Match result:
The Waratahs have recorded a remarkable victory at home this afternoon, smashing the Rebels 51-27 after trailing 20-3 at one stage in the first half.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Waratahs 51
Rebels 27
Match preview:
The undefeated Melbourne Rebels will fancy their chances of upsetting a NSW Waratahs outfit coming off a poor defeat to the Jaguares last week. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4pm AEDT.
The Rebels lead the Australian conference with 15 points and are currently undefeated. Still, one can’t help but feel that Melbourne needs to overcome tougher tests to prove that they are in fact the real deal this season.
This afternoon, Melbourne travels to Allianz Stadium to take on a Waratahs outfit kicking themselves after producing a poor performance en route to a 10 point defeat to the Jaguares.
After opening the season with a win and a draw, the Waratahs once again fell to bad habits last week, conceding five tries in the first half that effectively killed off the contest by the break.
When the Waratahs did attack last week, they produced some great offloading that should cause the Rebels significant issues this week, but only if they are prepared to knuckle down and engage in an arm wrestle.
In team news, Israel Folau has been moved to the wing as Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson makes major changes to his side to tackle the pacesetting Rebels in Sydney on Sunday.
The superstar Wallabies fullback will start on the left wing at Allianz Stadium, with Gibson forecasting a bombardment of crossfield kicks towards Folau to combat against the Rebels’ rush defence.
Journeyman utility Bryce Hegarty will start at fullback after impressing the NSW coaching staff this season, while Gibson has been forced to dig deep into his halfback stocks.
Jake Gordon has been ruled out with concussion and joins Nick Phipps on the sidelines, meaning a start for Mitch Short at No.9 and a spot on the bench for Mick Snowden.
The news is brighter up front, with Test prop Sekope Kepu named to make his first start of the season and lock Rob Simmons also returning after missing the 38-28 loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
Alex Newsome, Tom Staniforth and Paddy Ryan have been dropped to the bench as the Waratahs chase their second win of the season against the unbeaten men from Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Rebels coach Dave Wessels welcomes back captain Adam Coleman from sternum soreness as one of four changes to his 23 man squad.
Coleman’s return sees Ross Haylett-Petty shifted to the backrow and Angus Cottrell miss out while flying winger Marika Koroibete replaces fellow Wallaby Sefa Naivalu on the left flank.
Hooker Jordan Uelese is out with a minor hamstring injury, meaning a first Rebels start for Anaru Rangi and a potential debut for 19-year-old rake Mahe Vailanu.
Prediction
The Waratahs remain a frustrating enigma to watch. On their day they are brilliant. But the difference between their best and worst is massive and the Rebels possess the momentum required to upset NSW if the hosts are unable to aim up defensively like last week.
With that said, the battle between Will Genia and Bernard Foley in particular will likely dictate who wins today.
Waratahs by 7
7:24pm
riddler said | 7:24pm | ! Report
just woke up..
super stoked for the tahs!!
great weekend for oz rugby brumbies win against saffas (always love that).. qld did brilliantly against the argies.. and now the tahs have stood up and said ‘hey we can play too!’
fantastic!! well done nsw and congrats to their fans who weren’t death riding their team.. they know who they are!!
they will be the monday morning quarterbacks saying ‘i knew it, i told you so’
6:14pm
Worlds Biggest said | 6:14pm | ! Report
Incredible second half from the Tahs, Naiya’s first try was a cracker. Kepu made a big difference at scrum time. Simmons however was poor and looks like he can barely run at times. Wells was busy and Hooper every where. I did like the Foley high balls to Izzy. Still prefer him at fullback.
6:17pm
Fionn said | 6:17pm | ! Report
Why do you prefer him at fullback?
7:11pm
Worlds Biggest said | 7:11pm | ! Report
Because he is a better option at fullback for the Tahs, Hegarty is solid but more a bench option imo. Big Naiya scored twice today so putting his hand up for a starting spot.
9:47pm
Fionn said | 9:47pm | ! Report
That doesn’t explain why he’s better at fullback…
10:23pm
Worlds Biggest said | 10:23pm | ! Report
He is the best player under the high ball in the game, I happen to like him at fullback as he will get more touches of the ball generally then on the wing. As a Tahs fan I prefer him at Fullback over Hegarty any day of the week. Now that still may not answer your question, I don’t know but it’s an opinion Fionn, that’s why the Roar is good value.
