The Melbourne Rebels have defeated the Queensland Reds 30-24 at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday night.
The Reds were coming off a gritty six-point win over the Sunwolves to sit third on the Australian conference.
The Rebels, on the other hand, came off three consecutive losses and were beginning to come under pressure by the Brumbies and Reds for the top spot in the conference.
The Queenslanders struck first in Melbourne. Quade Cooper was deemed to have been offside at the fringe of the breakdown and former Rebel Bryce Hegarty kicked the Reds to a three-point lead after seven minutes.
In wet conditions at AAMI Park, both sides struggled with handling errors and failed to mount any meaningful offensives.
In the 16th minute, the Reds put up a high ball on halfway and skipper Samu Kerevi gave chase. Unfortunately for the captain, he was never in a realistic position to catch the ball and preceded to take out Will Genia in the air. Referee Angus Gardner had no other option but to sin-bin the 25-year-old.
The Rebels looked to take advantage of the one-man overlap and did so just two minutes later.
When Isi Naisarani was unable to dot it down from the back of a line-out maul, Genia released it to his backs where Marika Koroibete found himself with the ball in hand.
He tucked it under his wing and put his head down before barging through the tackle of Sefa Naivalu to score for the hosts. Quade Cooper’s conversion put the Rebels up 7-3 after 20 minutes.
With a man in the bin, the Reds looked to suck time out of the game and accumulate points. They did exactly that when another offside penalty allowed Hegarty to reduce the margin to one point.
The Victorian outfit once again pressed into the Reds’ 22 and attempted to exploit the Queenslanders from the line-out maul.
They did so successfully when – with some help from the backs – they pushed their way over the line, as Anaru Rangi fell over the chalk. Cooper’s second conversion restored the lead to eight points.
Quade Cooper later suffered a head knock in the all-Australian clash. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It looked as if the score would stay that way at half-time but the visitors had other ideas.
Isaac Lucas worked his way towards the right wing on the 40-metre line before dummying past Koroibete. Lucas found Taniela Tupou on the inside, who brilliantly offloaded back to Lucas, cantering in to hit back for the Reds.
Hegarty was unable to add the extras to leave the Rebels’ edge at three.
The scored stayed at 14-11 at the interval despite a Scott Higginbotham yellow card.
Melbourne went to the line-out again but made a mess of it and the Reds kicked it into the stands to end the first half.
In front of a modest crowd in the Victorian capital, the home side were looking to make a fast start to the second half.
Off the set piece, Reece Hodge burst through the line on halfway and had Queensland back-pedalling into their own 22.
Some smart link-up play by the Rebels’ play-makers then put Tetera Faulkner away on the left-hand touchline, who slid in untouched in the corner.
Cooper’s conversion attempt swung back towards the posts but glanced off the uprights to leave the kick unsuccessful.
The Rebels then hit back six minutes later through captain Dane Haylett-Petty. His side were on the attack in the opposition half when quick hands saw Hodge find space on the right wing. A neat pass on the inside to Haylett-Petty saw them extend their lead to 13 points.
In worrying scenes, Quade Cooper left the field due to an ugly head knock. In attempting to tackle Samu Kerevi, his head collided with Kerevi’s knee, forcing Cooper off the field. He did not return for the remainder of the match.
A silly penalty conceded by Rangi for tackling Hegarty late after a kick saw the Queenslanders secure a penalty deep in Rebels territory.
The resulting line-out allowed replacement prop Harry Hoopert to score from the line-out maul. Hegarty’s conversion brought the Reds back to within six points.
Both sides then traded penalty kicks between the 61st and 70th minute with Hodge and Hegarty adding three points each for their respective sides.
Neither team could make a game of it, though, in the final ten minutes. A second Hodge penalty in the 79th minute only confirmed the result of the match.
The Reds earned a losing bonus-point after the siren, opting to take the points from a penalty. From just 40 metres out on a slight angle, Hegarty added yet another three points, making the score 30-24 in favour of the Rebels.
The Rebels broke their losing streak to maintain their spot on top of the Australian conference. They play the travelling Bulls next round back at AAMI Park.
The Reds were unable to secure their third win on the trot and will be bitterly disappointed to have let a huge opportunity slip. They return home to take on the old enemy the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday night.
riddler
Roar Rookie
not sure how you get that. all i was doing was filling out the stats and some context. if that is hate in your eyes then i am not sure what you must describe some of the anti-foley stuff written on here.
Axel
Guest
"as for the " try assist " it is something that i have never really put that much credence in. that said my interpretation has always been it is the last pass, rightly or wrongly " I stopped reading your nonsense when you disregarded the try assist stat. You ever heard of a " playmaker" ? A clever bloke who puts someone thorough gaps or throws a great pass to put them over the Tryline? Sheeeesh .
Scott
Guest
Riddler or whatever your real name is. You really do need some new material mate.Your Quade hate is off the charts.
Locky
Guest
According to union live app Quade has 10 try assists.
JP
Guest
Imagine if the Reds had Qaude they wouldn't have been beaten twice by the Rebels..hahaha.You deadest sook.
