The Waratahs have bounced back from a string of poor performance with a big win over the Rebels, taking down the Melbourne side for the second time this year with a highly entertaining 50 to 23 win.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Waratahs 50
Rebels 23
The Waratahs are looking to keep their slimming finals hopes alive when they host the Rebels for the final match-up of Round 13. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 4:05pm (AEST).
Thanks to the Brumbies win over the Kings this week, the Tahs are now nine points behind the ACT side in the Australian Conference.
They have just three wins from ten games this season and have lost four of their last five dating back to their last encounter with today’s opponent.
That game turned out to be a bit of a thriller back in March when the Rebels gave up a big halftime lead to go down 32-25.
The Melbourne side have just the one win to their name in 2017 and eight losses, leaving them dead last in the Australian Conference and just one point more than the Sunwolves as the second worst team in Super Rugby at the moment.
The Tahs have only lost twice to the Rebels in their 12-game history, and just once in Sydney.
Team News
For the Waratahs, under fire coach Daryl Gibson has made four changes to the starting line-up this week.
Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps has regained the No.9 jumper this week as he continues to battle Jake Gordon for that permanent run-on spot.
Reece Robinson has been pushed onto the bench to make way for Taqele Naiyaravoro on the wing who is back from an injury layoff.
In the scrum, Will Skelton has been promoted from the bench into the starting second-row position, while Michael Wells comes in at No.8.
For the Rebels, they have made bulk changes to their starting line-up with nine alterations to the side that last took the park.
In the forwards, Tyrel Lomax, Culum Retallick, Lopeti Timani and Wallaby Sean McMahon all make their way into the starting scrum.
While the backline has seen some big changes as well, including Ben Volavola starting at fullback.
Reece Hodge and Mitch Inman will take their place at inside and outside centre respectively, while Jackson Garden-Bachop takes flyhalf on the outside of Ben Meehan who has been given the run-on halfback role.
Prediction
The Waratahs are desperate for a win to keep any hopes of playing finals alive. The Rebels will no doubt show all their usual fight and grit, but their season is long gone and can only hope to impress enough to remain in the competition next season.
There’s no shortage of motivation for two sides who have been all over the shop this season so it should make for an entertaining clash at least.
Home ground advantage should help and the Waratahs should be looking at win number four.
Waratahs to win by 13
Gepetto
Guest
Hodge and Magnay need some coaching on how to tackle without getting KO'd. Kearns' biased / condescending commentary is painful.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'd prefer you didn't actually. You're entitled to your opinions and interpretations - please respect my right to mine.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And in a match where we’re cained (correctly) in the penalties. Let me rephrase that for you: And in a match where we resorted to illegal play to kill any attack from the opposition
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
1 try assist. Not 3.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And yet the full strength Tahs were still only 6 points ahead with 13 to go against a team still missing 17-20 players through injury and against lost their captain to injury early in the game. Take Phipps, Gordon, Horne, Folau and Clarke out of the Waratahs and they probably fall in a heap.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
"Harshly dealt with by the ref early but overcame it (see reds supporters, thats how it’s done!)" Yeah well get back to us when you are harshly done by for the entire final thirty minutes against a half decent team.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He was good mate. Once again, though, doing the work of a winger, not a fullback. What round is it now, how long did it take? Or does Folau only have to turn up once every 10 matches to prove his worth?
Cynical Play
Guest
Yep. Tahs thrashed hapless Rebels. Why don't you STFU. We are sick of your abuse.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Absolute stunner moaman... especially her jab! ;)
Gary
Guest
Was that your contribution or are you working up to something substantial ?
John
Guest
2 tries and 3 try assists. Enjoy the game Fionn?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
How good is Sunday afternoon rugby? A chance for three days of moaning from north of the border about perceived pro-Tah bias. And in a match where we're cained (correctly) in the penalties. Joy for Queenslanders can be delivered in the simplest ways. In answer TWAS, perhaps due to the fact there were more defenders either side of the likely recipient and no certainty at all he might score?
Oscar
Guest
Apart from Hooper’s non stop effort [as always] this to me and despite the win was a mediocre performance. In the first 18 minutes of play, the Tahs conceded 7 straight penalties including a yellow card. Thank god they weren’t playing one of the Kiwi sides.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Hooper almost always has a blinder imo. Just another day in the office that game. :)
Craigo
Guest
The fact that any Aussie team are going to make the finals shows what a JOKE Super 18 is as a competition.
Machooka
Roar Guru
I'll go with all that Paul D... except so say that Hooper had a blinder of a game. And it's probably time we move Big Will into the centres... carve it Will! :)
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
YEAH!
moaman
Guest
Unlike when you met your Yorkshire lass, eh mate?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Disagree with your comment about poor kicking off the tee. What was it, three from 6, Foley was better but not the best either. The Rebels had 20 minutes of the game against 14 players and didn't make the most of it. Still, obvious Australian problems: handling, kicking, unforced errors and according to the Fox Sports stats, 40 missed tackles each.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Not a full performance from the Tahs, but Folau looked far more interested than he has in a long while. Few good performances mixed in with some rough ones. Worst effort in the scrum by Robertson in a while. Lomax might have something worth putting some investment into. Harshly dealt with by the ref early but overcame it (see reds supporters, thats how it's done!). How Koriobete was not yellowed for taking out Foley in the air I'll never know, but never mind. Better effort by the forwards in getting over the gain line which helped Foley flatten. Tahs (and anyone really) always look better with momentum. Seemed like Hodge was ok by the end which is a relief.