After the bye the Rebels were back home for an important match v the Jaguares before heading on their trip to South Africa.
First half
The Jaguares received a wet and windy welcome to Melbourne but amazingly the sun was out come kick off time. The ground staff were using pitch forks to make running repairs to the surface prior to the game.
Jaguares winger Ramiro Moyana made an incisive run for the Jaguares gaining forty metres. The Jaguares were unable to convert three attacking line outs but were dominating possession. After eight minutes Nicolas Sanchez put the Jaguares on the board with a penalty goal.
A nice interchange of passing between Jack Debreczeni and Billy Meakes and a dink over the top saw the Rebels get inside the Jaguares’ 22 for the first time.
Will Genia carved up the Jaguares defense from a line out forty metres out setting up Billy Meakes who scored in the corner. The Rebels scoring with their first opportunity. Jack Debreczeni converted from the sideline to give the Rebels a 7-3 lead.
The Jaguares were penalised when Jack Maddocks was tackled in the air. After receiving another couple of penalties Marika Koroibete came close to scoring in the corner. The Rebels had a penalty advantage and referee Nic Berry gave the Jaguares a warning over their discipline. From the next line out the Rebels spread the ball from one side to the other with Genia, Meakes, Debreczeni and Dane Haylett Petty involved. Marika Koroibete was on the end of it and he went over unopposed. Debreczeni made it 2 from 2 from the tee and the Rebels led 14 – 3.
Anaru Rangi came flying through to smother a kick from Emilliano Boffelli. It looked there could have been some damage to Boffelli’s leg but he actually went off with a cut head.
Nicolas Sanchez dummied and blew through the Rebels defensive line and then put in a chip kick. Dane Haylett-Petty was able to cover up the kick and was taken back into the in goal area. The rain came back around the 30 minute mark.
Jack Maddocks acrobatically tried to keep a ball alive when the Jaguares kicked for touch from a penalty. Unfortunately for the Rebels he threw the ball twenty metres forward to a teammate and the Rebels were penalised for offside. The Jaguares received another penalty but at the attacking lineout the lost the ball for a crooked lineout throw.
Japanese international Amanaki Mafi, as is his want, were making runs like they were going out of fashion.
Nicolas Sanchez set up a line break for the Jaguares and as they were attacking Sebastian Cancelliere dropped the ball cold which brought the first half to an end with the Rebels leading 14 to 3.
Second half
The second half started with a massive collision between Richard Hardwick and Emilliano Boffelli. There was a head clash and Hardwick lay on the ground for a few minutes but was able to walk off the ground with Colby Fainga’a coming onto the field in his place.
The Jaguares continued to mount pressure on the Rebels with another brilliant run from Ramiro Moyano. However, the Jaguares continued to make errors when challenging the Rebels defence.
The Rebels conceded their twelfth penalty when Debreczeni was offside at a line out. Nic Berry then gave Rebels captain Adam Coleman a warning for the Rebels’ discipline. Nicolas Sanchez kicked his second penalty of the game to reduce the Rebels lead to 14 to 6.
A Rebels scrum set play worked to perfection. Amanaki Mafi passed from the base of the scrum to Will Genia who worked across the field to Billy Meakes who threw a sublime pass back to Genia who’s inside pass even though it found Jaguares’ hands ended up with Dane Haylett-Petty to score a try. Genia limped off after the try with what looked like a hamstring. Debreczeni missed the conversion and the Rebels led 19 to 6.
The Jaguares hit back immediately after regaining the kick off, some great passing from the Jaguares with Joaquin Tuculet sending Sebastian Cancelliere over the try line. Sanchez’s conversion made the score to 19-13.
Wonderful play from a scrum by Martin Landajo and Sebastian Canceliere with some wonderful soccer skills gained the Jaguares fifty metres. Tetera Faulkner came in from the side of a maul and was sinbinned for repeated infringements.
With an extra man advantage it didn’t take the Jaguares long to score, with Ramiro Moyano sledge hammering his way through three Rebels defenders to score in the corner. Sanchez’s conversion was unsuccessful leaving the Rebels clinging to a 19-18 lead but still a man down.
The Rebels were able to maintain some possession with Michael Ruru showing composure at the base of the ruck. The Rebels earned a penalty for hands in the ruck but Jack Debreczeni’s penalty attempt hit the woodwork. The Jaguares cleared the ball into touch and then the Rebels earned another penalty from the line out when the Jaguares entered from the side Debreczeni made no mistake with this kick giving the Rebels a 22 – 18 lead.
The Jaguares continued their attacking rugby saw Ramiro Moyano make a dynamic run including tiptoeing down the sideline but the ball was jarred free when Michael Ruru absolutely smashed him.
Marika Koroibete was penalised when he hit Joaquin Tuculet late after he put in a kick. This undisciplined act meant the Jaguares went from kicking from near their defensive 22 to have a line out near their attacking 22. The Rebels defense held strong turning the ball over near their defensive try line.
A charge down on a Michael Ruru kick by Leonardo Senatore, he regathered and after the ball went through the hands with a pass from Guido Petti Pagadizaval and a bat on from Sanchez for a try to Bautista Ezcurra. Sanchez’s conversion saw the Jaguares head into the last 5 minutes with a 25 – 22 lead.
The Rebels continued to attack leading up to the end of game with 35 phases. The Rebels received a penalty at the break down. The Rebels turned down the penalty goal for a draw and went for a scrum. The Rebels were unable to take advantage of the scrum and the Jaguares won 25 – 22.
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The Game Changer
The charge down by Leonardo Senatore to set up the Ezcurra try to give the Jaguares the lead came after the Rebels had weathered a period of ten minutes with one less man with Tetera Faulkner.
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The G&GR MOTM
It was a tight match with no real stand out player. The better players for the Jaguares were Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez and Pablo Matera. The better players for the Rebels were Amanaki Mafi, Will Genia before his injury and Billy Meakes, who was solid in both attack and defence. I will pick Ramiro Moyano for his dynamic running on the wing.
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Wallaby Watch
Will Genia was the standout controlling play and setting up two tries with his incisive runs prior to going off injured. Billy Meakes continues to be solid for the Rebels and wouldn’t let anyone down if picked in a gold jersey. Dane Haylett-Petty had a good comeback game following his concussion.
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The Details
Jaguares 25
Tries: Sebastian Cancelliere, Ramiro Moyana, Bautista Ezcurra
Conversions: Nicolas Sanchez 2
Penalty goals: Nicolas Sanchez 2
Rebels 22
Tries: Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Dane Haylett Petty
Conversions: Jack Debreczeni 2
Penalty goals: Jack Debreczeni 1
Cards & Citings
Yellow card – Tetera Faulkner 56th minute – repeated team infringements
