After a slow start the Clan rolled over the Rebels in a 6-try-to-2 encounter at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The Highlanders led 22–6 at half-time before blowing out the final score to 40–18 — and that flattered the defensively poor Rebels.
The opening exchanges left some points on the board with both teams missing penalty shots. Colin Slade, the Highlanders’ fly-half, was off within five minutes, breaking his jaw for the second time this year (the first was in a pre-season trail against the Blues).
By the 20-minute mark both teams had given away opportunities and neither looked settled. Then a Highlanders lineout 10 metres out gave them the perfect attacking platform. A big rolling maul was at first quashed by the Rebels’ tight forwards, but they spun out of trouble and in seconds the Clan’s wunderkind, Adam Thomson, was making room to show the ref where he grounded the ball for their first try.
Fifteen minutes later Ben Smith made a run, stopped by Saffy and Cipriani only two metres out in front of the posts. A couple of passes wide left the Rebels’ retreating defence in tatters and saw openside flanker Alando Soakai crossing in the same spot as Thomson.
At the end of the first half, winger Piutau got around Rodzilla to score in the same corner. Barely a quarter of a beer into the second half Piutau crossed again, after sidestepping some poor Rebels defence. Kade Poki followed in his steps moments later, beating half a dozen Rebels, to notch the Highlanders’ fifth try.
By this stage the 18,000+ strong, usually vibrant crowd was quiet. Rebels fans had to force themselves to cheer on a team that didn’t look like crossing the line, yet alone winning. A try by Huge Piles, who ran a nice line and was given beautiful ball by Gerrard, came against the flow and eased the pain for a moment. Then Adam Thomson racked up his second double in two weeks with a 50-metre run down the wing. He showed blitz, speed and finishing that any international winger would be proud of. With two minutes to go Yoda crossed for a five-pointer, a little less speedily, but it served only to make the scoreline look a tad better.
Few Rebels impressed in this match. The forward pack held their own, without dominating as they have in recent encounters. Vuna managed a nice line-break or two, but there’s no ignoring the fact that all six Highlanders tries were scored on his wing.
Adam Thomson starred as usual for the men from the high country. Robbie Robinson played well by hand, coming on early for the injured Slade. His kicking for the sticks was atrocious: 2 from 6 conversion attempts and 2 from 5 penalty shots.
This result leaves the Rebels in the bottom half of the table, and deservedly so. It also pushes the Highlanders up to third place in the Kiwi conference and fifth overall. The Rebels have a tough road ahead, with the Blues at Eden Park next week followed by the Waratahs in Sydney, and then they host the red-hot Reds. The Highlanders don’t have to leave New Zealand until mid-June, following a few local matches and a bye. However, they have the Crusaders next week, a contest that will reveal the standard they’re really at.
Highlanders 40
Tries: Piutau 2, Thomson 2, Poki, Soakai
Conversions: Robinson 2
Penalties: Robinson 2
Melbourne Rebels 18
Tries: Pyle, Somerville
Conversions: Cipriani 1
Penalties: Cipriani 1
Crowd: 18,739 at AAMI Park