Hurles
Roar Rookie
Yeah agree with that Redsfan1. I think a quality 10 with genuine game management could take the reds to the next level.
Redsfan1
Guest
Quade is being judged as brilliant based on wins against the Sunwolves and Reds (4 games). The Rebels have lost all games overseas and Quade has looked very average in these. Let's see how Quade goes against 3 NZ teams the Rebels have coming up.
Redsfan1
Guest
The Reds forward pack offers some hope. The scrum is brilliant most of the time. The backs just seem to have little connection or direction. The gulf between the Rebels experience from 9 to 15.and the Reds was palpable.
Redsfan1
Guest
I'm glad you think so PeterK. all my non rugby friends think it's crazy and the very few fans turning up and tuning in would seem to disagree with your enthusiasm for zealous following of the rules.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The thing about stats is it’s across a season they matter. In one stat the least pass may be meaningless. Across a season if one bloke is passing the last pass for tries regularly isn’t it likely he’s part of creating those tries? I’d say yes.
Pixies
Roar Rookie
You say Potato - fiddlee-dee - the reality is we’re taking both to Japan because there is literally nobody else proven at 10 at this level in Oz. The word is that Cheiks wanted Coops playing super this year and was instrumental in his signing, this from a sponsor’s in-house Counsel. So yes, they’re both not future legends of the game but it’s the best cattle we’ve got no matter which side of the debate you sit on. No disrespect to Matt Toomua but he’s just not playing currently in front of the 3 blind mice and Check 1 2, Check, Check, is thing on?! will want to see his 4 year plan come to fruition with or without his Ritalin!
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
The selection of statistics are in respect to my preferred shape for flyhalf. By comparison, and for example, runs metres are an important metric – but more so for centres and back 3 flyers. Kick metres might be a valuable commodity if flyhalves put boot to ball exclusively for distance. They do not. Foley might have made more overall tackles, but he’s also missed more – his tackle success is still lower. Handling errors are a valid commodity, though, it would probably be expected that the more creative, more involved playmaker who commands more touches is also then statistically more likely to have more errors. I don’t disagree about the lack of currency in regards to Fox Sports, Vodacom or any other sporting stats sites. But they are at least independent and publicly referenceable. Regardless, it is impossible from all information available to support any wild claim about the clear superiority of Bernard Foley’s 2019 form over Quade Cooper. Bobby’s statement is simply incorrect.
Charlie Turner
Guest
I don't really mind if my flyhalf is a modest defender, most are! You can afford one defensive liability in the side at the expense of attacking creativity but not two or three. What you've got with Foley and Beale is two average defenders then throw in Folau who can tackle but has no real idea how to position himself. Grey and Cheika think this is acceptable because they've got Hoops roving in amongst them cleaning up in cover. How stupid! Grey is a good guy I know him from his Wests days and I can gaurantee you he wouldn't be playing this musical defenders pattern if he was getting a real say in selections. Pick Cooper or CLL and put your best defensive backs outside them. At least we won't die wondering!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. It’s an unsurprisingly common thing in a game with many Christian players.
rebel
Roar Guru
Can we have one article only about rugby.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
The most significant part of the game, apart from the game was the prayer circle at the end. Players from both sides united. RA eat your heart out.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Good players adapt to those around them. Foley should be able to adapt to beale or whoever. Not sure why he has stopped that part of his game. For me it is definitely about game tactics directed from above both at state and national level. I am not excusing him at all but there has been a definite movement towards that style of play at the tahs and the wallabies since 2016. Re his toughness is one of the reason for me having a soft spot for the kid. He is not big not even 180cm I reckon. But he always puts his body on the line, always goes low and pulls of some great tackles on guys 15 to 25kgs heavier. He misses some as well but not for lack of trying. I have never seen have a heartlidge. Also remember 2 years ago he had some serious concussion issues. No headgear nor going high. He prefers to defend in the line. For some reason grey thought it was better to shuffle him out. For me the worst move a defensive coach can do is that. Especially if the guy wants to defend there and doesn't shirk any tackle. But that is why Grey gets the big bucks and I am in the peanut gallery watching on.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Foley's big issue over the last two or more seasons is his failure to take sole responsibility as the playmaker. Both the Waratahs and the Wallabies backlines are selected around this weakness and it's not working. No flyhalf anywhere at any level should willingly abdicate or share the role of playmaker. It's not always possible to be in the position of first receiver but Foley is playing more of a generic linking role. I'm not sure how or why this came about but I suspect having Beale in the same side has stymied Foley's creativity and he's forgotten how to play. He's a tough little bloke, I can't ever remember him coming off injured.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Not sure if it is play making. We used to use it a lot. Horan was fantastic at getting second touches as was Patty Howard. Found out who was working off the ball and who was taking a breather or to be honest, having a bludge.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Hyperbole in any form does zero good. Here on roar and gagr are a few attention seekers. Unfortunately their 'stats' get repeated and are assumed to be correct. As I said previously, where is the budget for a start check group. Maybe they can allocate some of Brett's steak sandwich budget going forward.