Round 1 is in the books, but it’s the first time we see the Australian franchises battle this season when the Melbourne Rebels host the Queensland Reds in the latte city tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:45pm AEDT.
Here we go folks!
It’s been a long time coming, but finally Super Rugby is back on our shores for another season. While 2017 was less than ideal on the field for the Australian franchises, the cutting of the Western Force from the Super competition means all other teams have benefitted from some decent offseason talent acquisition – not least the Melbourne Rebels.
With a number of Western Force players moving to Melbourne for season 2018, as well as coach Dave Wessels, the Rebels look a strong outfit on paper.
Indeed, they have nine starters tonight with Wallabies experience. The Reds have coach Brad Thorn at their disposal, and have stuck largely with their young players who finished 2017 in decent shape.
So… to tonight’s fixture:
The Rebels will start stronger on paper. Dane Haylett-Petty and new skipper Adam Coleman are imperious, whilst halfback Will Genia and inside centre Reece Hodge will look to rudder their sides attacking plays.
Their bench is strong, too, with names like Ross Haylett-Petty, Billy Meakes and Michael Ruru likely to play the last 20 minutes on Aami Park tonight.
For the Reds, Brad Thorn made headlines when he dropped Quade Cooper to club rugby, replacing him with journeyman Jono Lance.
Scott Higginbotham at number eight was the Reds best last season, and has been handed the reigns of what is still a young roster for 2018. Their centres are outstanding, and a lot of their go forward will come through Duncan Paia’aua and Samu Kerevi.
All eyes will also be on their front row, with the much improved Taniela Tupou partnering with James Slipper and debutant Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who has been rewarded for his outstanding NRC season with the NSW Country Eagles.
Where the game will be won
Set Piece. The Reds have a better scrum for mine, and they will look to new recruit Paenga-Amosa to control the rolling maul off lineouts as he did beautifully in the NRC this season. If the Rebels can nullify this threat, they have more weapons in their outside backs to do damage – particularly as the game wears on and players feel the effects of the first proper hit out of the season.
Prediction
It’s tough to call the first game of any season, not least with two fairly new-look rosters. I think the Rebels’ experience will just shade a keen Reds side.
Rebels by 8
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Drongo, it is only the first week, but if this trend continues, your words here will become a chant that may end the Reds coaching career of Big Bad Brad.
robel
Roar Pro
First game crowds in WA were over 10k, which is better in a city of 1.8mil compared to 5mil.
Melburnian
Roar Pro
Both teams seemed pretty rusty and whilst the Rebels can point to new coach and new player combinations, the Red competed well for at least the first half until the heat and the numbers started to take their toll. I only managed to see the last five minutes of the Highlanders Blues match but it did look a cracker - have to watch the replay. Tough start for Brendan Pickerill with the whistle. Having given a red card on 9 minutes to then be faced with the decision to hand out another one on 22 minutes tests your mettle. I thought the yellow card more deserving of a red but you could almost see it in Pickerill's eyes not wanting to hand out a second red card and effectively end the game as any sort of contest.
Bobby B
Guest
The skill execution difference between the reds rebels match and the blues highlanders match was wider than the Tasman sea. The NZ match went 10 or 15 minutes before a scrum (relying on memory so could be very wrong) was set. The Oz match seemed to have a knock-on every 2 minutes. It must be the water in Brisbane because only 5 of the starting 15 were born in Australia compared to 6 born in NZ - don't know where the players grew up or the version of English they speak but one would have thought that an Australian Super Rugby team would have a majority of Australian players. I understand the Sunwolves being dominated by foreigners but an Australian team?
John
Guest
Want the Reds & Thorn to do well He was an outstanding AB. But as a coach Brad please dont fall into the Cheika speak and blame the ref and everyone else. As the rules stand. It was a red card everyday of the week
Train Without A Station
Guest
Isn’t the Wallaby captain the most carded player in history? Does this requirement for discipline only apply to certain players?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Reds beat the Rebels last year. Are they already going backwards under Thorn ???
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Discipline and defence both need improving.
Dave_S
Guest
One game does not a season make, but yes, it appears standards are only going further backwards, not just in comparison to NZ but in real terms. Hope it’s just early nerves and rust ...
Dave_S
Guest
?
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, fair points, TWAS.
Sul
Guest
Yer that was a pretty poor performance from both teams, if it wasn't for a couple of very good individual performances I think I would have switched of. I am starting to think those out in the middle don't know how to play any different. You would have thought after last years results, they would come out and gave us something new and not just more of the old. Lets hope this is a one off and not a precursor for the rest of the season.
Tim Rogers
Roar Rookie
That’s right we got a lot bigger crowds than that! Especially for opening match of season.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I thought QR demolished themselves pretty much ;)
Force4good
Guest
That’s a pretty pathetic crowd for a city of nearly 5 million people...
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Western Force demolishes the Queensland Reds again!
RobC
Roar Guru
Just finished watching it. Humiliating loss Only one thing to say. "BT, welcome to the big boys club."
BR
Guest
At that stage of the game ,the Rebels should have chanced them selves counter attacks instead of kicking
BR
Guest
Quite right Timbo. Wouldn't be better to use shoulder and both arms to drive the attacker back....simple rugby and lost opportunities to gain possession .
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
Debreczeni seems very much a running 10 with a handy boot that he should use more to control games. Defensive is OK but not great and he doesn't create that many opportunities for his outside backs. Looks more like 15 coming into the line than a straight up 10.