4. Melbourne Rebels Rising
Inspired and made possible by Reid’s effort last weekend the Rebels managed to knock off the Chiefs last week, by one point in a thriller, keeping their slim but achievable finals hopes alive.
The Rebels have seen a massive improvement in consistency of late with Stirzaker, Jones, McMahon, Timani and Debreczeni continuing to play well week to week and hence improving their representative hopes.
The improvement of their front row and outside backs against the Chiefs as well as Higginbotham’s well-timed equalling of Owen Finigan’s Australian super rugby try scoring record (both sitting on 29) allowed them to cater for the Chiefs. More importantly and ironically though, they again proved Matt Burke consistently incorrect regarding his pre-season prediction of Rebels.
“I just don’t think they have got anything,” Burke said. “They have got some players that can actually add to the game but it is the consistency in among the group that is not there… and I just don’t think they can put anything on the park… They’ll be competitive but they won’t win too many games.”
The Rebels still have a long way to go to make the finals, currently sitting in tenth, but have a game in hand on six of the teams above them.
Below is a video of what was the first points of the games, a 57m monster penalty from Debreczeni. Retrospectively a hugely important kick for their one point victory.
