Scott Higginbotham and the Rebels broke records at AAMI Park in Melbourne as they dominated the visiting Blues at the end of the game.
The Match
The Rebels came out with a lot to play for tonight and they started the game well with fullback Sam Harris scoring his first penalty of the night in the fifth minute.
The Blues dominated the next few minutes for a while before Colby Fainga’a scored a great try on counter-attack. The Blues struck back with one of the set plays of the season, when Francis Saili got a sweet inside pass and made ground before passing wide to winger Melani Nanai, who scored. When Ihaia West converted from the side-line the Blues were back to within a point on the half-hour mark.
Harris increased the lead to four points with another penalty in the 33rd minute. Then in the play of the game, 35 metres out, hooker Pat Leafa took a quick lineout throw to prop Toby Smith. He shrugged off two Blues’ tacklers when he got the ball and bumped off Nanai with a good old-fashioned shoulder charge before diving over to score. The earth shook.
Harris converted for the Rebels to lead 18-7 late in the half, although West kicked a penalty to reduce the lead to eight points points at the break.
It was an exciting session of play. The Blues played the game in Rebels’ territory, had more of the ball and more attacking opportunities; but they lost a couple of lineout throws and turned over the ball seven other times as well.
Half-time score: Rebels 18 – Blues 10.
The second half got off to a flier with the teams trading tries. Reserve scrummie Jamie Gibson-Park snuck over from a goal line ruck in the 48th minute for the Blues—and three minutes later the Rebels’ no.8 and skipper, Scott Higginbotham, picked the ball up from a tackle ten metres out and beat three defenders to score. Rebels 25 – Blues 17.
When Higginbotham scored he became the all-time leading forward try scorer in Super Rugby, beating the record of Owen Finegan.
Harris kicked another penalty in the 57th minute to extend the lead to 11 points. Both teams continued to attack and the Blues were rewarded for their continued pressure when Moala scored in the 66th minute, bashing his way over after a five-metre scrum.
Once again it didn’t take the Rebels long to strike back with winger Dom Shipperly scoring off a Scott Higginbotham knock-back on the kick off. This turned out to be was the final nail in the coffin for the Blues as the Rebels had a 13 point lead at 35-22 and started to really throw the ball around.
The Rebels crossed one more time in the 78th minute with Debreczeni scored an easy try to finish off a great night for the Melbourne Rebels.
Final score: Rebels 42 – Blues 22.
Scott Higginbotham – record breaker
To all that talk about scoring points I need to add a mention of the Rebels’ defence. Even though the Blues scored 22 points the Rebels defensive effort was the best I have seen from a Rebels’ side. They made 109 tackles tonight, completing them at 89%, and forced 19 turnovers.
At times the Blues struggled to break the advantage line for long periods. The Rebels back row is performing as one, and the engine room is supporting them well.
Some other records:
1st time the Rebels have won against three Kiwi opponents in the same season
1st time the Rebels have won six games in a season
1st time this season fellow Rebels’ writer OzTimmay has lost his voice.
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The Game Changer
At 68 minutes Debreczeni hoisted a high restart kick which the Blues missed.
It gave enough time for Higginbotham to get behind the Blues and knock the ball back for Shipperley to pick the ball up on the bounce and hare away to score.
The Blues had worked hard for their their try minutes before but the Rebels scored from the kick-off.
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The G&GR MOTM
Francis Saili played well for the Blues in a lost cause.
A lot of Rebels players put their hands up tonight: Jones, Colby, Smith and Higginbotham were all good.
But the GAGR MOTM goes to Jordy Reid for the second week in row.
Jordy had a whopping 22 tackles, 8 Runs for 33 Meters and about 5 pilfers.
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Wallaby watch
Luke Jones continues to impress. Cheika has to be looking closely at all the Rebels back row in recent weeks.
Toby Smith was outstanding: how often do you see a prop score from 40 meters out? Mr Consistent is now doing the flashy stuff to get noticed as well.
Higginbotham is slowly finding the form of a couple of years ago.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]Rebels – 42
Tries: C. Fainga’a, S. Higginbotham, T. Smith, D. Shipperley, J.Debreczeni
Conversions: S. Harris 4
Penalties: S Harris 3[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Blues – 22
Tries: M. Nanai, J. Gibson-Park, G. Moala
Conversions: I. West 2
Penalty: I. West [/one_half]
Cards & citings
None
