Author: oztimmay

The Sharks have made it two ins on tour, beating the Rebels 37 to 26.   On a sunny day in Ballarat, the Rebels hosted the Sharks in their first game in regional Victoria. The Rebels, coming off a win against the Waratahs, hope to continue their good form.  The Sharks, at the end of a long tour, saw they had a good chance against a REbels outfit without To’omua and Hodge. The Rebels suffered an early blow before kickiff., with Mangay out of the matchday 23.  English started at 13, Strang to the Bench.  Ruan Smith was also a late change,…

The Sunwolves host the Rebels in round one of Super Rugby 2020. After a three-month hiatus, Rugby is back!  We’ve endured the cricket, tennis, and other countless boring summer sports.  Finally, the game we love is back! After a highly successful RWC 2019, I’d assume the Japanese public would be waiting with feverous anticipation for their beloved Sunwolves season to start.  Surely there is a groundswell of national pride in Rugby, and the public is ready to fill the stands. Sadly, no.  For whatever bizarre reason, 2020 is the last howl for Pinging.  We will not see the Sunwolves past…

It’s 5.45pm Friday night, in downtown Sapporo, and I’ve tried 4 bars already. All of the bars are packed with Aussies, English, Tongans & Samoans, but mostly Aussies.  Its hard to make it in the door, let alone acquire a drink, which is never good in tropical conditions.  With google maps in hand and an ever-growing crew of thirsty Rugby fans, we move swiftly through streets surrounded by signs in Japanese, and an odd realization that there isn’t going to be a good resolution to this problem. The World Cup is 36minutes away, it’s getting desperate. We find a pub that opens at…

The Rebels host the Chiefs in a winner-takes-all contest at AMMI Park The equation is simple: the Rebels win and they make the finals.  Lose with a bonus point, and they sweat on other results.  Lose without a point, and it’s probably curtains for the Rebels in 2019. Feels like we’ve been here before, right?  It definitely feels like groundhog day to me.  No doubt we will explore the reasons behind that in the season review, but for now, let’s worry about the game on hand. Form In round 17, the Rebels were outclassed, outgunned, and outplayed by a much…

The Sunwolves host in the Melbourne Rebels in Tokyo this Saturday, in what’s shaping as a crucial match. With four more weeks to go, four teams are still in with a chance to top the Australian conference.  After losing to the Bulls, the Rebels must secure a bonus-point win, if they want a chance to secure a home final.  They must rely on other results going their way. Languishing at the bottom of the table is the Sunwolves; a team that shows flashes of brilliance, but just can’t seem to show and consistency.  They have never defeated the Rebels, but…

The Melbourne Rebels host the Queensland Reds in a battle to decide who will top the Australian conference. The teams met earlier this year, with the Rebels handing the Reds a considerable spanking 32-13. Form The Rebels come off two losses to the Waratahs and Hurricanes.  In both matches, the Rebels played a fabulous 40 minutes of Rugby but somehow forgot that Rugby is an 80-minute game. They started well against the Waratahs, but allowed their opponents to control the game in the second half, and eventually lost by 3 points.  Against the Hurricanes, they were blown off the park in the…

The Cell C Sharks defeated the Melbourne Rebels 28 – 14 in Durban. It was a close first half, with both teams looking dangerous in attack, and scoring plenty of points.  The Sharks dominated the second half, controlling possession and field position, and converting the pressure into points.  Much like last week, the Rebels faded in the second half, unable to crack the Sharks defence. The Rebels again go home empty-handed from a SA tour. The Match First Half The Sharks were on the attack early, putting together sustained phase ball pressure, earning good field position.  From a lineout deep in…

The Melbourne Rebels host the ACT Brumbies at AAMI Park in Round Four of Super Rugby 2019. It’s early in the season, but both teams are already shaping as finals contenders.  Both the Rebels and Brumbies have enjoyed victory both at home and against Kiwi opposition.  Considering our recent track record against Kiwi sides, that’s not a bad start to the season.  This game is a perfect opportunity to set the pace in the Australian conference.  Who wants it more? Form The Rebels sit atop the Australian conference on two wins, with the Brumbies not far behind them.  The teams…

The Melbourne Rising has long been one of the stronger teams in the NRC, relying on the Rebels to provide most of their players.  2017 was a little different, and the results showed, with only one win for the season.  With a new coaching team, and a very strong squad, can the Rising finally take home the magic toast rack in 2018? The Coaching Staff The Rising welcome a new head coach, Eoin Toolan.  He replaces Craig McGrath, who has taken up a coaching role with Honda Heat. He is assisted by Pom Simona, former Harlequins first-grade captain, and now coach. Your…

Super Rugby is over for another year, but there’s been plenty of talking points for Rebels fans.  So, how do you rate the 2018 season? This year, we thought we’d try something different.   We’ve asked all the Melbourne Rebels writers, referred to by Dave Wessels and the “GAGR Melbourne Mafia”, for their view on season 2018.  I’m joined by Go Melbourne Rebels (GMR), Mr Wobbly, Scooter, and 22 Metri (22M). Season Rating: GMR: B Considering the 2017 season, that is a respectable rating, maybe I am allowing too much for that. Based on expectations at the beginning of the season, it perhaps…

