Author: 22metri

Conor O’Shea and Sergio Parisse are determined to score the first win since 28 February 2015, when Italy beat Scotland at Murrayfield. The task ahead of Wild Boars campaign is very hard. The 2019 edition of the European tournament is shaping up to be one of the tougher ever. Italy’s head coach will continue to inject new blood in the team, with a large number of Treviso players like debutant centre Zanon, winger Sperandio or forwards Ruzza, Pasquali, Negri, Traoré and Ferrari, all under 25 years of age. Embed from Getty Images Veteran captain Parisse will be on the helm for the…

Italy comes short again in a Padua Once again Italy isn’t capable to wrap up a win despite a good effort against the Wallabies. The final score punishes the wild boars’ efforts and isn’t a reflection of the game. Italy out-manned the Wallabies scrum in the crucial moments of the first half when Australia was pushing against their try line, but was let down mainly by the line-out when O’Shea’s men went for the try instead of settle for easy 3 pointers. Two controversial decision by referee Pascal Gauzere saw Italy on the wrong side of the decision and left…

In the first match of the 2018 NRC Season in Ratu, the Fijians showed all their class. In front of a decent crowd, the two teams tried hard to offer some entertainment, but their efforts were hampered by handling errors.  Both teams could not find the decisive opening in-between the opponent’s defensive line. The first half hour passed with a constant litany of errors and ill-discipline that was painful to watch, but in a flash the match changed and the match got finally interesting. Despite a line-up filled with Super Rugby players the Rising weren’t able to contain the flare of the Fijians who…

The minor premier defeated the reigning champions Harlequin in a gutsy Dewar Shield final. Melbourne put up its worst weather serving everything but snow to the teams involved in the grand final day. From sunshine, gusty winds, light rain, torrential downpours, and even hail! Despite the conditions, a fantastic day of finals rugby culminated in a fantastic Dewar Shield Final. The Box Hill Rugby Club has been the home of VRU finals football for some years, hosting teams from around the state.  While we watch the junior grades play their matches, we wait in anticipation for the big one; the…

The Reds’ scrum was crucial the win against the Rebels. The Reds beat the Rebels in Brisbane in a game that will be soon forgotten for the lacklustre level on display. The Rebels needed a win to keep alive their hopes for a first playoff berth in their history, while Reds’ season was long over after a sub-par campaign. As it happened last week versus the Waratahs, the Rebels were their own worst enemy, incapable of capitalising on their possession and with crucial errors that gave the game away. The Reds can thank their incredibly dominant scrum, that earned them 20 points,…

The Rebels will face the Blues in a crucial match Tomorrow’s match between the Blues and the Rebels is one of the most important, if not THE most important for the Rebels season.  Dave Wessels’s team comes from a two games winning streak against the Brumbies and the Sunwolves, not unbeatable opponents, but though they played in the ACT and faced an in-form Japanese side. The trip across the ditch may represent the right push for a historic playoff berth or the virtual end of a none the less positive season. The Form The Melbourne Rebels comprehensively smashed the Sunwolves last week in Melbourne…

On Star Wars Days the Rebels will face the Empire (of Super Rugby) My verskonings aan die lesers van Perth, the pun may sound bitter to yous, not intended. But on a day like that a team called the Rebels cannot inspire anything else then my inner nerd. And yes, the (Western) Force is already in Melbourne, in scores, you are right, I can hear you, it is not Melbournians’ fault, laat ons vriende wees! But tomorrow the red white and blue, will need also the galactic one to defeat the most powerful team of the competition. A team that is…

The Rebels – Brumbies game was preceded by the Vic Masters games at AAMI Park. Sometimes your body tries to tell you that the time has come. It may be a dodgy knee, a broken rib, a torn hammy, or just a scream from all your bones begging you to stop.  Some of us hear that call, take up a block note or a whistle – or both – and stay engaged with the game. Some others not. The latter will find themselves on a rugby pitch trying to defeat injuries and kilograms chasing an oval. They are the one…

For the first time in their history, the Melbourne Rebels won three games in a row The second derby of the season in Melbourne saw the Rebels face the Brumbies. Curiously both teams played the same opponents in the first two matches: Reds and Sunwolves. The Rebels had to make one forced change in the starting XV, with newly appointed captain Adam Coleman not available substituted by Ross Haylett-Petty in the second row and by Tom English as skipper. For the Brumbies the addition was front rower Scott Sio at his first outing of the season. A welcome comeback for…

Two from two for the much improved Melbourne Rebels with an away win in Tokyo versus the Sunwolves An unchanged Rebels outfit flew to Tokyo to play the Sunwolves at Prince Chichibu Stadium. Both teams impressed in their first outing of the season. The Rebels scored an historic win at home versus the Queensland Reds, the Sunwolves were very competitive versus the Brumbies, although they conceded the ACT team the away win. For the Sunwolves the main change was the presence in the starting XV of Brave Blossoms’ Michael Leitch on his first game with the Sunwolves after 3 stellar seasons in…

