The Lions mauled the Rebels 10-47 at AAMI Park in Melbourne, running in six scores and a penalty try for a comfortable victory.
This was the Lions biggest win against Australian opposition away from home and their seventh straight win – a club record – scoring the most points outside of games in South Africa.
Last year’s runners-up continue to play high tempo rugby; their driving maul is a weapon which the Rebels could not contain.
Their willingness to run from deep and play with the ball in hand, sets them apart from the other South African franchises.
First-half tries from Kwagga Smith, Ross Cronjé and Courtnall Skosan saw the Johannesburg team take a 12-point 7-19 lead into the break.
Tom English scored the Rebels’ first try in 251 minutes to keep the hosts within touching distance.
However, the Lions upped the ante in the second 40, scoring four more tries as they cruised to another win.
The Australians had not scored a try for over two and a half matches and just two in four games as they remain with one win in this year’s campaign.
The Lions were not in control of this fixture despite the close score at half-time. They just did not finish off moves when in good field position.
Their scrum and lineout were dominant and the driving maul is one of the best in Super Rugby.
Hodge added a penalty to reduce the deficit to 10-19 early in the second-half but that was as good as it got for the hosts.
Culum Retallick was sin-binned and during his stay on the sideline, the Lions scored twice, a penalty try – for which he was yellow carded and then Anthony Volmink scored soon after to make it 10-38.
Warren Whiteley scored after the hooter and the Lions had a record win and continue their excellent run since losing in Argentina.
Final score: Rebels 10 (7) Lions 47 (19)
Scorers
Rebels
Tries – English
Pen – Hodge
Con – Hodge
Drop –
Cards – Retallick (Yellow, 62nd minute)
Lions
Tries – A. Smith, Cronje, Skosan, Mahuza, Penalty try, Volmink, Whiteley
Pen –
Con – Jantjies (5)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Assistant Ref 1: Ed Martin
Assistant Ref 2: James Leckie
TMO: Ian Smith
Teams
Melbourne Rebels
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tom English, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a (captain), 6 Hugh Sinclair, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Culum Retallick, 20 Will Miller, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Jack Maddocks
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Anthony Volmink.
