Rebels 2013

[Scooter]

http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/MatchDay/2013Draw.aspx

The Rebels are playing a trial v Highlanders on Sat 9th Feb at Simonds Stadium, Geelong.

 

[Rob]

Spot on. As for the young one, do you mean PAE? He hardly got any game time in fairness, and was an absolute beast at age group level. Was part of a completely dominant Australian scrum. He's still very young, might just take him some time.

Sorry lads. I am getting my team mixed up. I agree that PAE has alot of potential. I was referring the the young fellow, OH, who joined rebels paying squad temporarily at end of last year but has now gone to the force.

 

[kronic]

I'll be getting back from Adelaide early then on the Saturday.

 

[kronic]

http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/MatchDay/2013Draw.aspx

The Rebels are playing a trial v Highlanders on Sat 9th Feb at Simonds Stadium, Geelong.

Good pick up.

 

[TOCC]

Phipps is one of the best and loudest organisers in Super Rugby. You can hear him from almost anywhere in the stadium. He is also one of the fittest which is reflected by how often he get's himself into position to make a tackle in defence (which he obviously either has to work on or the Rebs need to change their defensive system). Both of these are underrated skills.

One of the best organisers in super rugby??... Big call considering the quality of the opposition and the apparent lack of organization the Rebels have regularly displayed..

 

[KevinO]

http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/MatchDay/2013Draw.aspx

The Rebels are playing a trial v Highlanders on Sat 9th Feb at Simonds Stadium, Geelong.

Hopefully they bring the pitch closer to the sideline if they are only going to open up one side of the stands and not in the center like last year.

Maybe they will be more organised this time round, very surprised they went back here after last year. If I remeber correct people still had not got in by half time...

 

[jermano]

So one trial match vs Tahs in Hobart Feb 2
one vs Highlanders in Geelong Feb 9

does that leave 2?
will one be regional Victoria (Bendigo/Ballarat)?

 

[KevinO]

So one trial match vs Tahs in Hobart Feb 2
one vs Highlanders in Geelong Feb 9

does that leave 2?
will one be regional Victoria (Bendigo/Ballarat)?

I doubt it, they will play the Crusaders in Singapore as well, so that makes 3 and I doubt they will have a fouth game.

 

[en_force_er]

So one trial match vs Tahs in Hobart Feb 2
one vs Highlanders in Geelong Feb 9

does that leave 2?
will one be regional Victoria (Bendigo/Ballarat)?

With the longer season it could leave no more or one. I thought the Rebs were trying to get one off the ground in Hong Kong?

Hopefully they bring the pitch closer to the sideline if they are only going to open up one side of the stands and not in the center like last year.

Maybe they will be more organised this time round, very surprised they went back here after last year. If I remeber correct people still had not got in by half time.

I think the issue is that nobody took into account that Geelong stadium hasn't sold a ticket in years. Plus interest was higher.

The Rebels actually almost always underestimate trail attendance.

 

[kronic]

Only 2 trial games next season.

Melbourne will never host a game again, from what I've been told.

While there was an issue with purchasing tickets, some people should of pre-purchased.

 

[jermano]

Then i will happily go to Geelong on the 9th. Hobart may be a stretch.

 

[blues recovery]

Folks i think the Geelong trial is actually against the Hurricanes and the website is incorrect. Sure it will be corrected very soon.
This years Geelong trial was on a friday afternoon with a 545 kick off . This early kick off on a Friday coupled with better crowd than expected caused the gate problems. The 2013 game is on a Saturday so hopefully wont have the same problem with supporters trying to get down to Geelong after work.
Will only be two trials in 2013 due to the earlier start to Super Rugby to accomodate the Lions tour.
Unlikely club will play future Trial matches at AAMI due to the ridiculously exhorbitant cost of staging matches at the venue.
Unfortunately not really another metropolitan venue suitable. One of the real problems for rugby in the city. We desperately need a home for rugby to host these sorts of matches and club finals etc.

 

[kronic]

Unfortunately not really another metropolitan venue suitable. One of the real problems for rugby in the city. We desperately need a home for rugby to host these sorts of matches and club finals etc.

Lakeside Stadium, home of South Melbourne FC.

I proposed this earlier in the year.

I think the dimensions should be just about right.

Plus, Rugby needs more Souvas.

 

[KevinO]

Lakeside Stadium, home of South Melbourne FC.

I proposed this earlier in the year.

I think the dimensions should be just about right.

