Melbourne’s nightmare start to the Super Rugby season has continued with a humiliating 71-6 loss to defending champions the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Rebels were unable to get across the scoreline while the home side seemingly scored at will, touching down 11 times.
After an embarrassing opening defeat by the Blues, the Rebels vowed to deliver an improved performance in their second match.
For the first 15 minutes they were true to their word, dominating play and taking a 6-0 lead through two penalty kicks by centre Reece Hodge – one from 50m out.
But the sleepy Hurricanes, led by 2016 IRB player of the year Beauden Barrett, soon came to life.
By halftime the home side turned the six-point deficit into a 31-6 lead, scoring five tries.
Playing his first Super Rugby match in 12 months following shoulder surgery, All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder opened the scoring in the 17th minute, when Barrett drew worked a play from a five metre lineout and drew the defence before he turned the ball back inside to his charging fullback.
Milner-Skudder finished the match with a hat-trick, collecting a further two in the final 10 minutes.
Winger Vince Aso also scored twice in the opening half with his second particularly painful for the Rebels, who turned down a penalty goal from straight in front and then turned over the ball two minutes later with Aso making an 80m dash to the line.
In the second half the scoreboard continued to tick over with the Hurricanes making the Rebels pay each time they coughed up possession.
They had too much skill and speed out wide and the willingness to get the ball there at every opportunity.
Melbourne Storm recruit Marika Koroibete had a few carries through the game but couldn’t make an impact with his side hopelessly outclassed.
R2D2
Guest
Maroon Kev, the Hurricanes have a bucketload of injuries as will.....about 9 or 10.. the coach said " at the end of the day we learn to live without anybody' .
R2D2
Guest
Are you talking about the Hurricanes who got the injuries?
puff
Guest
M. Kev, the lack of resources was never the issue; they started with steadfastness then disappeared. It’s the lack of desire to inject 80 minutes of rugby contend at the highest level which disappoints. The writing was on the wall after the Blues, that more resolve was required. For most Rebel supporters it never materialized.
Maroon Kev
Guest
One has 10+ injuries. The other doesn't
mania
Guest
agree ben. wolves and rebels are on the same level and unfortunately that's way below what the canes and blues play at. real test coming up this weekend. GO THE CANES!!!
Bobbo7
Guest
I simply don't understand how pro athletes who train all day, have coaches and video etc and fitness coaches can be that uncompetitive. I could understand a 40 point loss to a much better side but serioisly, how can two sides with relatively similar back room support be so far apart? Australia needs to go to 4 teams next year.
Old Bugger
Guest
Yep, looks like my Cane is up for it this week.....are yours....heehee??? Although, I would've liked to see how young Boshier, would pull up against Ardie.....not to be, I guess.
Rod
Guest
Or perhaps the Rebels are just crap. They are bottom end NSW cup standard team. Not doubting how good the Hurricanes are.
Maroon Kev
Guest
Rebels have bucketloads injured buddy!
Digby
Roar Guru
Haha OB, love it. Its on this week my man for sure, looking forward to it alright, and we have a double this season to look forward too. Good stuff. Will Cane be back this week?
Haydos
Guest
Well said.
Lara
Guest
Embarrassing, just embarrassing. This weekend of results is an early reminder that Oz rugby is still going in the wrong direction.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes Chiefs have had the better prep being put under more pressure than the Canes...some is better than none after all... and they're at home so this is one of those matches that will be defining in terms of table position at the end. Four of five points could be the diff between these two teams.
Ben
Guest
I was at the game and off the ball he just looked lost. When your down by 20..30 pts i cant workout why they would keep kicking it straight back to them. They showed no heart, no soul and refused to make basic 1 on 1 tackles. Last week people were saying the Blues looked great etc etc but i thought that game was more about the poor Rebels than the Blues. Great differential now for the Canes but lets be honest..the real comp for them starts next week.
kickedmyheight
Roar Pro
+1
kickedmyheight
Roar Pro
I am firmly in the 5 teams camp. It is nice to hear someone else actually talking up the super comp. I feel it is clearly still a fantastic comp. Does it have issues? Sure. Does it still provide some great rugby? Well just have a look at the round as a total this week. Lots of tries scored and lots of games not decided until (or after) the final siren. In general it looks pretty healthy to me, the hyperbole of some commentators aside.
kickedmyheight
Roar Pro
I agree with you that the decision will come down to money rather than performance as that is the nature of the business in this modern world (some would argue it has always been this way). I disagree completely with your argument that the development isn't working, it clearly is, but these things take time. I will talk about rugby in WA as that is what I am more familiar with, but I am sure the same applies in Vic. Since the Force came into WA, the level of the local comp has increased greatly, this has resulted in the local comp producing more and more players who have the ability to play super rugby or even international rugby. Sure the numbers are much lower than NSW and QLD atm, but these things take time to develop. When you compare the number of WA born players in super rugby now to 10 years ago when the Force started out you can see the improvement. As for the performance of the Aussie teams this year, I think it is far to early to judge, while it doesn't look good for the Rebels atm, they have time to turn it around and the other four sides have shown enough promise at times to be encouraging. At least from my perspective.
Old Bugger
Guest
Amen, to reconfirming abilities tman. Perhaps the surprise is what we're seeing, over 2 rounds confirms for me anyway, that the summer preparations by all squads, has been nothing but, exceptional. Perhaps also, the upcoming tour has jacked every player to look forward to performing to gain selection and play, against the visitors. I guess the only concern would be if the players can sustain their performance levels, for the next 3-4months, when the tour kicks off and runs, for 5-6weeks thereafter. Early peaking.....or managed performances.....??
kickedmyheight
Roar Pro
That dead club walking is currently leading the Australian conference. Just saying.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I'm just glad that the start of the Super rugby has reconfirmed the abilities of a lot of boys to play this game. How much has to do with the issues with resourcing in oz and SA is always hard to measure but it's important we keep that in mind for the Lions tour whose countries are enjoying a bit of a spike and I think also at the expense of our dear friends. But you bet the banter will come OB. Next weekends derbys going to be a cracker! Neither deserves to lose that one!