Melbourne have blown the Super Rugby AU competition wide open after handing the Brumbies their first defeat of the season in a thumping 30-12 victory.
The Brumbies arrived for their Friday night clash at Leichhardt Stadium with a commanding seven-point lead at the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder, but left shell-shocked.
With playmakers Matt To’omua and Andrew Deegan playing smart wet-weather rugby in Sydney, the Rebels were in full control throughout while the Brumbies were uncharacteristically poor.
Rebels captain To’omua said his team kept it simple in the tough conditions to deliver a dominant performance.
“It really was – it started physically,” To’omua told Fox Sports.
“We were a little bit scrappy in the second half but it didn’t matter because our lineout was good, our pressure off the line was good, our shots were good and we felt good.
“It’s a simple game when you win the contact.”
Fullback Reece Hodge showed their intent when he scored the first of his two tries in the third minute as they shifted the ball wide.
The lead was extended to 12-0 when Marika Koroibete kicked a loose ball ahead and raced Andy Muirhead downfield with the Brumbies winger failing to pick it up in the greasy conditions before Koroibete managed to offload to flanker Brad Wilkin.
Some rare joy of the night for the Canberra team came two minutes later when they mauled the ball off an attacking lineout, with halfback Joe Powell scooting across the try line.
But the Rebels were up for the fight and responded soon after through Hodge’s second and they were out to 27-7 by halftime.
The Brumbies had to toil a man down when flanker Tom Cusack was yellow-carded for repeated infringements right on halftime but their defence at least held firm in his absence.
They can take heart that they limited Melbourne to a sole penalty kick in the second half despite plenty of pressure and managed a late try through Will Miller.
Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa said his team’s kicking game let them down, with five-eighth Bayley Kuenzle yanked after 44 minutes.
“They stayed on top of us well,” the Test prop said.
“They kept putting balls in the corner and keeping us in our end and we struggled to get out and they capitalised on that.”
The Brumbies next have the bye while the Rebels play the Reds.
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Roar Rookie
He was the Wallabies' best 10 at the RWC last year too. Not a high bar though, with Cooper not picked and Foley and Lealiafano well past their best. In the Wales game, and I think it was the Fiji game he really lifted them. But I agree re 12 as his best spot
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Absolutely....I’m not taking anything away from the opposition, they may still have won anyway.
Quite Right
Guest
The entire VRU is behind the Rebels, you could never say that about the NSWRU and Waratahs or QRU and Reds. As for W.A. we never wanted them out of it in Victoria, but they have only spouted poison. Next time Perth has a side, the people need to show their support.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah I think you’re probably right
Yoyoreecio
Roar Rookie
Is the Melbourne Rebels media department on pause? The tram gets hardly any press in Victoria and they should. Beating, no smashing, the top team should be celebrated!!
Corw
Roar Rookie
Simone looked like he was limping a little toward the back end of the game. Might have been a bit tender.
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Roar Rookie
Rebels forwards deserve a fair bit of credit too. Not many names there but they are holding their own. Hosea especially looks really good.
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Roar Rookie
I'm not the first to mention it I'm sure, but the idea of keeping NZ and AU comps separate for the regular rounds, and then sending the top few teams from each comp to a finals of some sort, could work nicely going forward
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Exactly. There's plenty we can still blame him for!
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Yeah, fair point, I shouldn't blame Thorn for the noise from the punters.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
On Thorn’s defence, he doesn’t talk about it. It’s only the punters who want to give him credit and try and use it as a replacement for measurable results (wins).
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
There is also a lot of talk on the Reds working hard towards a better culture for players to build for the future, but to me, that time is almost up for Thorn. Meanwhile, the Rebels seem to provide a happy positive culture that players want to stay in, without Wessels ever having to virtue signal about it... Great win for the Tahs last night. Reds might want to work on more than just their culture :silly:
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Super rugby au with champions league with nz and Japan - yes please
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Pinetree I find it funny how people just want to rate the Reds and want to not rate the Rebels. All the talk you read you’d believe it’s the Brumbies and the Reds then everybody else. That’s despite the fact after playing everybody the Rebels and Reds tied, beat the same teams, Reds had 1 bonus point but Rebels had the most convincing win (vs Tahs). The reality is there’s probably not a great deal between the three. And then in their day the Tahs and Force are capable of challenging all three of them too.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
The Rebels have beaten the Brumbies 6 times out of the last 8 games. How much more than 75% of wins against the Brumbies in the last 4 years do the Rebels have to achieve before a win is not considered a shock win? Brumbies have lost a lot of players this year too, and also having lolesio out injured just makes it harder for the Ponies. If the Rebels beat the Brumbies 5/6 the previous 3 years, then no shock they beat them this year with a weaker Brumbies side.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I agree he has looked better as a 12. But he was always a 10 not a 12 wedged there. Ironically Lolesio has looked great. He was Aus 20s 12 in 2018 and 2019.
Dyskolos
Roar Rookie
Thanks. Didn't know that. He seems to have successfully completed the switch. To me he still looked better at 12 last night than he has at 10. Not that he hasn't been playing some good football at 10, but I think he's more valuable as a 12.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Look at the leadup to the disallowed Petaia try in the Reds game and you will see Kuridrani moving to the open side in defence while his teammates were still tangled up in the previous ruck in the blind side, leaving Valentini to defend about a 10 metre hole against Petaia. There was only one way that was going to work out. TK has his thumb in bum and mind in neutral, perhaps he needs wakeup call by McKeller, with a game or two on the bench.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Simone chased a ball near the end - when Tuttle regathered- and he was prop speed. I’m hoping he was gassed and that’s not how fast he actually is.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I think Simone is really nailing the number 12 spot, but he’s still too green to be guiding a new 10. The rebels really showed how helpful an experienced 12 can be to a new 10 last night. I think Kuridrani has gone off the boil as a result of the inexperience in 10 and 12, but could still perform at the national level.