Rebels
8
Match Complete
Chiefs
59
| 75 |  | S. Stevenson | ||
| 72 |  | M. McKenzie | ||
| 72 | | M. McKenzie | ||
| M. Philip | | 66 | ||
| 56 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 56 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 51 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 50 | | S. Stevenson | ||
| 48 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 47 | | A. Lienert-Brown | ||
| 42 | | S. Wainui | ||
| 42 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 41 | | L. Boshier | ||
| 21 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 21 | | S. Stevenson | ||
| R. Hodge |  | 18 | ||
| 13 | | J. Debreczeni | ||
| 12 | | S. Cane |
| 1 | Tries | 9 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 7 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Chiefs cross the Tasman to try and take down the Rebels in Victoria. Join The Roar from 7:45pm AEST for this Super Rugby final round clash.
Make no mistake, this is a must-win game for the Rebels. Victory, and the home team make the finals. Lose with a bonus point and they rely on other side’s results to reach the semis.
The Rebels have 34 points, the same as the Stormers and one less than the Lions, and two less than the Bulls.
They will want those three to lose and themselves to win, pushing them up from eighth spot into potentially fifth.
Coming off a shameful 66-0 defeat to the Crusaders last weekend, the Rebels also need to restore some pride. That was a painful evening in Christchurch.
Melbourne have rung the changes after resting many key players in the South Island. Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Tom English are all back in the starting XV but Jack Maddocks is out.
Adam Coleman is also unavailable, and has been replaced by Luke Jones, while Anaru Rangi returns to hooker and in-form Marika Koroibete is back on the wing.
The Chiefs will be strong with three All Blacks back in their starting side in Brodie Retalliak, Nathan Harris, and Angus Ta’avao.
Waikato will also have former Rebel, Jack Debreczei, at 10.
Prediction
This game is a toss-up, with no pressure on the Chiefs and all of it on the Rebels. But the Rebels must deliver in this one.
Rebels to win by three.
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
When: 7:45pm AEST
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Rebels $2.05, Draw $28, Chiefs $1.90
Rebels
Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Reece Hodge, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Angus Cottrell, Luke Jones, Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Ross Haylett-Petty, Rob Leota, Michael Ruru, Matt Toomua, Campbell Magnay
Chiefs
Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Alex Nankivell, Sean Wainui, Jack Debreczeni, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (c), Lachlan Boshier, Tyler Ardron, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross, Nepo Laulala, Jesse Parete, Mitchell Jacobson, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Tumua Manu
riddler
Roar Rookie
Wish they did have the crowd numbers. Be interesting to see the variation during the season for certain teams.
Fboy
Guest
Is your latest excuse for the Reds finishing stone cold last of the Australian teams that only the last two games count? It would be great to live in your fictional world. I’m happy to admit the rebels have been poor in only finishing second place amongst the Australian sides. Yet you delude yourself into saying Thorn has taken a team from fourth last on the ladder to second last and then second last again as having done well. Do you see this as successful? Pray do tell? And what will be your yardstick of success next year? Third last or second last again and bottom of the oz teams. Enlighten me. The back line won’t just be able to pass to kerevi and hope for the best next year. You are the equivalent of an Auckland blues fan coming on to say the chiefs aren’t any good when their own team is again not only the worst in the country but lost to the Rebels twice conceding bonus points each time.
piru
Roar Rookie
Certain teams and stadia seem to only report their good scores
Fboy
Guest
Is your latest excuse for the Reds finishing stone cold last of the Australian teams that only the last two games count? It would be great to live in your fictional world. I’m happy to admit the rebels have been poor in only finishing second place amongst the Australian sides. Yet you delude yourself into saying Thorn has taken a team from fourth last on the ladder to second last and then second last again as having done well. Do you see this as successful? Pray do tell? And what will be your yardstick of success next year? Third last or second last again and bottom of the oz teams. Enlighten me. The back line won’t just be able to pass to kerevi and hope for the best next year.
Redsfan1
Guest
Fboy look at the Rebels last couple of games if you want to see truly laughable. The Reds lost to Crusaders by 10 and to the Chiefs by 6. Not by 66 and 51...