8:07pm
Kirky said | 8:07pm | ! Report
There’d be ten better players under the high ball than Folau, he’s not bad but never the best around ~ he played well on the wing after watching the game on replay today, The Rebel Force scunged the Tahs’ in the first half but the Tahs must’ve got a rocket from Gibson in the changeover because they were a different team!
3:24am
Malo said | 3:24am | ! Report
He’d be in the all black 23.
8:17pm
Fionn said | 8:17pm | ! Report
You’re entitled to your opinion. I was just wondering why, in case you convinced me he was a better fullback.
8:27pm
John said | 8:27pm | ! Report
Haha always looking for opinion reinforcement Fionn.
Folau is the best attacking footballer in the world and showed that again today.
Was the difference at 14 against the Rebels, as he was at 15 a month ago. Move him to 12/13 and he would have done the same.
9:49pm
Fionn said | 9:49pm | ! Report
Not really, your entire premise has been that he would be better at fullback than wing as he gets the ball more at fullback.
This clearly wasn’t the case as it was one of his best matches in forever, and it was due (as Kafer said) to the fact he was put in situations were he could attack more effectively more often than he can from fullback.
10:27pm
John said | 10:27pm | ! Report
Was it? Looked to be just another game where he did things others can’t. Happens often.
8:38am
Fionn said | 8:38am | ! Report
Not really. Did you watch him play the rest of the matches this season? This was by far his most dominant performance.
8:18pm
Kirky said | 8:18pm | ! Report
Good grief! one Blogger reckons Folau’s the “best in the World under the high ball,” and another reckons he’s ”the best attacking player in the World”!!! ~ He’s neither, not even close, not a bad player, but certainly not the best around by any means!
If he’s as you guys say, the best of the best in the World at all things rugby, he’d be better off in New Zealand with his Wife as she says she’s not moving out of New Zealand ~ probably next Season perhaps! ~ He should get a game somewhere over there!
It’s amazing the glorification that abounds on Blog sites in Australia when one or two of their teams has a good win, ~ You always expect it!
6:10pm
Targa said | 6:10pm | ! Report
Thanks NSW – now the Highlanders are the only unbeaten side in the comp
6:04pm
rebel said | 6:04pm | ! Report
So the bookies were right.
6:12pm
PeterK said | 6:12pm | ! Report
they certainly were, as was I,
I am very happy the tahs won!
6:13pm
Paul D said | 6:13pm | ! Report
Didnt you say you put $$ on the Rebels?
6:19pm
PeterK said | 6:19pm | ! Report
yes I did , first bet ever
sorry I meant to write as I wasn’t (but very happy about it).
that was a typo on the original, I am very surprised (but happy) that tahs proved me wrong.
6:27pm
rebel said | 6:27pm | ! Report
Rebels must have treated it as a training run.
6:30pm
Paul D said | 6:30pm | ! Report
This is why i never gamble. If i see something as a sure bet, i will lose everytime.
6:32pm
PeterK said | 6:32pm | ! Report
i would be happy to bet against tahs every week if they then won every game, certainly worth it!
10:33pm
Cynical Play said | 10:33pm | ! Report
What kind of fan bets against his team. The fluff kind. The woose. The kind that never really believes. The fair weather fan. The fickle fan. The white anter. Which are you PK with your bet on the Rebels?
6:38pm
cinque said | 6:38pm | ! Report
Heat and wind were HUGE factors.
All 4 locks were useless. 6-7-8 for Tahs were all great
7:05pm
Reverse Wheel said | 7:05pm | ! Report
Didn’t feel the wind made much impact personally.
6:20pm
Malo said | 6:20pm | ! Report
Bs, you were going on and on about how great the Rebels were.
8:56pm
PeterK said | 8:56pm | ! Report
read the thread, I said it was a typo, yes I was wrong, I thought the rebels would smash the tahs, very happy I was wrong
9:30pm
Cynical Play said | 9:30pm | ! Report
bull sheet PK…multiple threads you had the Tahs as Rebel fodder…how wrong you were
9:29pm
Cynical Play said | 9:29pm | ! Report
PK You said they wouldn’t. You’re not flip-flopping I hope..!??
6:17pm
cuw said | 6:17pm | ! Report
@ rebel
the REBELS have been a tad lucky – just like the LIONS.
the ability to sustain form over 15 weeks is what matters.
and the cross- matches with travel…
11:05pm
rebel said | 11:05pm | ! Report
you lost me at @
6:04pm
tsuru said | 6:04pm | ! Report
And to be fair , I’d say that , although his kicking was far from perfect out of hand, Foley’s kicking (and Beale’s) for the wings worked. Will we see the Wallabies use the same idea?
