The Waratahs head south after a disappointing opening round loss to the Force to face the in-form Melbourne Rebels. Join The Roar from 7.30pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
The Tahs might be the defending Super Rugby champions but they certainly didn’t play like it last week. The NSW side was poor against the Force at home and was deservedly beaten 25-13.
It was a very disappointing start to the 2015 campaign and they will be keen to make amends in this one. Michael Cheika will surely have them fired up.
It was the first time the Waratahs had conceded four tries at home since June 2012 and they dropped plenty of ball. They head to Melbourne though with a great record against the Rebels, losing just one of eight previous match-ups. The Waratahs have also never lost their first two matches of a Super Rugby season.
In contrast to what the Tahs showed last weekend, the Rebels pulled off one of the biggest upsets in their history in round one.
By defeating the Crusaders in New Zealand 20-10 they made the rest of the competition sit up and take notice. Taking the Tahs scalp would attract even more headlines.
The Victorians will need to shore up their defence and hope to get plenty of metres out of their forwards. The Waratahs have a huge pack and the Rebels will need to slow the NSW ball down.
Big performances will be needed again from the likes of youngsters Jack Debreczeni, Dom Shipperley and ex-Tah Lopeti Timani. Sean McMahon, Luke Jones and Timani can put their hands up for Wallaby selection with strong displays in front of Cheika.
The Rebels will be without former Tah Tom Kingston and suspended scrum-half Nic Stirzaker, who was impressive against the Crusaders. Former Wallaby Radike Samo has just arrived in Melbourne to join the club but is unlikely to feature.
But luckily captain and talisman Scott Higginbotham will be right to play. He could be the key to the Rebels’ chances.
The Rebels were excellent against the Crusaders but I just can’t see the Waratahs being that bad over 90 minutes. They have too much class and experience over their fellow Australian side. I’m prediciting a Waratah win by 10 or more points.
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Mike
Guest
I've just been looking at that game. Seems to be a lot of mistakes in that one too.
Brawlsinmauls
Guest
Agreed, I have definitely noticed this over the past couple of years. Does my head in
Lano
Roar Guru
Agree. There was nothing negative in the Rebels play. Higginbotham MOTM.
Lano
Roar Guru
Big gap between this game and the Chiefs/ Brumbies in terms of speed, intensity, counter-attach. Tough but C grade by comparison...imo
AJ
Guest
I reckoned Burgess was easily in top two last year and he could have been the difference tonight. Almost there Rebels, just a few slip ups at key times. Tahs were good too, good game.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Meh! I got nuthin else
I thought Burgess put Phipps under a lot of pressure at times and managed to spoil the ball a couple of times I thought Potgieter had a slow start to the match, but eventually improved In the second half, but he is not yet at the standard of last year.
RobC
Roar Guru
Gents, what did you think about these match ups? - Burgess vs Phiipps - SeanMc vs Hoops - Timani vs Big Willy - Jack Deb vs Foley - English vs Horne - Higgers vs JackPot - Jones vs DD
RobC
Roar Guru
Almost 1000m run by both sides! Four tries a piece. The difference: - being six points sitters missed by the Rebs - And Beale and Foley hitting their mark. - Three penalties won by Tahs for times when they had superior cleanout / cycle Rebs: - Scrum was too good for the Tahs. Does that mean they will punish the Force's set piece? - Defence never game up. An excellent 80' display in contact: tackles, rucking - Was attacking the Tahs all the way up to death - Inman Jones Burgess Sean Mac huge in defence - Higgers Harris JackDeb Shipperly attack Tahs: - Scrum improving. But needs work - Cleanout recycle, starting to fire - Phipps may be right. Might take a month for the V8 engine to start firing again. - 2x the Rebs in terms of LB and CBs. Almost 3x offloads, passes - 10 to 15: ran almost 500m
Max
Guest
Soft, yes. Against the rules? Also yes. Penalty, yes! Card, no. Right decision. The defender had a multitude of options available and chose to deal with it illegally instead of any variety of legal tackles he could have made to the same effect. Totally the fault of the defender.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
I just want to put it out there. The NRC seems to have done the Rebels/Rising the world of good. Best game of the albeit short season so far.
cm
Guest
The top scorers list is incomplete. Yes, Harris got 8 from 4 conversions but Foley got 15 from 3 conversions and 3 penalties while Naiyarovovo got 10 from 2 tries.
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
Cracking game. Was watching from London via Sky streaming on my laptop during a strategy meeting. Not my most productive morning ever. Carn the Tahs!
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Very enthralling contest at AAMI Park tonight. Thanks to everyone who commented and tuned in.
Rugby101
Guest
Oops thought it was 35 - 28.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
They lost by 10
Rugby101
Guest
Shouldn't the Rebels get 2 bonus points for this?
Ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Both sides were average tonight, Chiefs or Brumbies on today's performances would put both sides to the sword. Force and Rebels defence coaches have taken note of how the Northern Hemisphere teams negated the "Cheika" game plan.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Me too. It's looking unlikely
A-A Ron
Guest
Awesome entertaining game, both teams never gave up and played till the end.