The Rebels have been humbled in the first trans-Tasman clash of the 2018 Super Rugby season, copping a 31-point loss from the Hurricanes.
Final score
Rebels 19
Hurricanes 50
Here it is folks! Trans-Tasman clash No.1 for season 2018, and it should be a belter. Tonight, the table topping Melbourne Rebels host the 2016 champions, the Hurricanes at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:45pm AEDT.
Before the preview – a betting stat. No team topping the table at the end of Round 7 has ever started as outsiders with the bookmakers; let alone as $4 long shots.
That speaks to the woeful record of Australian sides against their NZ counterparts in 2017, but probably isn’t indicative of the Rebels true chances in tonight’s fixture.
So… the game.
The Rebels are top of the table, on 20 points. They’ve lost only once this season, to the NSW Waratahs two starts ago. Even without Dane Haylett-Petty, they were impressive in their dismantling of the Sharks last week.
Jack Maddocks, Marika Koroibete and Sefa Naivalu were a dynamic trio, while Billy Meakes and Jack Debreczeni were immense.
In team news for Melbourne, Tom English checks back in on the right wing, pushing Naivalu to the bench, while Anaru Rangi has held his spot at hooker despite the availability of Jordan Uelese.
The Hurricanes are a complete package, and will provide an immense challenge. Their backline boasts names such as Barrett’s Beauden and Jordie, Ngani Laumape and one of the form wingers in the tournament in Ben Lam.
That’s before we discuss halfback TJ Perenara, whose matchup with Will Genia will be a key factor in determining the outcome of the match. The scrum will be tightly contested, with Chris Eves, Ben May and hooker Ricky Riccitelli forming a dangerous front row.
With both sides coming off strong last start wins, expect another high-quality performance.
Where the game will be won
Finishing. Jack Maddocks is the equal leading try-scorer in this year’s super rugby tournament, and with Koroibete and English on his flanks, there is finishing potential out wide.
If they don’t fire, they’re no chance. The Hurricanes are genuine quality, and need to win to build a gap atop the New Zealand conderence.
Hurricanes by 9
Join The Roar for live scores of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
Baz
Guest
Yeah agreed. I think they also seem to play out of their skins when playing an Oz team. Chiefs, Crusaders and Canes look unstoppable. Possibly Highlanders but Rebels would need to play a full 80 like they played the first 30. Also interested to see how the Reds match up against a New Zealand side under Brad Thorn.
Jacko
Guest
Well said timber
Baz
Guest
Think Australian Rugby Union needs a re-calibration in the light of existing skills and coaching talent. I would like to see a Wallabies team play the top 2 provincial sides in New Zealand. Only then can we start to objectively determine how many competitive sides Australia can field in Super Rugby.
timber
Guest
Swede, I doubt anyone disputes your point that the lack of competition is bad for the comp in the long term but your repetitive pontificating on this fact is somewhat patronizing. It's like going to the beach on a lovely hot day and having someone with a megaphone preaching about climate change. Yes, we all understand the bigger picture but there's not a xxxx load anyone here can do about it. It just comes across as an excuse for you to rain on other peoples enjoyment of the match.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
You make very good sense here
Jacko
Guest
I think you spend too much time on your knees neutered....... The 3 countries involved in this comp currently have the head coaching position in 6 of the top 10 countries in the world...No wonder all those UK and French teams crave out coaches and players......Your much raved about English comp has 25% of the worlds players available to be selected yet they keep coming to NZ to buy ours...Why is that if they are so superior? Ive never seen a product so in demand that the SR comp and its associated players, coaches and trainers are.........Superiority can be proven and if thats not proof that the Sh produce a far superior product then what do you measure success by? So England has billions and we have millions.....who cares...England and the whole NH are spending their billions buying the superior product from down south
Jacko
Guest
As far as we know, most of your rugby discussions are with men that you meet at bars in Thailand. Are Ladyboys called men or women in Thailand bars? [Mods. Keep to topic of this forum, pls]
Jacko
Guest
For the record, I don’t call myself an expert, never has, never will. Neuto you never have been and never will be so we are glad you dont call yourself one as that would be a lie
Machpants
Roar Guru
The Blues are ripe for the picking and ending the Oz v NZ string of defeats
Carlos The Argie
Guest
He lives in Thailand and this is why his only rugby engagement, besides irritating a lot of people here, is going to bars over there to find men who like rugby...
Kirky
Roar Rookie
I don't blame them for talking to Gardner, he was absolutely dreadful!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Nick, looking back at that game after seeing every Aussie' team play on ''playback because after the Force rubbish last Season", I promised myself not to watch a live game involving Australian teams!, ~ I think that the Australian teams once again won't win a game against any Kiwi sides, including even, the Blues! Australian rugby hasn't changed one bit after the stink debacle of last Season and limiting the consist foe Aussie' to four teams has proved nothing!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Sweden! Still putting your junk on here mate, and what the heck would a Swede know about Southern Hemisphere rugby anyway! What gives you the right as a distinct a Foreigner as is possible being a Swede, the right to call Australia as being poor at the game as you have? Go back to Soccer mate seeing as you live in the round ball area!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Jake: You're a Melbourne dude and a one eyed one at that, it's obvious for the type of claptrap you're trying to get across, ~ You talk rubbish Rosebud! You know as most who care know that the current Rebel/Force team based in Bleak City is nothing much removed from the Western Force of last Season! You also should know that the Western Force were never ever ''GIVEN'' something like 36 million bucks to waste on a non event team such as the previous Rebels farce, and what's more they have the temerity to call themselves the Rebels when in fact they are nothing much less than the Western Force team from last year! As hard as those Force boys played yesterday against the Hurricanes, all they got out of it was a rugby lesson from one of the upcoming Finalists!
Jacko
Guest
So stick to commenting on Curling then Neuto as you clearly know NOTHING about rugby
Jacko
Guest
it wont matter how long you try Neuto you wont get anythig right
Jacko
Guest
things have changed for ove a hundred years neuto and will change fir the next hundred but your doom and gloom will still be your fantasy
Baz
Guest
Yeah, the Kiwis have a great formula. Not sure that I would want to share the knowledge if I was them but would be interesting to see Chris Boyd coach an Australian franchise like the Rebels for a few years. Brad Thorn is an interesting experiment this year. I like what I see so far.
moaman
Guest
He looks destined to go far this season Tragic.....my crystal ball sees him wearing dark clothes in Europe in Spring ;-)
moaman
Guest
"...driven the injured to hospital, been driven to hospital, sat in a dressing room after a loss, woken up in the morning with ten or more sprig marks on your back, smelt the beautiful aroma of liniment before going onto the field." Ahhh and the clickety-click-clack of sprigs on concrete.....God you're making me nostalgic now TM ;-)