A virtuoso Reece Hodge display wasn’t enough as the Melbourne Rebels fell 43-37 to the Highlanders, leaving their Super Rugby finals hopes teetering.
Another result must now go the Rebels’ way if they are to reach the play-offs for the first time after blowing sizeable leads in each half in Dunedin on Saturday.
Up 17-3 early and then 34-22 entering the final quarter, they leaked three late tries to suffer a third-straight loss.
It will mean they miss the play-offs if the ninth-placed Sharks beat the Jaguares in Durban on Sunday morning (AEST).
A Rebels bonus point means the Brumbies’ slim finals hopes have ended.
Regardless the outcome for the Rebels, few could doubt the commitment of five-eighth Hodge, who scored 29 points including three of his team’s four tries.
Two of them came from charge-downs as Hodge took advantage of the inexperience in a Highlanders backline which was without several of their rested All Blacks.
The Rebels were also missing three key injured Wallabies along with English lock Geoff Parling yet they threatened an upset all night at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
A match-winning try loomed as the visitors broke down the right after the final hooter but it was halted by a brutal tackle from star Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo on fullback Jack Maddocks.
It leaves the Rebels with a seven win-nine loss record, matching their best-ever return.
Melbourne opened a helter-skelter first half with tries to Amanaki Mafi and Hodge to be 17-3 up, although they lost prop Fereti Sa’aga to injury.
Momentum switched when Melbourne halfback Michael Ruru was shown a questionable yellow card for a foot trip on Lima Sopoaga.
Naholo and Kayne Hammington both capitalised on the one-man advantage with tries to level the scores.
Hodge bagged the first of his charge-down tries before Teihorangi Walden responded to leave the Highlanders 24-22 down at the break.
Hodge’s third try and a penalty pushed his team 12 points clear before the Highlanders hit another gear through Tevita Li, Greg Pleasants-Tate and Tom Franklin.
The Highlanders are guaranteed to finish sixth and will be away to either the Waratahs, Lions or Jaguares in next week’s quarter-finals.
Ben
Guest
Yeah was trying to work out why it was a "questionable" yellow card. Maybe he was questioning red or yellow. Either way a card everyday of the week.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I’ll excuse the leadership for this game. With Genia, Coleman, Parling and DHP missing they were probably light in leadership. But it’s been a consistent theme across the year, not just one game.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Not impressed with Wessells - to me he has not shown the "hype" or as good as he has been "written up".
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
TWAS, the Rebels should not have lost this game. With 20 to go, they were up. Good leadership should have been able to bring it home. All Aussies side seem to lack leadership with Rugby Nous!!
Aj
Guest
Only thing contentious was that it was only a yellow, a trip is a trip, but hey any card against an Australian player is always unfair
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
After seeing the Sharks snuck in the Rebels should be disappointed they didn’t get the job done to secure their spot. Losses against the Reds and Jaguares were games that could have and probably should have been wins. Wessels really messed up opting for Faulkner and Ainsley over Sa’aga and Talakai to start against the Reds. Both starting props got absolutely monstered and have been weaker scrummagers all season. The scrum is where the Reds set their win up.
GusTee
Roar Pro
Quo Vadis Victorian Rugby? If the Sharks can't manufacture a play-off place for you, will you be eyeing absorption of the ACT in order to progress your rugby dream circa 2019?