Rebels v Waratahs, rd15 SR2013

[daz]

would love to see 15k + at this game. the team deserves it on the back of their recent play.

Might struggle a bit, although I agree that it would be a fitting reward for the boys. From memory our highest attendance this year was 13K-ish. I could be wrong.

Fair to say that the Rebels v B&I Lions game might smash an attendance record or two.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

well i believe its totally sold out so we better see 29,000 plus.

i think you're right for this year. which is too bad as i think last year we hit 18k a couple of times.

 

[oztimmay]

well i believe its totally sold out so we better see 29,000 plus.

i think you're right for this year. which is too bad as i think last year we hit 18k a couple of times.

Yep, fairly sure the Rebels vs BIL tour match is a sell out. Thank you 9-game Rebels membership for helping me avoid more ticket queues. Thought that was a fabulous idea by the Rebels management to sell tickets to the BIL tour match in this way.

Think I better get there early on Friday as I think the place will be chockers. Hoping for a 20K+ crowd at least.

 

[Tex]

Crowds have been consistently shrinking at AAMI which is a shame. The first game against the Tahs had about 26k which was fantastic (pity about the drubbing we received!).

This is where the stadium architects have earned their bonues - 13k at AAMI feels like 30k at the the dome. The acoustics are magnificent and amplify the crowd better than any open stadium i've attended.

Tahs would appear to have more experience and class across the board, but I said the same thing against the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and Stormers. Rebels have their tails up and the home crowd will be baying for blood.

Rebels to win.

 

[KevinO]

This is where the stadium architects have earned their bonues - 13k at AAMI feels like 30k at the the dome. The acoustics are magnificent and amplify the crowd better than any open stadium i've attended.

Second Best I've been to, Dunedin indoor stadium has to be the best I have been to. Ireland v Italy at the World Cup was louder than the Australia v Ireland with 40 000 less fans in the stands.

Have to agree that AAMI has a great noise even when it's only a third full.

Force - 11 902
Brumbies - 12 092
Reds - 13 179
Kings - 10 416
Chiefs - 13 107
Stormers - 10 333

Pretty disappointing not to have reached 15 000 this season. When you look the Rebels properly have about 8000 members.

 

[oztimmay]

Second Best I've been to, Dunedin indoor stadium has to be the best I have been to. Ireland v Italy at the World Cup was louder than the Australia v Ireland with 40 000 less fans in the stands.

Have to agree that AAMI has a great noise even when it's only a third full.

Force - 11 902
Brumbies - 12 092
Reds - 13 179
Kings - 10 416
Chiefs - 13 107
Stormers - 10 333

Pretty disappointing not to have reached 15 000 this season. When you look the Rebels properly have about 8000 members.

The Stadium is certainly terrific place to watch any code of Football. Certainly come a long way since it's opening match (AUS Vs NZ in a RL test) - plumbing hadn't been finished in the roof, massive rain storm, one very soaked League fan. Suffice to say there are no more soakings at AAMI park.

I'm not surprised to see the Chiefs and Brumbies had high numbers numbers. It seems to me whenever a Kiwi team plays AAMI park gets really full. I would have thought the numbers for our Friday fixtures would have been stronger, but I'm not surprised by the numbers for the Kings match either. I wonder if they are considering staging another match on a Sunday afternoon; If I recall the numbers weren't strong but I got to take my son to a Rugby match before a AFL match - not a bad feat for a AFL mad state like this one.

There's one simple fact; more wins are bound to put more bums on seats.

 

[KevinO]

Biggest disappointment was making the Kings game the Saturday night game for the year, fixture like the Tahs, Brumbies, Reds or Chiefs would have suited the Saturday night. Last week was a massive let down by Rebels marketing who had Melbourne to themselves on Friday night with no AFL being played and did not promote the game nearly enough.

Have had the debate about to many Friday games to many times. The Friday we should have played in Melbourne was good Friday, would get a packed house as there is nothing on.

This week there is AFL at the MCG so any one driving good luck with parking.

 

[qwerty51]

Would be great if Fitzy can get back on the park this year, super talent.

