The Melbourne Rebels have ambitious plans to stamp themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the Super Rugby competition.
Under new coach Tony McGahan, the Rebels are working to turn their biggest weakness into their greatest strength.
Last year they conceded 515 points, including 65 tries, to sit only above demoted South African side the Southern Kings.
The next worst Australian side was NSW, who conceded 371 points.
Ahead of their first pre-season clash with the Waratahs on Saturday in Albury, Rebels back Tom English said defence was a priority.
“We’ve moved in a new direction where we’re a very defence-oriented team so we’ve been working hard on our contact and our breakdown so we’re really looking forward to getting into it,” he said.
“We want that to be our point of difference.
“We’re going to hurt sides; we’re looking to turn over ball and really make them earn points.”
English said the Rebels needed to change their mind-set in defence as well as improve their technique.
“You’ve got to want to get dirty and help out your mate beside you but it’s also a lot of technique so we’ve been doing a lot of drills focusing on the break-down, focusing on the tackling technique and really nailing down the detail there.”
When their attack fired the Rebels managed to score some exciting tries last season and English said they still had a licence to thrill.
“There’s still going to be some of that razzle-dazzle but we’re going to earn that off the back of our hard work.
“We’re not going to be throwing 50:50s, we’re going to be working for our points.”
The Rebels are set to line up against former teammates Kurtley Beale and Nick Phipps.
English said he hoped the duo noticed a difference.
“Hopefully we will come out and they won’t know what we’re doing.
“Hopefully we will paint a different picture and put them on edge; it will be fun to stick it to them.”
McGahan said defence was an area he quickly identified that the Rebels could improve.
“We feel that if we can get good improvement there we’re going to turn some of those close defeats into victories and that’s what we’re about.”
McGahan said he would give every fit player a run in Albury, with Bryce Hegarty and Angus Roberts sharing the five-eighth duties.
“Most players will play a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 60.”
Justin3
Guest
Sam, I was responding to an above comment
Drobbie
Guest
Yes I have heard through the vines of Melbourne rugby that bar an Englishman stealing a bottle of Vodka and the captain getting decked by another player that the fingers of everyone are pointed directly at that board and former CEO for basically everything that went wrong. Heck, I remember one day down at Powerhouse one of the directors smuggly claiming "his team" would make a profit of $7m in year one! Now they are $17m in the red!
PiratesRugby
Guest
I suspect the person who thought Cipriani would be good for a fledgling club was also responsible for luring Bieber and Beale. In the the process we lost Sommerville (big mistake) and Gerard. I thought the coach was okay. Once the 'stars' were off the park, the team played better (probably finally following the gameplan). I don't know much about this new coach so we'll wait and see. He talks a lot about defence but it's not as though he's the first bloke to think about that. John Muggleton used to be the defence coach. I'm a bit worried that there's a focus on defence because we have no attack. Playing a season where all you do is tackle would be pretty demoralising. It would be like playing for Scotland. Hegarty is the better of the two options at 10 but what about Woodward? That fella has some real skills. I could see him leading the attack. The other two are honest triers but not quite up to S15 standard. I'd love to beat the Tahs again!!!
Jiggles
Roar Guru
The Rebels might surprise a few this year. They've got a fairly dynamic back 5 in the pack with potential (finally) at prop. Hooker and the mid field is going to be interesting.
Sam
Guest
Roberts looked way out of his depth that far up the ground. He's passable off the bench at 15 I think. Hegarty looked alright at 10 but he'd need Burgess at 9 and Ellison outside him constantly.
Sam
Guest
Justin3, I agree with you re the talent of the foundation playing list, just saying it was necessary to have the reputations of Macqueen and Mortlock. The fact Mortlock was too slow and injury prone didn't matter.
Justin3
Guest
And imagine how much less our share of the tv rights would have been...
Justin3
Guest
And having name players got us what exactly? if you thought this team was ever going to be anything more than cannon fodder in the early years then your expectations were way too high. To my mind we have some of the more exciting players in AUS - Higgers, Pyle, Jones, Woodward and others are players to build a team around
Justin3
Guest
Tend to agree RR, I dont think his skill set is anything to write home about. Doesnt make many mistakes but he is far from a proven ten who can guide his team around the park
Magic Sponge
Guest
Just imagine the club competition set up if that $13million was invested into a national club comp, rather than watching the Rebels get another bottom 3 position and just how much has the Force squandered as well. Talk is cheap.
Sam
Guest
They needed names like Macqueen and Mortlock to entice support from the business community in their startup phase but I agree, a shame they didn't have this years's playing group back then.
jameswm
Guest
No name but highly promising players. A few teams would be pretty envious of the young talent on the Rebels' roster.
Hambone
Guest
Foley would have been the perfect addition in @ 5/8 if he didn't backflip. Oh well, time for some forward running rugby at its best...
Mr Rugby
Guest
The key to success at the Rebels has to be a change of board. 90% of the original board are still there.These are the people responsible for squandering in excess of $13m in 3years, originally selecting the wrong coaches, management and player group. We now have a no name group of players who will be challenging for the wooden spoon. I will be supporting the current player squad this season but from the behind the posts.
RebelRanger
Guest
Hegarty was at the helm when we won but didn't really play too well. Not a superb passer nor a great kicker. Basically just thew skip passes out to Inman who got over the advantage line more often than not (in those few games). Hopefully he will excel at something if not a few things this year. Also I'm eager to see how well we scrum with our new front row. If we can hold it up and not go back too much I'll be happy.
Sam
Guest
Rumours are that Ellison could play 10.
jameswm
Guest
Big defence, then you need big speed out wide to capitalise on the turnovers. The Rebels have some very good running forwards, like Higgers, Pyle, Jones and LTimani. They need to work out how to use them. If they can do that, and improve their defence, they're looking good. Geez they need a 5/8 badly.
The Bleat
Guest
Hegarty has the potential to be good at 10 from what we saw of him last year, Roberts on the other hand looks way out of depth at this level.
hog
Guest
It all sounds good on paper.
Drobbie
Guest
Gees they really sell it to you and then go and blow it by discussing the first 5 position. If Roberts gets a sniff at that position this year we are f*cked.