Rebels
24
Match Complete
Stormers
41
| 79 |  | J. Stander | ||
| 78 |  | R. Nel | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 76 | ||
| C. Magnay | | 76 | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 67 | ||
| W. Genia | | 67 | ||
| 60 |  | J. Stander | ||
| 56 | | J. Stander | ||
| 55 | | R. Nel | ||
| 52 | | J. Stander | ||
| 51 | | D. D. Allende | ||
| 48 | | J. D. Plessis | ||
| 46 | | J. Augustus | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 41 | ||
| R. Hodge | | 40 | ||
| 24 | | J. D. Plessis | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 22 | ||
| 4 | | J. D. Plessis | ||
| 2 | | D. Leyds |
| 3 | Tries | 5 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 5 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Melbourne Rebels will look to secure their hold at the top of the Australian conference when they host an up-and-down Stormers outfit at AAMI Park in more Friday night Super Rugby action. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the game from 7:45pm AEDT.
The Stormers have been average this season.
They have 11 tries in seven games (the worst record of any side), and sit dead last in the South African conference.
They were poor against the Reds – and more generally have had a miserable time of things on their tour of Oceania.
Their biggest issue is their inability to finish close to the line. The lead-up work isn’t the problem, rather they seem to have a nasty habit of fumbling last passes, and dropping ball in try-scoring situations.
Damian De Allende needs to go back to running straight and dominating the contact zone to allow his outside backs an extra half a second of room with the front foot ball that would generate.
He found himself throwing cut outs, and cross kicking last start against the Reds, which ultimately came back to bite.
It gets worse, though. Skipper Siya Kolisi is rested (rotation policy), and this is a major blow. Aside from his inspirational captaincy, he has been their best forward this year, and the team looked totally directionless when he spent ten minutes in the sin bin last week. And I mean totally.
It’s a new look front row, too, with Stephen Kitchoff getting a nod, alongside Wilco Louw and Bongi Mbonmbi.
For the home team, it’s a “more of the same, please” type of situation, following a couple of impressive wins in Australia. They sit well clear of the Tahs on top of the Australian conference, and will be keen to win their third straight.
In team news, they will be without Jack Maddocks, Matt Phillip and Anaru Rangi – all resting with niggles. Semisi Tupou comes onto one wing, and that may be an avenue where the Stormers may direct some traffic through. We shall see.
Which Stormers side turns up? We’ve seen patches of real defensive tenacity from the South African outfit, which often puts a little band-aid over their attacking woes.
I don’t think they’ll be scoring a boatload of points, so they’ll need the new guys starting to step up and show some abrasion in and around the breakdown and contact zone.
Am I confident this will be a tour-turning win against a fired-up Rebels side?
Not today.
Prediction
The Stormers to start brightly, but fade.
Rebels by 15
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
Where: AAMI Park – Melbourne Stadium
When: 7:45pm AEDT
Betting Odds: Rebels $1.22, Stormers $4.00
Bobby
Roar Rookie
I wonder what the Rebels FULLBACKS, DHP and Reece Hodge ( and maybe a winger or 2) think about the Folau issue ??????
riddler
Roar Rookie
past 2 games at full back for toomau. last night a bit better, the week before a shocker. they will avoid the drop, just. tpn is copping it from the ex tigers. aus800k a year and can’t hit the the target in the lineout. alot of people are upset at tpn, toomau etc recruitment, huge money and solid, quality players like slater etc had to make way for the monies those guys were on. big changes to come for the tigers in the off season. supposedly the atmosphere was toxic under matt o’connor according to lewis moody.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just over one month until Toomua arrives?
Lara
Guest
So true......should have said misfiring.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I know Wessels loves Meakes, but I think there needs to be some serious questions as to whether he should play 12 longterm. He had a shocker, dropped so many balls. I still think Hodge should be there. Meakes seems a top bloke, but I’m not sure that he has Hodge’s class.
jeznez
Roar Guru
p.s. really felt for Tupou, he showed some excellent glimpses but made some bad errors. There is clearly potential there so hopefully he bounces back.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, Genia cracked under pressure there. Looking forward to see what Wessels does with the team next. He's talking about intensity and complacency but it looked pretty clear that a fast and accurate D-line shut down their flat attack. Was it just resting a few guys? Do Rangi and Philip make that much of a difference? Or are they going to have to grow some additional options?
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Still - don't totally blame Wessels. Cooper and Genia drive this team on the paddock. They have ample experience but showed little of that. You could actually see the pressure particularly on Genia as the game unfolded.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Great comment Thugby, I wonder what impact this game will have on the future of some of these players as they seemed to break down under simple pressure from rushed D and committed tackling? I hope Wessels learns something, but something whispers that he won't!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ruckin Oaf: That has to be down to Wessels. I wonder why Cooper and Genia didn't react after half time when it was obvious Wessels had no solution to the Stormers plan.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Harry: 'Leyds is lethal' There is no substitute for it and when you don't pick young guys you don't get it, unless it is Ben Smith. Talking about speed did you see that young guy with the Crusaders? God! he was quick. I would love to think Australia was looking for out and out speed but it seems to be of little interest in this chapter of Wallaby history.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Bobby: that was one of the most brain dead games of rugby I have seen for a while. Just one off trundling up and nothing smart being done. Add to that all the mistakes and you have a situation that I find hard to swallow. Let's not take anything away the Stormers, their D it was fantastic, but if you just play into their D then it is just hard work but nothing you have to worry about too much. I blame the coach, there seemed to be no changes to tactics made at half time and certainly no plan B. I thought Wessels had potential as a coach but after this, I struggle to see him coaching grade rugby. If he didn't have a team jammed full of good players I wonder how he would go?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Garland? Last test Quade started vs Wales he was MOTM...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Genia a regular culprit. No effort to get into position to make the tackle. Just throwing weak arms out and then no follow up effort. An early 2nd half try really showed it. Genia defending about 10 out basically hides outside the attacker and takes 2 steps to cover the break while Quade sprints from the middle of the fiddle to pressure for a wide try. Genia despite having half as much to run doesn’t even bother.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Genia didn’t go missing. He was prominent all game taking forever at the ruck and throwing terrible passes under no pressure. Quade and the rest of the backs played too flat. Was the cause of most errors they made.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah its only a couple of weeks ago that the Rebels played a very determined Reds. With about 70% possession they only had a couple of penalties. But they were patient, stuck to their guns and wore them down. And made the most of their opportunities. Didn't see a lot of that last night. I wonder if the early Stormers try got them rattled and then it was just catch-up. Either that or the game might be the reality check they needed. But the Rebels have started well, only to have the wheels fall off, before this season.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
And they really seemed to lack a plan 'B' .
James GC
Roar Rookie
Nasirani looked powerful at 8 again I'd hate to say this but part of me hopes either hooper or pocock are injured come World Cup so MC is forced to select a proper 8 that's when he makes his best selections when his first choices are unavailable.
riddler
Roar Rookie
mate i only back oz teams!! i have my blinkers firmly focused on us!! ;)
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Which I think proves your rule.