Blues
71
Match Complete
Melbourne Rebels
28
| 81 |  | R. Hodge | ||
| 80 |  | R. Hodge | ||
| C. Clarke | | 76 | ||
| 74 | | R. Hodge | ||
| 73 | | B. Wilkin | ||
| R. Ioane | | 62 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 58 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 57 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 52 | ||
| R. Ioane | | 51 | ||
| M. Telea | | 38 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 37 | ||
| R. Ioane | | 35 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 32 | ||
| H. Sotutu | | 30 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 25 | ||
| J. Tucker | | 23 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 22 | ||
| F. Christie | | 21 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 13 | ||
| A. Ioane | | 12 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 8 | ||
| A. Ioane | | 6 | ||
| 5 | | R. Hodge | ||
| 4 | | J. Canham | ||
| 1 | | R. Hodge | ||
| 1 | | P. Fa'amausili |
| 11 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 8 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Super Rugby Pacific round 12 kicks off with the Blues taking on a Melbourne Rebels side that has found some recent good form as the teams head to Eden Park, Auckland. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:05pm AEST.
Competition leaders, the Blues will be looking at this clash and not just thinking that it’s a good chance for a bonus point win, but also a great opportunity to put on such a big score against an opponent that the rest of the competition look on with fear.
To do so though they will need to get rid of their recent tendency of letting sides back into the match having established a solid lead. They won’t have Beauden Barrett pulling the strings as the All Black playmaker is rested but Stephen Perofeta will want to jump at the chance for some game time.
The Blues will welcome back All Blacks in both the backs and forwards as Rieko Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu take their places in the starting line up.
After a troubling start to the season, the Rebels have been able to work their way up to eighth position on the ladder and be in contention for some finals rugby. However they have four matches against New Zealand opponents as the regular season concludes and four losses will spoil all their plans.
Unfortunately the Melbourne side are without skipper Michael Wells and will miss his passion and defensive prowess. Matt Phillip will lead the side in Wells’ absence with Rob Leota starting at number eight. The Wallaby back rower will be in for a ferocious battle against his Blues counterparts and must find a way to get his side over the gain line when they have the ball.
Joe Powell starts at scrum half joining up with Carter Gordon in the halves with Junior Wallaby centre Lukas Ripley lining up against the scary partnership of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Rieko Ioane for the Blues.
Curiously the Rebels have won at Eden Park before but it was four years ago now. It really doesn’t look like they’ll get another one today but expect them to keep fighting until the end against a strong Blues side.
Game Information
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Blues $1.03, Rebels $14.00 – odds via PlayUp
Blues (1-15): Jordan Lay, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Zarn Sullivan.
Reserves: Soane Vikena, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Sam Darry, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, AJ Lam.
Rebels (1-15): Matt Gibbon, James Hanson, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip (c), Josh Canham, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Rob Leota, Joe Powell, Carter Gordon, George Worth, Stacey Ili, Lukas Ripley, Andrew Kellaway, Reece Hodge.
Reserves: Efi Ma’afu, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Daniel Maiava, Tamati Ioane, Moses Sorovi, Nick Jooste, Glen Vaihu.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Cron was available. As was Coleman. Missed them both
Gustofoe
Roar Rookie
Please no! Beauden plays better when he’s not in the team at all. Young Sullivan needs to stay where he is for the remainder of the season bar injury. Same with Stephen P. The backline seems to be more cohesive without BB.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Penny would have been a poor option too
Jacko
Roar Rookie
DA 7.45 pm in Aus is 9.45pm in NZ. That makes it 11.45 finish roughly.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sadly the 45min gap between games is just 1 of a lot of stupid decisions being made by rugby admin at the moment. The kickoff times are all about TV and Aus fans apparently dont watch a game if it kicks off before 7.45pm.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Nahh..the expression from Parling was priceless
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Yeah Piru..his eyes looked stunned at half-time
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Hehe
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And a little too little.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
I think Ozinsa the mistake rebels made was to keep Foote who was an understudy of Wessels..now this is very unfair of me to say but I wish rebels was coached by an ozzie or at least they could have see if Penney was interested..
Faith
Roar Rookie
tx G
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The Defence coach will have an uncomfortable weekend
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Ozinsa..the rebels do have the players.. they need to sort out that midfield and joey Powell is not playing well at all..him and Gordon made loose kicks that were costly..this result is no different then the one against crusades where they invite kiwi players to run through their defences..whoever is the defence coach is doing a poor job so far..
Tez
Roar Rookie
Well that was certainly a brilliant bonus point win .... maybe only Kellaway for the Wallabies out of this Rebels shambles
piru
Roar Rookie
It's all falling into place
piru
Roar Rookie
Haha thanks mate They'll have to be xxxl at minimum
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Sean Wainui scored 5 tries.. :thumbup:
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
They're better than that lh. They'll be hurting but didn't turn up this time,
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I just feel like the rebels are an anchor around the neck of Australian rugby.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
what time do 7 year olds retire for the evening? Its not like the audience is so huge they can do without. Can you not see the point t of the question, though. Why aren't they back to back??