Rebels vs Sharks: Super Rugby live scores, blog

Baylion, firstly the Sharks were dominant throughout that game. They utterly deserve the win as the best on the park. And the phase in question would have likely seen a try to the Sharks after the ensuing scrum. But it is a pretty elastic string you would have to measure with to see a passer, without forward movement, throwing forward from a backward pass. Sharks deserved plenty of points, but that 7, at that moment, was an unearned gift

Agreed Bobby, I see an otherwise quality referee. The ref system has kinks in it though when replayed blatant forward passes end as 7 points. Sharks were likely to score anyway, and deserve the win without dispute, but these officials (4 of them) are paid to get simple calls correct.

Some wag will do it one day Jonesy. Run on with a jersey labelled REF CITATION PANEL, and pull out a yellow card.

I’ve just worked it out, Thugby. The same person who is writing the Roar Hyperbolic Headlines is also pulling the strings at Saanzar. Both catering to an illogical kindergarten audience that is assumed to have the memory of a goldfish. (Disclaimer: Apologies to my friends at the Roar if one of you is the creator of Hyperbole in the video section. But you totally need to ‘lose’ the ‘look at me’ Facebook mentality, dude. Dude, seriously. Some of your readers have memories, and brains....and ID’s to get into the pub). And yes Thugby, we need neutral referees. I hear that Scott Fardy’s dad is a ref and is pretty impartial.

Sharks look the fastest team in the comp, and that’s missing Nkosi. Lightning backs, and pretty agile pack. Athletes all over the show.

Tricky one. I believed it was a forward pass but the TMO look at the hand action (pass), not where the ball ends up. From Bosch's hand action it looked like he was "passing" back but the ball definitely ended in front. Even the SA studio commentators (Nick Mallett) felt the Sharks got away with that one

From the broadcast it looked like it was a fun day for the spectators (apart from the result)

The best game I've ever seen Andre Esterhuizen play

What an enjoyable day of rugby in Ballarat! Kudos to the Rebels people who put the ticket prices and venue details right up front on the Rebels home page, and a trailer sign on the motorway which lights said "Next left for Super Rugby" or words to that effect. So we made it to the stadium in time; lots of activity around the stadium with people parking, queuing and chatting. One of the three ticket windows was hidden away which was a little odd. We asked for and got seats that remained in the shade for the duration of the game. Sunshine, almost no wind, a bay of seating full of noisy Saffas to our left for atmosphere, and the sight lines were actually pretty good, better than they looked on the plan on the Web. So a pleasant spot for an afternoon's rugby. I would guesstimate the crowd at about three thousand. The Sharks showed a remarkable ability to take their chances or, if there was nothing on, take it back to the safety of the breakdown. I never got the feeling that the Rebels were running the game; the Sharks would bend but even when their line was breached, their spirits and self-belief never looked broken. Mapimpi's try early in the first half was a ripper, he placed it in the corner a mere thirty metres from where were sitting, what they call a grandstand view. But cutting back across behind the scrum to score? Memorable. Well done to the ref. With one player in the sin bin, I really didn't think he would order off another player. But he did. I see a comment below about the ball carrier being on his knees. Last night, a Crusaders player kneel-crawled a good five metres towards the line to set up the first try against the Highlnders. I have no idea about the rule or interpretation.

its because AAMI stadium in Melbourne was booked for an Elton John concert

The turnover that led to the last Sharks try was a clear penalty. Ball carrier clearly on his knees = a tackled player. No clear release.

All I’m saying is that to me, last weeks one looked worse and even more forward yet the try was given. And if last weeks one was given then this weeks one is a definite tick (based on a comparison from last week and keeping consistency). I don’t like the ruling. It’s too subjective. If I was a referee on the field I would’ve called both last weeks and this weeks passes forward.

Ok fair enough.

When you follow it up by binning another one for repeated infringements while the first one is still off the field.

I don't have any issue with the ref but since when is binning a player obviously guilty of a dangerous tackle worthy of kudos?

That is the lad. No game time. He was christened by Izzy and therefore not welcome. Bit of a loss, especially for such a “special” team as NSW

No different to ANZ Stadium or whatever it is called now. I thought the crowd looked like a good size and support that initiative. That is how we will eventually improve our player numbers. I took my lad to his first training session for the local club here in Mexico (NSW) a whole 2 hours South of Sydney, 7 registered players in his 15 man team. Rugby has not moved forward at all in 30 years in Oz.

Another Ref whinge. C'mon - if you aren't good enough you just aren't ... why am I surprised ... this is the opening of another weekend ... of ref whinges ...

The Rebels have some good players who do some good stuff, but they won't move up the points table while carrying so many players who make too many errors. The young Saffer ref had a fair game and deserves some kudos for being prepared to wave the yellow card when it was warranted.

I think Meakes is more than a servicable and player and looked good outside Cooper last season with his flat to the line passes, I just don't think this was a particularly good game by Meakes in attack (defence not too bad). Having a second playmaker lie Toomua who is a better kicker might have helped in this game is helping to keep the rush defence in check.