The Melbourne Rebels will look to build on their fantastic victory over the Brumbies last week when they take on the Highlanders in New Zealand. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEDT.
Melbourne threw the form guide out the window last week, upsetting Australian conference leaders the Brumbies at AAMI Park.
Coming off three straight defeats, not many expected the Rebels to challenge a Brumbies outfit chasing its fifth consecutive victory.
After a slow start however, the Rebels came to life and produced some terrific attacking rugby en route to an upset 32-24 victory.
Having rediscovered winning form, the Rebels will be keen to establish some much-needed winning momentum.
Their opponents tonight were soundly beaten by the Blues last week and will be keen to bounce back at home.
If the Highlanders hope to get back to winning ways, they will have to keep Rebels fullback Jason Woodward quiet.
Woodward was superb against the Brumbies last week, scoring 27 points and scoring a terrific try after showing great strength and speed to beat four defenders.
Woodward’s confidence will be sky-high after this performance and he will fancy his chances of opening up the Highlanders’ defence if given room to move.
The Rebels must also keep tabs on Ben Smith. Smith was the only player that looked likely to trouble the Blues last week and is the player that could spark the Highlanders to life.
While the Highlanders will prove no pushover at home, Melbourne’s terrific victory over the Brumbies last week could see the Australian outfit play with the attitude and intensity required to secure their second straight win.
Rebels by 5.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEDT.
The Bleat
Guest
Buzzard and I are special friends from Gore!!
Bay Man
Guest
What or who are west coast eagles or hawthorn. Are they rugby teams.
Bay Man
Guest
Ignore him Tane. You the only one that reacts to him. I'm confused by him. He knows to much about kiwi things to be an Aussie. I think Buzzard is baiting you Tane and by the look of it you bite all the time. I read on another thread he talking about rotten corn kinas and teroteros only a kiwi would talk about that. Don't let him get to you Tane.
Bay Man
Guest
Woodward is a Kiwi, played for Wellington prior to the Rebels.
Digby
Roar Guru
He is
I thought he is a New Zealander?
Daws
Guest
Sorry for being a tad out of the lop but is Woodward English? And if so is he eligible to play for them? That guy is dynamite!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Why would the Rebels have been robbed?
Bakkies
Guest
PR the line about the Brumbies being rejects is overstated too much. There was a serious mix of old experienced internationals like Knox, Coker, Fenikatau, Noriega (had played 20 odd tests for Argentina), McKenzie to go with young talent/players in their prime and a good local core. There was good coverage throughout that squad in comparison the Rebels in their first squad were top loaded in certain positions and low in options in others. The old heads they had recruited like Mortlock and Huxley were let go due to health/injury problems and the Brumbies couldn't justify putting them on longer contracts.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Imo it was a fairly and well reffed match but who is to say. About the Rebels being noobs and rejects, its nonsense from a guy who is just trying to put down Kiwi teams by attempting to make their opposition look weak when they beat them and then claiming that this weak team would actually thrash them if the conditions were right. Hes just an anti Kiwi tr0ll. He thinks hes being sneaky by pretending hes from NZ but always putting Kiwis down. Funny thing is that this team he claims that is too bad to lose against beat the top Australian team last week.
PiratesRugby
Guest
The Brumbies were a team of "rejects" when they started and they did alright. Melbourne Storm seem to do okay too. Unfortunately the Highlanders and Rebels are both cellar dweller type teams. I was at that game in Melbourne last year where the Reba just beat the Highlanders in the last minute. Very exciting but the two sides were pretty crap. That's probably what made it a good contest. Seriously though, did the Rebs get a fair run from the ref tonight?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
This is something a Kiwi would say? No its what an Ausie tr0ll posing as a Kiwi would say.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
No its a tr0ll or just stupidity. AFL teams from Melbourne often lose to teams from league territory (NSW and QLD) so your comment is just a dumb tr0ll from an Ausie posing as a Kiwi but constently taking pleasure in putting Kiwis and their teams down.
In Brief
Guest
not wanting to get personal, but this ref is a pain in the neck. always the same outcome - penalises everything
Buzzard
Guest
I agree cuz, I'm scratching my head at a lot of decisions Jamie Joseph has been making of late. Maybe Coltman was injured but didnt seem to be. The Landers will be easy 5 pts for other NZ teams to climb the ladder. Understandable.
Batdown
Guest
Both teams played an exciting game tonight but the Highlanders did enough to win the game. I guess a win, is a win! Well done B. Smith and hardluck Rebels, maybe next time?
Buzzard
Guest
Yawn....but you know I'm right aye?
Buzzard
Guest
One team full of experienced SR players and a few All Blacks v a team of rejects, youngsters and an ex Wallaby??? 3 pt win at home in the deep South and I don't have a clue. On paper the Landers look to be 20pts+ better. They were lucky to win. Like I said if in Melbourne the Rebels would have slaughtered them!
Tane Mahuta
Guest
I thought Coltman was very good and have no idea why they took him off at 55 min.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Anti Kiwi tr0ll.