Plus, Rugby needs more Souvas.

This would be a good stadium, maybe Vic Rugby and Powerhouse should look at doing a joint venture to have the rights to hold matches on the field. As Powerhouse use the pits as change rooms currently which is not the most suitable walk in boots to the field, also does not allow for bar and food facility's on match day like all other clubs.

 

[Scooter]

Folks i think the Geelong trial is actually against the Hurricanes and the website is incorrect. Sure it will be corrected very soon.
This years Geelong trial was on a friday afternoon with a 545 kick off . This early kick off on a Friday coupled with better crowd than expected caused the gate problems. The 2013 game is on a Saturday so hopefully wont have the same problem with supporters trying to get down to Geelong after work.
Will only be two trials in 2013 due to the earlier start to Super Rugby to accomodate the Lions tour.
Unlikely club will play future Trial matches at AAMI due to the ridiculously exhorbitant cost of staging matches at the venue.
Unfortunately not really another metropolitan venue suitable. One of the real problems for rugby in the city. We desperately need a home for rugby to host these sorts of matches and club finals etc.

They have updated the website for the Hurricanes trial now.

The Chiefs game which was originally TBC is on at AAMI Park on Fri 3 May. So we have 7 Friday night home games and 1 Saturday night game. Not very family friendly.

 

[kronic]

Yep, they can shove all their Friday night games.

Sick of the whole corporate angle they go for.

 

[elementfreak]

Yep, they can shove all their Friday night games.

Sick of the whole corporate angle they go for.

It's not hard to get there before kick off from the suburbs.

 

[jermano]

It's not hard to get there before kick off from the suburbs.

Hardly the point, if you can't make Fridays for whatever reason you miss 7 out of the 8 home games.
As said earlier the Sunday game 2012 had a whole different "Vibe" to it, more families etc. From memory it was Fathers day or close enough to make no difference, I had mates bring their families down as a family pass cost less than 2 adult tickets. That was the one home game they were able to make in 2012. Wont see them for 2013

 

[en_force_er]

In relation to a GF/trial ground, Hawthorn footy club's old ground Glenferrie Oval is without a tentant and could be brought up to scratch... for a fee. Between school and club there's a fair bit of footy played within a 3 suburb radius of that ground.

Obviously South Melbourne would be a more viable ground but it's a mecca for suburban soccer, would they actually loan it to us?

First it's Ireland not Island.

O'Connell is still one of the best second rows in the world still, he would be in the top 3, after all he was the last Lions captain, Munster captain when they won the Heineken Cup in 2008. O'Gara, is the all time points scorer for the Heineken Cup with no one even close to him. O'Gara has 3 Lions tours, that's 1 more than Wilkinson and was named the Heineken Cup player of the decade for the first ten years of the Competition. The only 10 in World Rugby who was better than O'Gara 5 to 7 years ago was Carter.

Well I'll buy into this discussion.

Look, you clearly love Ireland but O'Connel hasn't been in the top 3 locks in the world in a while. Hell, I don't even think he was when he was captain of the Lions (Williams, Thorne, Matfield, Sharpe, Botha, Nalett, etc were all in their prime in 2009). Also, the man's be injured for a large portion of the last season so he's certainly not there now.

As for O'Gara, he was an amazing kicker. At least equal to Wilkinson (in that department). He probably was a better read of the game than Wilkinson as well, though he's not a noted as an attacking player. HOWEVER, Wilkinson is the best defensive 10 ever in World rugby (it's a big call but I'll make it). So they're at least equal (unless you bring personal accolades into the discussion, in which Wilko has a WC). Also, Wilkinson has had maybe the worst luck with injury of any player of his caliber ever so his amount of Lions tours is not indicative of his talents.

Long story short:
O'Connel = best attitude for a lock in world rugby.
O'Gara = best kicking 10 of 5-7 years ago.
BUT neither have ever been amongst the top 3 in their position in the world. Ever.

 

[kronic]

Hardly the point, if you can't make Fridays for whatever reason you miss 7 out of the 8 home games.
As said earlier the Sunday game 2012 had a whole different "Vibe" to it, more families etc. From memory it was Fathers day or close enough to make no difference, I had mates bring their families down as a family pass cost less than 2 adult tickets. That was the one home game they were able to make in 2012. Wont see them for 2013

This and the game is much more than the 80 minutes.

Get to the Swan St precinct 3-4 hours before hand. Have a few brews and socialise with other supporters.