s scored an unanswered 18 points in the second session to create the upset of the tournament.
Defence?
Muggleton set the bar last week against the Bulls, when the Rebels came within a whisker of winning.
Confidence in their defence has given the new boys on the block confidence in attack. Prior to last night the Rebels had scored 17 tries and given up 34. Their attack was ordinary, their defence fragile.
The overall Muggleton influence finally surfaced last night in the 67th and 69th minutes with two tries that set the 18,423 crowd alight.
Nick Phipps scored the first after benchman Stirling Mortlock decided on the short side, transferred to another benchman Alistair Campbell, who had been on the field for only three minutes, passing to Mark Gerrard on the burst who made the bust, and inside to Phipps.
Brilliant, well-constructed rugby.
Mortlock scored the second when he intercepted 35 metres out and set sail for the line, off-loading to flying winger Cooper Vuna. When he was collared by the defence, Vuna popped up a perfect pass to the supporting Mortlock to dive over wide out.
That was game set and match, and the uproar sounded like a 50,000-strong crowd. They will all be back next time and bring a good few mates with them.
Winning is infectious, and quite clearly the Rebels now believe in themselves and no longer think they are just making up the numbers. Thanks to Muggleton.
The transformation of the Rebels is as stunning as last night’s victory. They have become rebels with a definite cause.
“They grew extra arms and legs in that second half,” was how Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw described the shut-out of his team that has won seven titles and been in 10 of 16 finals – by far the most successful franchise in Super Rugby history.
In what was essentially a Rebels team performance, fly-half Kurtley Beale stood out. His first half was electric, even though he was closely targeted.
Beale covered a huge amount of territory consistently making the advantage line, and throwing perfectly-timed short and long passes to support, while keeping judicious kicking to a minimum, despite being heavily hit late by Dan Carter in the first half, and McCaw in the second.
For the icing on the cake, Beale landed five of his six shots at goal.
Skipper Gareth Delve was in the thick of it all game, and rookie lock Cadeyrn Neville continues to impress, with Wallaby coach Robbie Deans in the stand last night.
Neville’s lock partner Hugh Pyle goes from strength to strength, while Phipps made further inroads into winning Wallaby back-up selection to Will Genia come Test time.
Genia will be on duty later today when the Reds take on the front-running Chiefs at Suncorp in a must-win game for the defending champions.
It would be fair to say the Reds will be inspired by what the Rebels achieved last night, as will Genia be of Phipps.
Let’s see if that combination translates to 80 minutes in the middle.