Author: Tex
Now that all the hyperbole about the Rebels being this year’s finals smokey has been blasted into hyperspace, we can settle down and enjoy two middling teams go at each other, free from the encumbrances of performance expectations and prepared to play with risk. Right? Form and teams First, the Bulls. They’re at the end of a long month of touring New Zealand and Australia and the results haven’t been great. They’ve been beaten by the shambolic Blues, the Chiefs and the Brumbies. The boys from Pretoria must be missing home by now, and this final match in a frigid…
The Rebels will be looking to notch their sixth win for the season against a misfiring Blues outfit. The Rebels enter Friday’s match as lukewarm favourites. Some pundits have had the cojones to suggest that us Mexicans might be smokeys to make the finals. Others, on an unnamed Australian general sports blog, have gone further and suggested “Rebels could win this year’s SuperRugby tournament”. While I like a joke and gag as much as the next bloke, experience has taught me that placing any sort of positive expectation on a hot/cold team like the Rebels is fraught with danger. The…
The Lions entered tonight’s match after a shellacking in Christchurch, hoping to end their tour on a high. The Rebels were looking to open their account at AAMI Park in 2015. The match. The Rebels dominated proceedings from the get-go, breaking the line and recycling quickly through excellent service from Nic Stirzaker. Well organized in attack and defence, they scored easily and forced many turnovers on the odd occasion the Lions managed to play with the ball in hand. After a soft yellow card to the Lions’ Mostert for cynical play, the match looked like it was the Rebels’ to…
The Rebels returned home from their first overseas win, against the Crusaders, 2014 Super Rugby finalists, and were determined to knock off last year’s champions, the Waratahs, as well. The visitors were embarrassed in Sydney last week by a tough Western Force outfit and had to get their season going. Waratahs 38 – Rebels 28 The pitch was in brilliant condition from being prepared for the Asian Cup football matches but the humidity did not help the ball handling of either side. First Half A ruck penalty against the Rebels allowed Foley to open an early lead in the 4th…
Written off by most as spoon contenders, the Rebels stamped their claim on season 2015, registering their maiden overseas victory against the always-strong Crusaders. Rebels 20 – Crusaders 10 Canny pundits saw the slow-starting Crusaders as a ripe target for the underdogs and the Rebels delivered on their preseason promise. Memories of 2014’s unfulfilled start still linger, but your slightly refreshed correspondent is feeding the flames of optimism after a solid team performance. First Half The first half was balanced, with both teams matching each other in general play. Rebel tyro Nic Stirzaker grabbed himself an early yellow with an…
The Rebels were wholly disappointing in 2014. Will a second year under Tony McGahan yield any improvements? 2014 recap 2014 started positively with strong pre-season performances followed by a trouncing of the Cheetahs in Melbourne. From there it was a litany of disappointments, with close losses compounded by regular on-field brain fades. While the Rebels had few shining lights to turn to, the Melbourne Rising in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship lit up the competition with a string of mercy rule victories at home and away. Young guns Sean McMahon and Jack Debreczeni came into their own, with McMahon being…