Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Rebels make it three from three in Ballarat
By Rebels Media Unit
The RaboDirect Rebels made it three from three in a high-scoring third trial match against Fiji. The 42-27 victory was as hard-fought as the scoreline suggests and ensures the Rebels head into their first clash with Super Rugby opposition next week after a thorough workout.
Five first-half tries from Lachie Mitchell, James Hilgendorf, Stirling Mortlock, Danny Cipriani and Cooper Vuna as well as one in the second term from Heath Tessman accounted for the bulk of the Rebels’ points. Cipriani added five conversions and Hilgendorf one as the Rebels kicked all points on offer.
The match represented another significant achievement for the Rebels, and rugby in Victoria, as 3,445 gave St Patrick’s College a festival atmosphere.
Head Coach Rod Macqueen felt his side had learnt a lot from this hit-out, against a powerful Fiji. “This was the nucleus of a good side here,” Macqueen explained, “and they’ve been training together for quite a while. For instance their set-pieces, the scrums and lineouts were of good quality and that’s what we needed.”
Despite the distance between the sides at the final whistle, it was the Fijians who started brightest. The Pacific Islanders forced a couple of turnovers from early attacking mauls to put the Rebels on immediate notice they would be facing a stiffer challenge than in the previous two trials. The early pressure was rewarded with only three points though as the Rebels fought their way back into the contest.
An opportunistic Lachie Mitchell try started the scoreboard ticking over. The Rebels’ centre caught Fiji off-guard, breaking from a penalty to score in the right corner.
A second Fijian penalty meant there was only a point separating the sides midway through the first half but after Waisea Nailago was yellow-carded for impeding a ruck on quarter time the Rebels made their superior handling skills and extra man count.
First, James Hilgendorf went over in the right corner before Stirling Mortlock marked his Rebels debut by touching down under the posts. The hard work had been done the ever-reliable lineout delivering quick ball to the halfbacks with some quick hands in the midfield creating the opportunity for Mortlock to show his customary power and drive home.
After the game, Mortlock revealed how much he had been looking forward to getting back on the paddock. “I was considerably more nervous than what I would have been for a normal trial, but it was good nervous. It was nice to get back on the horse,” he said.
Setefano Samoca hit back for the Fijians but a brilliant solo try from Danny Cipriani, starting at fullback, and Cooper Vuna’s third-successive try-scoring performance, running in a brilliant sweeping counter attack after great work from the backline down the right ensured the Rebels entered half-time with a healthy 35-13 lead.
After a scrappy opening to the second term, Heath Tessman got the Rebels bandwagon rolling again. After more excellent work from the lineout, Tessman burrowed over from close range.
A second Fijian, Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, took a spell, this time for a dangerous tackle but the expected opening of the floodgates did not eventuate. It was, in fact, Fiji who scored the next two tries, Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu finishing off a sustained period of forward pressure and Apisalome Ratuniyarawa touching down in the left corner to give the final score a fairer reflection of the balance of play throughout the game.
Yellow cards to Chris Slade and Adriu Delai disrupted the flow of the match towards the end as both sides began to tire in the hot conditions.
RaboDirect Rebels
First Half:
13 Nic Henderson, 25 Ged Robinson, 28 Greg Somerville, 3 Adam Byrnes, 22 Kevin O’Neil, 27 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Tom Chamberlain, 9 Gareth Delve, 23 Nick Phipps, 14 James Hilgendorf, 20 Lachlan Mitchell, 31 Cooper Vuna, 21 Stirling Mortlock, 29 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 6 Danny Cipriani
Reserves:
15 Alex Rokobaro, 34 Chris Slade, 11 Sam Latunipulu, 33 Luke Holmes
Second Half:
2 Rodney Blake, 30 Heath Tessman, 32 Laurie Weeks, 4 Al Campbell, 24 Hugh Pyle, 16 Luke Jones, 18 Michael Lipman, 8 Tim Davidson, 17 Richard Kingi, 6 Danny Cipriani, 10 JP Du Plessis, 14 James Hilgendorf, 20 Lachlan Mitchell, 1 Peter Betham, 26 Luke Rooney
Reserves:
15 Alex Rokobaro, 34 Chris Slade, 11 Sam Latunipulu, 33 Luke Holmes
Fiji
1 Ratu Aca Reynold Gavidi Ratuva, 2 Apisalome Waqatabu, 3 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 4 Joeli Kotobalavu, 5 Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, 6 Viliame Veikoso, 7 Waisea Nailago, 8 Setefano Samoca, 9 Kelebi Rokoua Ketedromo, 10 Jimilai Naikadawa, 11 Waisale Nabeka Natuqaqa Misikarou Vatuvoka, 12 Paula Mataniqina Naleweniikataga, 13 Rupeni Nasiga, 14, Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu, 15 Adriu Delai, 16 Ratu Penijamini N Makutu, 17 Iosefo Bele Tabalala, 18 Isoa Donaldson Tora, 19 Ravai Sausau Fatiaki, 20 Isoa Colacola, 21 Josaia Ravulovulo Vakacegu, 22 Malakai Volau, 23 Manoa Satala, 24 Anare Takabakaba Koliavu, 25 Navitalai Naitevui Lilo Bolatagici, 26 Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu, 27 Ratu Taniela Rawaqa Maravunawasawasa, 28 Tevita Cavubati
By Rebels Media Unit
The RaboDirect Rebels made it three from three in a high-scoring third trial match against Fiji. The 42-27 victory was as hard-fought as the scoreline suggests and ensures the Rebels head into their first clash with Super Rugby opposition next week after a thorough workout.