Well, it all comes down to this. The Highlanders host the Melbourne Rebels in what’s billed a pivotal match in the Rebels brief history. Never has the Rebels come this close to a spot in the finals. As a devoted fan, I feel our time to play finals ins now. Like a kid on Christmas Eve, I’m all excited. The equation is simple here; win, and they make it into their first ever finals series. Lose, and the Rebels will rely on the Jaguars rolling the Sharks. Depending on results, they could go as high as seventh, which may set…

The Rebels have conquered the Blues at Eden Park, winning 20 – 10. The Rebels controlled the game from the outset; defence was on point all night and scored some lovely team tries.   The Blues had flashes of brilliance, but poor execution cost them dearly at critical points in the match.  I don’t think Tana Umanga will have many dreadlocks by the morning, after ripping most them out in frustration. For context, It’s the first victory by an Australian side at Eden Park since the Brumbies in 2013, and the first win in NZ by an Aussie team since 2015.  That a LONG…

The ACT Brumbies host the Melbourne Rebels in round 13 of Super Rugby 2018. For both teams, the equation is fairly simple; if either team want a chance at finals football, they must win this match. Lose, and the challenge to make the finals will almost be impossible. Form The Rebels come off a humbling 55 – 10 loss to the Crusaders, their worst defeat at the Stockade. Despite the close score at half time, losing Genia to injury was the match killer, with the Crusaders piling on 45 point to zip. It was another case of the Rebels not…

The DHL Stormers have kept the winning home record intact, with a 34 – 18 win over the Melbourne Rebels. Despite the slippery conditions, the Stormers made better use of their pack to set up a four tries to two victory.  The Rebels go home empty handed from the tour to SA. First Half The Rebels were struck by injury before a minute was played.  Jack Maddocks succumbed to an ankle injury, which forced Hodge to fullback, Naivalu to wing, English to outside centre.  Tayler Adams was called onto the bench. Both sides made good field position, only to turn the…

The Bulls have out muscled, and our run the Rebels, with a strong 28 – 10 win. The Bulls dominated the Rebels in the first half, scoring three tries to zip.  The Rebels were much stronger in the second half, and scored a try early after the break, but could not chase down the margin. First Half. The Bulls went on attack, setting up good field position with a scrum close to the line.  The Bulls pack worked the ball up the field, and set good field position for Adriaan Strauss to score the first try.  Pollard converts, scores 7…

The Rebels head to Tokyo for the Round 3 clash against the Sunwolves.    In their last meeting, the Rebels were convincing winners, defeating the Sunwolves 35-9.   This time around, expect a much tougher challenge. The teams After witnessing the record-breaking win last week, you might think that the Rebels team would be unchanged for this week. Wrong.  You are wrong. In a push to avoid complacency, Dave Wessels did not pick a starting 15 on Monday, as most coaches would normally do.  Instead, he ran more training sessions than normal, in an effort to keep pushing the team.  Hang…

OK, time to draw a line in the sand.  There, it’s done. 2017 was a horrible year all round; not just for the Rebels, not just for an Australian team, but for the future of the Super Rugby competition.  The cull was an unmitigated disaster that put fans, players, and the whole game into a state of despair.  The result; a 0-26 record against Kiwi teams,  poor crowd attendance, and sponsors leaving in droves.    If you ever wanted to write a case study on how NOT to have a major change activity, you need to look no further than…

The NSW Country Eagles exacted sweet revenge on the Spirit, with a close 15 to 10 win at Scully Park. On a sunny but windy day, both teams were desperate for the win.  NSW needed the win for an outside shot at finals, while Perth was desperate to maintain a top-four place, and even a home final. The Match The Eagles, with a gale blowing behind their backs, played for territory in the first half.  On the back of a dominant scrum, the Eagles played an entertaining kick and run game, gaining plenty of territory.  The Perth brick wall defence was…

Hello, and welcome to the Melbourne Rebels season review. The Rebel writers are back to share their thoughts on season 2017.  With the culling shenanigans, we’ve delayed our review this year.  However, with NRC about to start, it’s time to share our thoughts. We are all passionate fans of both the Rebels, Rising, and Rugby in general. We’re excited to share our thoughts on what we saw this season. Season 2017, in a nutshell. The end of season 2016 left most Rebels’ fans feeling optimistic about the club’s future. The team recorded seven wins for the second straight year…

Will the Crusaders continue on their merry way, or can the Rebels cause the upset of the season? OK, cards on the table.  I’m an optimist, and I love my Rebels.  Just in case you didn’t know this about me.  So, keep this in mind as you read this preview. Surprisingly, the scorelines in previous outings have been fairly tight, notwithstanding the last match at AMI Stadium.  On past history, you might think the result for this match cold be close.  However, this season tells a different story. If you were looking for a season 2017 team contrast, look no…