REBELS v HIGHLANDERS - Harlequins RC 5th Feb @6:30pm

[waiopehu oldboy]

"Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has named an extended squad of 28 for the game.

"Kurt Baker, Waiake Naholo, Teihorangi Walden, Jason Emery, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Josh Renton, Elliot Dixon, Shane Christie, Dan Pryor, Tom Franklin, Mark Reddish, Ross Geldenhuys, Ash Dixon, Kane Hames.

"Reserves: Brendon Edmonds, Liam Coltman, Pingi Ta'alapitaga, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Gareth Evans, John Hardie, Nasi Manu, Fumiaki Tanaka"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...lfback-fumiaki-tanaka-returns-for-highlanders

The Clan are my dark horse this year, at least in the NZ conf.

 

[qwerty51]

I was about to ask why the Highlanders have had such an intense pre-season but just realised they got the bye in the first week.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ only them & Crusaders playing 3 trials plus they've arranged a game v the NZ Barbarians for the bye week. I just hope Jamie Joseph knows what he's doing.

 

[oztimmay]

If the Rebels learnt anything from last year it was not to overdo the pre-season. We learnt the hard way. Only two trials this year, but we start away to the 'saders. Not an easy Roadtrip to start with.

 

[elementfreak]

Would prefer the Box Hill Burger.

That's the best thing about GF day! Getting a Box Hill burger after doing a game. Usually I don't want to eat before a game and afterwards they are all gone.

 

[oztimmay]

That's the best thing about GF day! Getting a Box Hill burger after doing a game. Usually I don't want to eat before a game and afterwards they are all gone.

You need to work up Tilly before you hit the pitch. She was always happy to leave a few spare aside for players. I'm surprised the didn't leave stash aside for the refs anyway...

 

[Hawko]

If the Rebels learnt anything from last year it was not to overdo the pre-season. We learnt the hard way. Only two trials this year, but we start away to the 'saders. Not an easy Roadtrip to start with.

If you have to play the Crusaders away then round one is the best time, round two is next best and it gets worse from there.

It was round 18 when the Waratahs had 96 points put on them, and that was in a year when they were good enough to make the semi's. Count yourselves very lucky, the Crusaders usually lose two or three of their first five games no matter who they're playing and then probably one more in the whole season.

The Crusaders will have up to a third of their first choice team unavailable, including Richie and Read. You'll NEVER get a better chance than this and if you think you're not favourites then you have no faith in Tony and the gang.

 

[swingpass]

You'll NEVER get a better chance than this and if you think you're not favourites then you have no faith in Tony and the gang.

yes and after last year yes !

 

[Braveheart81]

I was certainly planning to put a few dollars on the Rebels in round 1. Crusaders should be ripe for the picking as Hawko said. They've had a disappointing preseason and they've got some injury worries.

 

[Tex]

If you have to play the Crusaders away then round one is the best time, round two is next best and it gets worse from there.

It was round 18 when the Waratahs had 96 points put on them, and that was in a year when they were good enough to make the semi's. Count yourselves very lucky, the Crusaders usually lose two or three of their first five games no matter who they're playing and then probably one more in the whole season.

The Crusaders will have up to a third of their first choice team unavailable, including Richie and Read. You'll NEVER get a better chance than this and if you think you're not favourites then you have no faith in Tony and the gang.

Last year was an epic match in Christchurch.

 

[oztimmay]

Last year was an epic match in Christchurch.

Don't you mean 2013? We played them in Round 3 at home last year.

 

[Jimmy C]

I take it by the radio silence from Rebel HQ that there isn't any stream happening tonight?

 

[oztimmay]

10 - 8 to the rebs at quarter time. Lopeti at 5, crumbs at 15, Mikey at 10. Some good breaks but fairly loose match.

 

[oztimmay]

Lineout work looking good

Pity we fucked up the move - obstruction I think.

 

[oztimmay]

Rebels win with a try on the siren to Dom Dom. PAE is currently on crutches, not a good sign. Highlanders defence was immense in the second half, somehow we made it work. Well done lads.

 

[swingpass]

25-24 to Rebels

 

[Wilson]

The more I see the new rebels jersey the more I like it.

 

[Tex]

My thoughts:

• set piece was woeful. Throws askew and stolen, scrum on our feed shaky at best and demolished once
• defence was pretty good. Highlanders picked an overlap well for one of their tries and set up another through excellent support play
• Mikey looked good at 10. Steady pair of hands and the big boot
• Hegarty also good at 15. He has a pretty good step for a skinny little fella
• Placid is electric but hobbled on a sore knee(?) for a while. Couldn't help thinking he'd be a lot faster with lower skin folds. Carrying a lot of chub for an aspiring elite athlete. Sefa on the other wing looked at home and made a huge hit on a runaway flanker
• Lopeti still needs to find a way to make better use of his frame. Such raw power

 

[oztimmay]

I was down under the sticks at the carpark end. From what I saw:

• Overall I thought game play was better in first half. Scrums were marginally better (they had a decent pack) and I thought we were better in broken play. Some nice movements form Mike, Mitch and Dom to move the ball down the ground towards the end of that first quarter.
• Agree with Tex on Lopeti. he's this massive unit and almost seems like he could hit WAY harder in contact. Still, interesting move to see him at Lock. Might explain why we haven't sought another lock.
• Our starting locks need to be Luke and Caydern. They clearly stood out as the better operators on the park tonight. Big Red did some good work at the ruck in attack.
• Lineout throws were terrible. I stood at the end and still saw them wobble. Need to get the timings right on the jump. Guess this is s symptom of a new hooker.
• Scrum in the second half got towelled by a much bigger highlanders pack. Can decide if we had the weaker link or they jsut brought on a whole bunch of strong cattle. We will have to work on this before the 'saders match
• Sefa was great out on the wing. Besides the tackle that Tex talked about he was really good under the high ball and took some nice takes. Didn't see who was on the other wing (placid?) but did a great try saving tackle.
• I don't mind the idea of crumbs at 15 if we can keep that booming boot of mikey mike at 10. He put in some massive kicks and only recall one that went out on the full (think it almost made Gardiners creek).
• Lorenzo giving away a few silly penalties. Hope it's just a small brain fade
• Sean McMahon was a ripper. Menacing when he came on and certainly make his presence known around the ruckbase. Helped sure a number of rucks in the lead-up to Dom's match winner.

Great community atmosphere down there tonight, hope they hold another trial match at a Club ground (only wish it was Box Hill) Can't give a report on the snags as I didn't make it to the Clubrooms. Must admit I didn't even smell 'em cooking.

Any updates on PAE?

 

[KevinO]

• Sexton has to start, stronger at the set piece. His line out and scrum work will be more valuable than Leafa work around the park.
• Locks have to be Jones and Neville, totally agree with Tim, but thought Jones is not hitting as hard as usual, hope it's just rustyness.
• Thought the Defense was pretty good
• Jordy was everywhere when he came on, did a lot of ruck work.
• Rebels went to S@it when they made all the subs at once and took a while to get back into the game.
• Scrum Half, really need to start Burgo, made a massive difference in the last 10 minutes and Stirzaker is just to prone to making stupid mistakes. Would have been penalized a few times if this was a Super Rugby game.
• Higgers is looking like he spent a lot of time in the gym, need him to stay fit all year.

Think it needs to be at Box Hill if they play at local grounds, was a good Atmosphere but you would not fit anymore people in where Box Hill has the Hill for viewing.
Love the new jersey, but got to do something about the numbers, could not read them at all.