Over 5000 in attendance.
One note on the following. That was my first Rebels game so I can't compare to last year.
If games could be sliced into 5 minute compartments and then reset the Rebels would most probably be good. The Chiefs were too big, too organised and two "methodical".
Thoughts on the Rebels:
-Scrum was good to very good. Held their own ball and actually pushed the Chiefs off their own feed twice.
- Lineout went from poor, to diabolical. Gifted the Chiefs a try with a very poor long throw on their own 5 by overthrowing and allowing teh chiefs to stroll in. Apart from that they missed the jumper a number of times, not straight twice and then tried long throws when teh wind was howling and taking the ball to the Chiefs. Tactically poor. They did steal the last lineout so one small positive.
- Mauls. Despite facing a bigger pack the Rebels held the Chiefs reasonably well. The first try was from a pushover after a lineout. The second try came after the Rebels actually held up the maul. The Chiefs were allowed 4 goes at the maul to the bemusement of all including the Touch judge. The subsequent phases ended up in a try out wide.
- Rucks. The Chiefs domnated the breakdown. Bigger bodies, more committed bodies to the breakdown and more support for their own ball. They won a number of turnovers and gave about none back. The Rebels would get 3 or 4 phases OK and then would have no support for the 5th phase no matter if in the middle or out wide. Just poor work rate and lack of communication or commitment or planning to what was going to happen next. Most Rebel attackes broke down this way.
- Defense: despite the score line there were very good patches of defence. The first 10 minutes fo the 3rd quarter the Rebels were camped on their line and just defended it brilliantly and held the Chiefs out. The Chiefs were awarded 4 "penalties" and just pounded away. Finally a Chief went over the top of a ruck as an unbound missile, without the ball, took out the defence and the Chiefs scored. JOC (James O'Connor) put on some brilliant tackles. Johannsen as well though he also got wrong footed once or twice. Apologies for not knowing the winger but the Chiefs went at the Rebels right winger all second half and made yards with ease.
In attack Johansen made one bust, JOC (James O'Connor) made a couple of half busts, Kurtley looked good and that was about all. It was so disjointed. There was poor to middling ball from the breakdown but the passing was so-so. Phipps made a couple of darts and made some inroads. They actually looked best on the counter with Beale coming from deep.
The Chiefs were better, stronger, faster and more cohesive.
An interesting aside was that every 5 or so minutes the Rebels woudl approach the ref and ask "What the Fuck ?" Even the touchie was shaking his head and going "what the fuck ?". and I'll leave it at that.
Any questions, fire away and I'll answer what I can.