 

[fatprop]

Waratahs
1. Benn Robinson
2. John Ulugia
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sitaleki Timani
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dave Dennis (C)
7. Michael Hooper
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Matt Lucas
10. Bernard Foley
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Peter Betham
15. Israel Folau

Reserves:
16. Luke Holmes
17. Paddy Ryan
18. Will Skelton
19. Mitchell Chapman
20. Brendan McKibbin
21. Rob Horne
22. Tom Kingston

Tough on Horne, any word on Crawford?

It appears that McKibbon's goal kicking is surplus to requirements

 

[qwerty51]

Yep pretty much tells you Cheika was only keeping McKibbin around for his goal kicking, now that Barnes is back off you go.

 

[Braveheart81]

Tough on Horne, any word on Crawford?

It appears that McKibbon's goal kicking is surplus to requirements

I imagine Horne will get to play a half. Someone had to sit down for a while.

Lee Grant said Crawford was training but only jogging and not doing contact. It would seem he still has some issues with his cork and wasn't available this week.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yep pretty much tells you Cheika was only keeping McKibbin around for his goal kicking, now that Barnes is back off you go.

I don't know that I agree.

McKibbin had a terrible first half against the Brumbies. Prior to that he had some decent to strong games.

I think having Barnes back makes it easier to drop him but I think Lucas getting a start is a direct result of McKibbin playing poorly against the Brumbies.

 

[JSRF10]

I agree that McKibben is paying for the first half against the Brumbies, he has been decent recently apart form that. I wonder if it is a tweak in the game plan to go wide quickly and try and isolate one on ones against the Rebels back 3? With the passing ability of Lucas, Barnes and Foley we could fizz the ball out to Izzy, Betham and Mitchell quickly and let them test the defensive side of the Rebels back 3.

Horne did fill in a bit today at 12, and I'd say that around the 50 minute mark we'll see Barnes move to 10 and Horne into 12. Foley at times recently has looked tired and could do with a rest.

 

[swingpass]

rebels team

The RaboDirect Rebels team to play the NSW Waratahs for the Weary Dunlop Shield at 7:40pm Friday May 24th at AAMI Park:

1. Nic Henderson
2. Ged Robinson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Hugh Pyle
5. Luke Jones
6. Jarrod Saffy
7. Scott Fuglistaller
8. Scott Higginbotham (C)
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bryce Hegarty
11. Lachlan Mitchell
12. Rory Sidey
13. Mitch Inman
14. Tom English
15. Jason Woodward

16. Shota Horie
17. Paul Alo-Emile
18. Cadeyrn Neville
19. Gareth Delve
20. Nic Stirzaker
21. James Hilgendorf
22. Kimami Sitauti

hilgendorf interesting !

 

[James Buchanan]

Its probably a sensible move, given the Rebels injury situation. Means that they are not relying on Hegarty to play out 80 if he struggles at all in what would be a pretty high pressure and physical game and can replace him with an experienced head. If Hegarty copes then they don't have to use him.

Good to see Jones's good perfomance last week rewarded with a move back into the starting side. Rewarding form like that goes a long way.

 

[KevinO]

Good call bringing Hilgendorf back, his form in SA at the end of last season was good and should have got him another year with the Rebels.

Would have liked to see Sitauti start after his impact last week.

 

[swingpass]

Its probably a sensible move, given the Rebels injury situation. Means that they are not relying on Hegarty to play out 80 if he struggles at all in what would be a pretty high pressure and physical game and can replace him with an experienced head. If Hegarty copes then they don't have to use him.

Good to see Jones's good perfomance last week rewarded with a move back into the starting side. Rewarding form like that goes a long way.

regarding hilgendorf, i agree its a very sensible move. he has played some very good games for the rebs in the past.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Bloody Superbru only let's you pick the tahs by 99!

 

[JSRF10]

Bloody Superbru only let's you pick the tahs by 99!

Kings beat the Rebels 3, Tahs beat the Kings by 62, only logical conclusion can be that Tahs will win by 65 on Friday.

 

[swingpass]

Bloody Superbru only let's you pick the tahs by 99!

Kings beat the Rebels 3, Tahs beat the Kings by 62, only logical conclusion can be that Tahs will win by 65 on Friday.

go ahead make your picks, just means i will go even further up the leaderboard this weekend