6:07pm
Fionn said | 6:07pm | ! Report
Lord let us hope that we do.
If we play rubbish crash ball, no kicking, run from our own 5m line we will get thumped by the Irish.
If we use clever tactics like this then perhaps we will beat Ireland.
6:11pm
PeterK said | 6:11pm | ! Report
especially since the forwards were beaten but the backs more than made up for it.
Obvious that TN should start and Rona at 13 is a far better option than Rona on the wing.
6:12pm
Fionn said | 6:12pm | ! Report
9. Gordon, 10. Foley, 11. TN, 12. Beale, 13. Rona, 14. Folau, 15. Hegarty would be my backline.
6:21pm
PeterK said | 6:21pm | ! Report
mine too
Have to say Foley is kicking very well, he deserves to be in the wallabies until another good kicker turns up.
Foley now kicks them from the sideline regularly.
6:29pm
Malo said | 6:29pm | ! Report
180 about face from you
9:52pm
Fionn said | 9:52pm | ! Report
Not really, I still don’t think he’s a very good player in most other facets – but if continues kicking near 100% this season then that is a reason for him to play 10 so long as he isn’t in horrendous form in the other aspects of his game.
6:44pm
Fionn said | 6:44pm | ! Report
If Foley continues to kick like Morne Steyn circa 2009/10 I’ll have no complaints about him in the Wallabies.
But I think that necessitates putting Hodge at 12 and Beale as super sub or on the wing.
8:58pm
PeterK said | 8:58pm | ! Report
no Malo I have said for a while that Foley is poor in general plya but until a good goal kicker is found then he has to be in the team
6:23pm
Daveski said | 6:23pm | ! Report
Yeah I like the look of that Fionn.
Both Short and Snowden were pretty good. Snowden is no spring chicken but surely the Phipps era is over?
Clark’s return soon also gives some decent three-quarter depth with him, Newsome, Simone and Foketi.
6:42pm
Highlander said | 6:42pm | ! Report
Fionn, You don’t think it’s time to stop talking about selections and start talking about game plans yet?
6:59pm
Fionn said | 6:59pm | ! Report
Highlander, today provided the blueprint. The game plan should obviously be to get big TN and Folau into space and to attack in broken play.
Up and unders towards the right wing created lots of their attacking opportunities in the second half.
The Tahs aren’t going to win by keeping it tight with the forward pack that they have.
They also need to get over the advantage line, and big TN must surely be one of the best players in Australian rugby for that.
You need to pick the game plan to suit your cattle, and pick your cattle to suit the game plan.
7:06pm
Highlander said | 7:06pm | ! Report
Gibson just picked the eyes out of the best team and the best coach in the country, and he did it with a selection that forecast the likely game plan to the world.
Would be nice to see him getting a little more credit.
9:51pm
Fionn said | 9:51pm | ! Report
He does deserve credit for doing it. Definitely.
Personally, I can’t see why it took him over 2 full seasons to try it while we had the poor Folau at 13 experiment, but he did bring the perfect tactics.
But the game only went well in the second half when there were more up and unders and TN was brought onto the other wing.
11:11pm
rebel said | 11:11pm | ! Report
Not bad for the worst coach in Aus aye.
11:17pm
Fionn said | 11:17pm | ! Report
He’s done poorly for 2 seasons, it was a good match, but this was literally what the fans have said to do for years. It’ll take consistent results like this for Gibson to rebuild his reputation.
It was a very good start though.
7:22pm
Old Bugger said | 7:22pm | ! Report
Yep, I agree with that comment HL especially after reading Lord’s commentary headline, earlier this week.
Gibbo is out if he can’t get his team into finals contention…..well then, he got them up and over the only remaining unbeaten Oz team when most pundits seemed to believe, they would gate-crash the finals party with ease.
Perhaps, but I don’t think so……the honeymoon is over and now, the Rebs will have more brutality to look forward to, with the rest of their draw.
7:22pm
riddler said | 7:22pm | ! Report
highlander.. i am with you.. people love to jump on the attack a person line.. but very few stand up and say well done.. i got that one wrong..
i have a slightly different thought on the folau not being on the wing before..
maybe just maybe it was folau who was saying i am not going there.. and finally the coaching stuff got the stones to move him or convince to move..
