[VIDEO] Bulls vs Melbourne Rebels: Super Rugby highlights, scores

I thought they'd finish mid table with 2 wins against the Force and a home win against reds and Tahs but not the Brumbies. I also expected a couple more wins against travelling sides and an away win in either NZ or SA. All that came crashing down in the second round when the Rebs were slaughtered by the Force. Wins after that were a pleasant suprise but no more. While the win against the Cheetahs didn't set up the season, I think the loss to the Force certainly did. The thing I hated most about the season was the pointless kicking. There's nothing wrong with kicking per se. Hegarty especially seemed to kick just to give away posession. He was under no pressure. He just gave the ball back and the other side made him pay for it. If you're going to kick then at least run at the line to bring the defenders up and make it easier for your own players to get onside. And chase! The kicker should chase hard to put the catcher under pressure. He should have a couple of team mates doing the same. Higgers is unfairly maligned. I think he's great. People want him to play like Palu but he's just not built that way. He's a 6 playing at 8 but he's the only 8 we've got. He's probably out of WB contention but I hope the Rebs find a way to stop him going overseas.

after that first game against the cheetahs i never would have guessed they'd finish rock bottom.

Yes but the Tahs had a vast reservoir of disgruntled fans who would jump back on the bandwagon once their team got a bit of success. No doubt the Rebels improved in a number of areas this season. It's a pity that hey have nothing to show for it. Again, if they had continued along the path of drafting "stars" to bring in fans then they might have lost me. Instead, they've developed talent like Jones, Pyle, Neville, McMahon and Woodward. They've focused on the scrum and on defence. They don't whinge about the refs. What happens on the field stays on the field. I hope they can build a good culture. They're probably a few years behind the Force on that score.

It's very low but the Waratahs membership was around that figure for a number of years.

fairly obvious to anyone who took a list at their squad but good on you pointing it out several times then

Beating the Brumbies? But thanks for your insight you smug piece of shiit.

You can add Betham to your list of lost wingers. We seem to have good forwards. In the past it was Somerville, Delve, Saffy and now Higgers, Weeks, Smith, fuglistaller, Pyle, Jones, Neville, Faainga and my favorite Shota Horie. Regrettably, the Rebs membership is only about 7500. Can't remember the last time we got 15000 to a game. Usually about 10000. But there's always next year...

Can't remember anyone suggesting that.

Good to see consistent support PR. I still believe, and have done from the outset, that 5 SR teams stretches Australian rugby resources too far. What is the Rebels membership/support base ... 15000 odd at best, closer to 10000? Too small, no matter how passionate and dedicated these fans are. Anyway hopefully the NRC will happen and build depth, and the Rebels will benefit. They do provide opportunities to players like English and Hegarty(who I rate higher than you it seems), and Neville and Pyle, to develop. But at a fearsome cost. ANyway my Reds haven't been any better and with Dom Shipperlyand Mike Harris heading there will be interesting to see how they go in a new environment. SHipperly in particular has enormous talent, but the Rebels a bit of a graveyard for wingers - Kingston, Kingiand a few others have gone there and sunk.

The backline lacked penetration all season. Forwards were usually competitive and occaisionally dominant. Scrum was often really good. Line out was always pretty average. Hegarty needed to be exceptional to light up a pretty ordinary backline. He was only ever exceptionally poor. Woodward has gone back to NZ and will be missed. He'll never be an AB. He'll be a good NZ S15 player. He would have been a Melbourne legend, for what that's worth. Really a poor season from the Rebels. Can't use the excuse of being a new club anymore. The one real positive to come out of it all is that there has been a real cultural change. Hopefully, the Cipriani, JOC , Beale era is gone. I'm happy to support the club's development along this path. I will front up for season no. 5. Go Rebels.

Wooden spooners. Disappointed that Rebels players Pyle and Neville haven't come on further - Luke Jones débuted this year but IMO lacks the necessary quality and consistency to be a test second rower. I guess Weeks and Alo-Emile have done well but the much hyped Toby Smith has underwhelmed. Higginbotham OK only and Colby Faingaa showed some development. English, Hearty, Stirzaker, Meehan and Debroscenski (sp) have potential to be good players, but apart from English, all of them currently provincial players rather Super Rugby players - this is where Australian rugby has suffered which will hopefully change Ina few months. Woodward followed his heart and good luck to him. All in all, most of the players not ready or good enough for Super Rugby. Some who are, like Higginbotham and Burgess, were dragged down by the low and inexperienced standard. Lets hope for more depth and quality next year.

Soapy, Ive said it before many a times. People even wrote the Saders off after round 4 saying they won't make the finals. After 4 rounds the comp had already been won by the Tahs. Beware the Saders, even after last nights lackluster performance by the Chiefs I still wouldn't write them off. But Rebels? No good!

i have to laugh that after all the rubbish people post on here you've been holding on to that particular claim for all these months ready to bring up at the end of the season

Rebels peaked in the last trial and round 1 and got progressively worst. Saving his players in round 2 was a classsic

I have to laugh thinking back to the first round rout over the Cheetahs and lots of people saying how the Rebels will make the finals.....after 1 game??? They are mud!

The ref was fine. The Rebels were poor and so were the Bulls for half of the game.

Didn't see the game stats were pretty even except for penalty count, bad reffing or poor discipline?

They have been up for it. They have had some good field position in the Bulls 22 then coughed it up. Their attack is very one sided so they are running in to contact and bringing their attackers in to where all the defenders are. That leaves no options to go the other way. Flyhalf has promise attacks the line, runs in to space and supports well. Pyle has done some good stuff. Scrummaged well for the first 50 but their heads dropped after conceding two quick tries.

The Rebels had better find some motivation to play well despite any bad circumstances otherwise they can look forward to being around the bottom of the table for quite a while yet

Basics letting the Rebels down several times. They are competing well on the deck but can't hold on to the ball. Too many high passes.