Fboy
Guest
Redsfan talks about excuses yet his team comes last of all the Australian teams yet again but somehow he excuses this as a moral victory. “We beat some saffa teams so that’s what counts not where we finished on the ladder.” You’ve finished last of the o sides. What are your excuses. Thorn gets rid of his wallabies then you say he’s done well for not having any wallabies. Laughable.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate. I tried to have a look for the stats. Couldn't find the crowd figures. Thought it was something that was shown for every game. Seems like that has stopped for some reason.
piru
Roar Rookie
Dunno, stadium looked about a quarter full if that helps
Charlie Turner
Guest
Is that you Prindy? Great comment!
adam smith
Guest
Martin Johnson was also very liberal with his time. When he was in Taumarunui, he had no trouble coming down to Saturday morning rugby, & giving encouragement & coaching to all of us youngsters. Helped out on a couple of occasions with various Junior King Country teams also, although not in an official capacity. Definitely not as grumpy, or “hard” on us as Pinetree.
Fboy
Guest
The ladder never lies boys. Two years in. Thorn has the team he wanted and has taken them to second last. Bravo. And in two head to head contests they’ve lost comfortably to the Rebels. The Rebels are indeed poor but what does that make the Reds? Bizarre you’ve come on here to gloat.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Val. Quade had a poor game. And no doubt the hatchets are out this morning. He has made mistakes in other games, but this one would have to be his worst for the year. Not great timing for a poor game, Quade.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah there were a ton of potential ways Cooper could answer. And for each and every one of them there's probably somebody out there in internet land who would say he did it wrong.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
K & C, why don't you stick to rugby league sites where you might know what you're talking about?
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Once again you are taking an extreme position for the purpose of arguing the point. How about yeah we have a few things we are working on, but I believe this team has what it takes... end of. But this is not something I was really looking to debate... I just shared a thought, wasn’t looking to start an argument, because one way or another because they always deteriorate into this... where you imagine I am not aware of the circumstance or want to suggest that he couldn’t have said something different... I don’t often comment, because the drama people like by debating nothing issues like this is for me at least boring and a complete waste of time.. but here I am exposing it... Anyway, whether you agree or disagree is neither here nor there. I think Quade likes to share his opinion and talks more at times when less is better, than the mumbo jumbo he spouts. You don’t have to try to tell me what I would have him say and then argue from that position... As I said my view not yours, don’t ask you to agree with it, but you misconstruing what I am saying doesn’t make this a discussion worth having.
Lee Byron
Roar Rookie
Bring back Deb!
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Agree re CLL and Genia. Simone has improved, although I thought he looked promising at NSW. I have long thought the Brumbies is where you go to improve/excel and that a lot of players who leave the Brumbies for NSW and Qld don't benefit - I think Hooper and even AAC would be examples. The culture at the Brumbies (other than for a period about 2008-11?) has been consistently the best in the country. The good Captain P (aaaarrrhh) has raised a legit. brace of q's re Meakes but I still think that after Kerevi he looks the best credentialed to start at 12 for Oz, unless one takes an option on Toomua (not much form to go on - other than a modest NH season and a tendency to get concussed being issues). I want Hodge in my back 3. If CLL is at 10, then Powell has to be looked at very closely. I think he is a very good player but not 100% convinced by his pass, or his temperament. That said, I would have him a mile ahead of the unfortunate Phipps. I really respect Phipps as a committed player who gives everything but his pass has always been the opposite of the Qld climate (more like Melbourne) and he has always had a tendency to terrible moments of poor judgement. White isn't perfect on the judgement front but I would love to see him again. The forwards look useful but I am not sure we have a pair of bruising loosies at 6 and 8. Naisarani looks good but I haven't really looked closely at his 'off the ball' work. You really have to go to a game to see a lot of that for positions like the back 3 and 8.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Terrifying prospect James.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
If the Rebels fold, will it mean a return for the Force. The irony is so delicious I can taste it from Tassie.
Captain Pugwash
Roar Rookie
Do you not feel Meakes has been made to look very average over the past two games? He struggles against skilled centres and I can't help but feel he'd be thrown around by the bigger NH centres. He's not big enough to be a bulldozing 12 or skilled enough to act as a 2nd playmaker