Five first-half tries from Lachie Mitchell, James Hilgendorf, Stirling Mortlock, Danny Cipriani and Cooper Vuna as well as one in the second term from Heath Tessman accounted for the bulk of the Rebels’ points. Cipriani added five conversions and Hilgendorf one as the Rebels kicked all points on offer.
The match represented another significant achievement for the Rebels, and rugby in Victoria, as 3,445 gave St Patrick’s College a festival atmosphere.
Head Coach Rod Macqueen felt his side had learnt a lot from this hit-out, against a powerful Fiji. “This was the nucleus of a good side here,” Macqueen explained, “and they’ve been training together for quite a while. For instance their set-pieces, the scrums and lineouts were of good quality and that’s what we needed.”
Despite the distance between the sides at the final whistle, it was the Fijians who started brightest. The Pacific Islanders forced a couple of turnovers from early attacking mauls to put the Rebels on immediate notice they would be facing a stiffer challenge than in the previous two trials. The early pressure was rewarded with only three points though as the Rebels fought their way back into the contest.
An opportunistic Lachie Mitchell try started the scoreboard ticking over. The Rebels’ centre caught Fiji off-guard, breaking from a penalty to score in the right corner.
A second Fijian penalty meant there was only a point separating the sides midway through the first half but after Waisea Nailago was yellow-carded for impeding a ruck on quarter time the Rebels made their superior handling skills and extra man count.
First, James Hilgendorf went over in the right corner before Stirling Mortlock marked his Rebels debut by touching down under the posts. The hard work had been done the ever-reliable lineout delivering quick ball to the halfbacks with some quick hands in the midfield creating the opportunity for Mortlock to show his customary power and drive home.
After the game, Mortlock revealed how much he had been looking forward to getting back on the paddock. “I was considerably more nervous than what I would have been for a normal trial, but it was good nervous. It was nice to get back on the horse,” he said.
Setefano Samoca hit back for the Fijians but a brilliant solo try from Danny Cipriani, starting at fullback, and Cooper Vuna’s third-successive try-scoring performance, running in a brilliant sweeping counter attack after great work from the backline down the right ensured the Rebels entered half-time with a healthy 35-13 lead.
After a scrappy opening to the second term, Heath Tessman got the Rebels bandwagon rolling again. After more excellent work from the lineout, Tessman burrowed over from close range.
A second Fijian, Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, took a spell, this time for a dangerous tackle but the expected opening of the floodgates did not eventuate. It was, in fact, Fiji who scored the next two tries, Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu finishing off a sustained period of forward pressure and Apisalome Ratuniyarawa touching down in the left corner to give the final score a fairer reflection of the balance of play throughout the game.
Yellow cards to Chris Slade and Adriu Delai disrupted the flow of the match towards the end as both sides began to tire in the hot conditions.
RaboDirect Rebels
First Half:
13 Nic Henderson, 25 Ged Robinson, 28 Greg Somerville, 3 Adam Byrnes, 22 Kevin O’Neil, 27 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Tom Chamberlain, 9 Gareth Delve, 23 Nick Phipps, 14 James Hilgendorf, 20 Lachlan Mitchell, 31 Cooper Vuna, 21 Stirling Mortlock, 29 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 6 Danny Cipriani
Reserves:
15 Alex Rokobaro, 34 Chris Slade, 11 Sam Latunipulu, 33 Luke Holmes
Second Half:
2 Rodney Blake, 30 Heath Tessman, 32 Laurie Weeks, 4 Al Campbell, 24 Hugh Pyle, 16 Luke Jones, 18 Michael Lipman, 8 Tim Davidson, 17 Richard Kingi, 6 Danny Cipriani, 10 JP Du Plessis, 14 James Hilgendorf, 20 Lachlan Mitchell, 1 Peter Betham, 26 Luke Rooney
Reserves:
15 Alex Rokobaro, 34 Chris Slade, 11 Sam Latunipulu, 33 Luke Holmes
Fiji
1 Ratu Aca Reynold Gavidi Ratuva, 2 Apisalome Waqatabu, 3 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 4 Joeli Kotobalavu, 5 Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, 6 Viliame Veikoso, 7 Waisea Nailago, 8 Setefano Samoca, 9 Kelebi Rokoua Ketedromo, 10 Jimilai Naikadawa, 11 Waisale Nabeka Natuqaqa Misikarou Vatuvoka, 12 Paula Mataniqina Naleweniikataga, 13 Rupeni Nasiga, 14, Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu, 15 Adriu Delai, 16 Ratu Penijamini N Makutu, 17 Iosefo Bele Tabalala, 18 Isoa Donaldson Tora, 19 Ravai Sausau Fatiaki, 20 Isoa Colacola, 21 Josaia Ravulovulo Vakacegu, 22 Malakai Volau, 23 Manoa Satala, 24 Anare Takabakaba Koliavu, 25 Navitalai Naitevui Lilo Bolatagici, 26 Seveci Tukamaiwai Sauradu, 27 Ratu Taniela Rawaqa Maravunawasawasa, 28 Tevita Cavubati