9:32pm
Cynical Play said | 9:32pm | ! Report
PK only you would try and suggest the Tahs forwards were beaten. Old one eye. Watch it again. You just love taking the gloss of a win
6:00pm
The Neutral View From Sweden said | 6:00pm | ! Report
Let us see how many Force-fans that will show up here today and tell us all the Rebels is indeed the Western Force 😉
6:04pm
Malo said | 6:04pm | ! Report
The experts have no idea and need to get off their keyboards. I made a small fortune.
6:31pm
Rugby101 said | 6:31pm | ! Report
I’m not a Force fan, never lived there or been to any of there games, but the Rebels are only where they are not because of the Force players and Coaching staff they have. What a stupid comment!
6:55pm
Ex force fan said | 6:55pm | ! Report
Silly comment, but I’ll bite…. winning the first half using pressure to turn mistakes into points and then dramatically dropping away in the second half were typical of the 2017 Force e.g. Brumies, Highlanders, Lions games from 2017. They also struggled to win four games in a row and when DHP is off the backline just doesn’t work. The Rebels of 2018 has far more in common with 2017 Force than the 2017 Rebels as they are an inexperience team with good young players that is still developing as a combination, a team that is still unable to adapt their game plan when things do not work for them. They are also at least a season away from being serious final contenders.
There are differences too, e.g. the Force smashed the Tahs last year in the most memorable game of the year.
5:59pm
Alan Nicolea said | 5:59pm | ! Report
The Waratahs have recorded a remarkable victory at home this afternoon, smashing the Rebels 51-27 after trailing 20-3 at one stage in the first half.
After conceding five first half tries last week against the Jaguares, the Waratahs went on to concede three first half tries against a Rebels side that seemingly had NSW at its mercy as the break approached. A late try however kept NSW alive right on halftime and that instigated a remarkable second half performance from the hosts.
The Waratahs went on to score 5 second half tries to the Rebels 1 en route to a great win that should restore confidence for NSW heading into next week’s bye.
The Rebels meanwhile have blown a great chance to remain undefeated and its surely back to the drawing board for a team with plenty of improving to do despite their strong start to the season.
Waratahs 51
Rebels 27
5:58pm
tsuru said | 5:58pm | ! Report
I think we have an answer to David Lord’s question about whether Gibson has lost his mind putting Hegarty at fb and Folau onto the wing. No.
6:03pm
The Neutral View From Sweden said | 6:03pm | ! Report
LOL!
I was thinking the same thing. Damn, Lordie got that one really wrong and pretty much every single commentator told him that also.
P.S. I have Folau sporting the number 14 jersey in my World XV by the way,
6:05pm
Fionn said | 6:05pm | ! Report
All and sundry have said that Folau would be the world’s best winger for years and years. Because he would do exactly what he just did.
Cheika and Gibson have both just obstinately refused to try it.
6:11pm
cuw said | 6:11pm | ! Report
had he played at 14 from the time he came – by now he will be in the same class as Naholo , Roco , Jane , et al.
something i always said was – he did not have the sense to play 15 , which requires anticipating and positioning.
all the very best 15s have that sense – to be at the right place most of the time – in either attack or defence.
Dagg , Ben , Hogg , Kearney , even Brown and 1/2penny
8:36pm
Kirky said | 8:36pm | ! Report
If I was the Coach at the Tahs, Folau would be on the side of the scrum, or Number 8! ~ First time he’s done much for a long time!
Hooper at 2nd five eight!
6:40pm
cinque said | 6:40pm | ! Report
Suspect Gibson has wanted to for some time but felt obliged to toe the party line
5:58pm
Machievelli said | 5:58pm | ! Report
How good was that!!
5:57pm
Alan Nicolea said | 5:57pm | ! Report
FULLTIME
Waratahs 51
Rebels 27
5:56pm
Alan Nicolea said | 5:56pm | ! Report
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL
Waratahs 51
Rebels 27
5:55pm
Fionn said | 5:55pm | ! Report
I love Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Question is, how has Gibson not been starting him the entire season???
6:13pm
PeterK said | 6:13pm | ! Report
and played a centre in rona on the wing instead. Rona at 13 is very good and a so so winger.
8:57pm
Reverse Wheel said | 8:57pm | ! Report
He goes missing. Defensively he gets found out. He’s better as a super sub.