The Rebels began their Super Rugby campaign in style, thrashing the Queensland Reds 45 – 19. Both teams had a point to prove.  The Rebels, after a horrible 2017 season, had to win back the love and respect of its fans.  The Reds, under the new leadership of Brad Thorn, were desperate to turn around a run of lacklustre performances over the past few years. However tonight, it would be the Rebels fans who would go home smiling after a dominant display. As often in the first match of the season,  there was little rust on a show, with a lot more dropped ball, and moves…

A slow affair at Frankston Park saw the Vikings outmuscle and outscore the Rising six tries to two. The Canberra team was much quicker on the ball and had an instrumental superiority at the scrum in the NRC match between the two teams. The Melbourne Rising weren’t able to capitalise on their territorial possessions in the first half. THE MATCH The first half started with a bang, After just 4 minutes James Dargaville puts the first 5 on the scoreboard with a nice move on the right wing. But the rest of the stanza was a slow paced affair with…

For the Rising in 2017, is it their time to shine? For three years they have had strong squads; a good blend of Super Rugby and local players, moulted together by a talented coaching and support team. In 2014 the Rising dominated the first season of the NRC to reach the finals, winning each match with a bonus point.  They were unexpectedly were beaten by the Perth Spirit, adding another chapter in a great Melbourne  – Perth Rugby rivalry that’s existed for a number of years. In 2015 and 2016, whilst not being as dominant, they made the finals in both seasons.  Whilst competitive, they…

Harlequin complete the perfect season with a 38-20 victory over Melbourne in the grand final. After coming agonizing close to a perfect season in 2016, Harlequin finished undefeated for the entire 2017 to claim the 4th title in 5 years. Harlequin played with far more intensity and looked like the deserved winners.  Melbourne played valiantly and maximised their opportunities to score, including two intercept tries. Melbourne wasn’t helped with the yellow card to number 8 Joe Maiava for a no-arms tackle on Jason Havea.  With the Man down, Harlequins were able to two fairly easy tries. Harlequin controlled the match against…

The final round of the Dewar Shield season is complete, and based on our calculations, we have our four finalists. Harlequins, undefeated all season, sit on top of the ladder and earn a home final this weekend.  They will host Melbourne, in a rematch of the 2016 Grand Final. Box Hill, who finished third, will host the other semi final.  They will host Footscray, who completed a remarkable season and clinched the fourth spot in the finals on the last round. The Bulldogs won their seventh game on the trot to sprint into the finals and boot out the Students,…

Wins to Melbourne Uni and Footscray keep alive the race for the Dewar Shield finals. The Students beat Power House at home by 12 points and secured a much-needed bonus point to remain 3 points clearer of Footscray. The Bulldogs after a shocking start that saw them trail 13-5 at struggling Souths, finished strongly to secure a bonus point 40-18 win. The draw in the final round will favour Footscray, who host Endeavour Hills at home.  The Bulldogs should score a win and push for a bonus point. The Students face a mammoth task as they face an undefeated Harlequins at Ashwood…

In the Dewar Shield Round 16 clash, A determinate dogs outfit outplayed the Students at Henry Turner Reserve.   Melbourne Uni came into the game with a set point to close the race to the playoffs, with three games to play the students were by seven points ahead of the dogs on the ladder, with no other team in contention, a win had sealed the top four. The Dogs, on a three-game winning streak, including an upset win against Box Hill in round 15, were determined to win and give themselves a chance at a finals spot. The game was…

The Melbourne Rebels will host the Argentinian side in the last game of the season. Friday night will be the last time the Rebels will run on the pitch of AAMI Stadium, either for 2017 or for good. In a season that has been distracted enough from the incompetency of the ARU to provide a clear direction to the clubs, let us not lose focus on the most important things of all: the sport we love. The game will be played on Bastille Day, and we all know how it ended up in 1789: a group of Rebels won and nobles’…

Victoria’s premier rugby competition kicks off this weekend. Forget those once noisy cars lapping around the lake for the spoiled rich and the AFL circus.  The eyes of Melbourne will turn to the rugby pitches this weekend. After Friday’s Super Rugby “warm up” the Dewar Shield will finally start on Saturday. After a three years reign, Harlequins were beaten by Melbourne in the 2016 Grand Final.  It was an exciting match that saw the Unicorns prevail in the dying moments of the game. In 2017 the two top clubs will most likely battle again for the title. The reigning champions start their…

Will the return of Super Sefa spark the Rebels? After conceding 71 points to the Hurricanes, and 56 to the Blues, the Rebels had a week rest to learn some kiwi lessons. Resident New Zealanders Jackson Garden-Bachop and Cullum Retallick burned the midnight oil to teach the guys how to say fush and chups, but this doesn’t seem to work. Jokes aside, the situation in Melbourne is not the calmest, to say the least. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, SANZAAR is conducting a strategic review of the super 18 competition.  One consideration is the…