A few columns back I wrote about how the Melbourne Rebels’ promising start to the season should be approached with cautious optimism. While they were winning, they needed to be.
Most of their early season fixtures were either at home or against some pretty ordinary opposition or, in several cases, both.
But while the old cliche of ‘you can only beat who’s in front of you’ was thrown around plenty, their first real test was always going to be their Round 7 clash with the Hurricanes – a test they flunked pretty spectacularly, giving up 50 points to a ‘Canes team that really appeared to punch-out with 20 minutes still on the clock.
The frustrating thing about that Rebels performance – and the bizarre loss to the Waratahs in Round 5 – is that we are now in Round 8 of Super Rugby and still nobody really knows if the Rebels are good, poor or anywhere in between.
For all the star-power in the Rebels’ roster and the backline, in particular, it’s difficult to see them ever catching fire while Jack Debreczini is the chief playmaker. In addition to being at fault for a couple of critical errors which lead to floodgate-opening Hurricanes tries last weekend, Debreczini was completely unable to bring the Rebels’ attacking weapons into the game.
Star winger Marika Koroibete racked up the grand total of zero run metres from zero carries.
But hey, playmakers are few and far between, it’s not like there are any 70 Test-capped veteran No. 10’s just running around in Brisbane club rugby.
Unlike the Rebels, the Waratahs appear to be at least trending in the right direction. They still sit behind the Rebels in the Australian Conference standings, but have just the one loss to their name – albeit a horribly insipid one in Buenos Aires.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The ‘Tahs accounted for the perpetually-stuck-in-second-gear Brumbies last weekend in Canberra and can now look forward to a for-and-against-boosting trip to Japan to face the Sunwolves.
Kurtley Beale has been cleared to start for the Waratahs after shaking off a niggling rib injury and, while Beale is still yet to really light it up this season, perhaps Saturday is the day, especially if the Sunwolves are as put off by the prospect of facing an in-form Israel Folau as Izzy is about the thought of gay people being happy.
The Brumbies don’t get much airtime in this column and that won’t change this week. The men from Canberra are about as exciting to watch as a Dean Elgar half-century. Their only wins to date have come at home to a Sharks team that doesn’t travel well and away to the win-less Sunwolves.
Instead, we’ll focus on Brad Thorn’s resurgent Reds side who come to town on a high despite a loss at their last start. They’ve also received a boost with Taniela Tupou escaping suspension for his late shot on Stormers’ winger Craig Barry.
There appears to be a newfound willingness to grind within this Queensland side. It’s hard to picture any Reds side from the past half-decade fighting back – away in South Africa – to secure a bonus point with the game already beyond them result-wise.
Much like the Brumbies, the Reds are not exactly a pretty watch just yet – they may never be under Thorn. But for now, they’re winning more than they’re losing so that much should be celebrated.
piru
Roar Rookie
It's all relative They are good for an Australian franchise Except when they're not
Peter Kelly
Guest
Always loved watching Carlos, and agree Quade not in his league. Was more an example of the unstructured type of player, difficult for coaches and there teams in knowing what they were going to do next or even was today going to be the day it all worked or not. Remember the Carlos knee kick such brilliance, I not sure if the ref has worked yet if that was legal or not.
CJ
Guest
Melbourne have come from a franchise that was not that long ago (less than 12 months?) in the mix for the Super Rugby scrapheap to a team that is mixing it up reasonably well. Wessels seems like a good coach to me and he has done a pretty decent job so far. But it will be a while before that team starts to win consistently, especially away from home. Melbourne is not a city with a strong traditional rugby fan base and the roster is broadly not that strong. Like Thorne, give him a bit more time.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Watch out! - The grammar sheriff is on patrol! ;)
peter kelly
Guest
Im a Kiwi and as long as it not the Crusaders i will be ok - just dont make a habit of it. When do the Blues play and Aussie team
Campbell Watts
Guest
Yeah but I bet that doesn't mean a free pass for Quade does it Jacko! ;)
peter kelly
Guest
Australia needs Brad Thorn - should have been chased for forwards coach.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Quade is a very poor-mans Carlos Spencer thank you very much! ;) Not a patch on King Carlos! I still love watching replays of that classic try he scored against the Crusaders - where he deliberately ran out to the sideline to score, then casually slotted the conversion to deny them a bonus point! Carlos at his best!
Lara
Guest
Two test, two fails and both similar in the way the game played out . Are the Rebels only a one half team , if that is the case , then that is a worry . The Rebels real problem is their so called star players go missing in action and that to me is the real problem.
peter kelly
Guest
bigotry in the name of Christianity is not ok ever - he is looked upto my many including children - he should stick to commenting on Rugby not his narrow views of sexuality. He who has no sin can cast the first stone - hope he was a virgin till he married.
peter kelly
Guest
And so they said of the Storm - may the Rebels be a repeat. For those who dont live in Melbourne - we are apparently the capital city of sport in this country. - Population 4+ million and climbing. - Going to be bigger than Sydney by 2030 or 50 could not be bothered fact checking. - Has a good thriving grass roots club scene and culture. - No 1 most liveable city in the world. - There is some money in this town if RA could get its s--t together. - Not everybody is an AFL diehard fan. And you would want RA to miss out on this potential - the issues for Aus rugby is in poor administration since going professional - too many factions with local bias - possibly this fan included. Im a kiwi who is happy to keep the Bledisloe forever - keep trying Australia - just try to make a competition of it occasionally.
Noodles
Guest
Wrong answer JQ. You own what you write. Like TK I’m sympathetic to the players’efforts. I believe Australia needed a big rebuild and that is under way. When we have depth we have strength - you only need look to NZ to see that. Meantime the shouting from the cheap seats is pointless and puerile. If you want a target have a go at the lazy political carryon that is typical culture of our major unions.
Noodles
Guest
Wrong answer. Own your words when you put them in public. Like TK I have no doubt players are flat out. I also think our coaches are working hard on a rebuild that is long overdue. When we have depth we will have strength and taking cheap shots at teams or players is both pointless and puerile.
soapit
Guest
so obviously we then shouldnt try to swallow it whole , and obviously then folau shouldnt say those things publicly. is there another conclusion you are working towards with that point?
soapit
Guest
whatever his background jack's got more insight than several of the old school journos on here. is there seriously a question of whether his actual knowledge matches what gets offered up here by several other supposedly more qualified experts? id be betting he's watched at least as much rugby as they have n the last 5 years. im sure jack would be happy to admit he got a good break after the fb thing we all have good and bad breaks in our lives so i dont see any reason to begrudge him that and we should just judge solely his actual writing/analysis or jog on. pull your head in tk
Peter Kelly
Guest
What I found disappointing about both losses was that when the game turned on the Rebels they then completely fell apart and didn't seem to have any idea of how to work themselves back into the game - games ebb and flow it's not going to go your way for the whole 80, the Rebels need to learn to rely on there structures to get back in the game not start chasing the game - I had hoped they had learned from Warratahs but maybe not yet.
Peter Kelly
Guest
We don't really like Quade on the other side of the tasman, he would need to learn to tackle and keep his toxic comments to himself - arrogance of which he seemed to have plenty of a few years ago will not win you friends in NZ. Quade to me is a Carlos Spencer great at times but not structured or consistent enough to build a young team around, I sometimes wonder who he plays the game for, Quade or team - maybe a reason Brad wont use him
jack
Roar Rookie
well said
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Smiler and Butler are Rubbish. Pocock, Naisarani and even Mccaffery all far superior.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Brumbies lost their entire back row including reserves: Alcock, Smiler, Fardy and Butler. All quality players.