Australian conference leaders the Rebels are back at home in Melbourne this weekend where they will host Canberra’s Brumbies.
The Rebels have played the Brumbies 3 times in Super Rugby since 2011 and the Rebels have won 4 matches and lost 9.
There have been no draws between the teams in the 13 matches.
Although the Brumbies have won nine of the previous 13 encounters the Rebels picked up a two-point win in their last meeting in Melbourne
The Rebels will be looking for a third consecutive win for the first time in their Super Rugby history
The Brumbies have won one of their last four Australian derbies; they had previously won 10 such fixtures in succession.
The Brumbies won 13 turnovers in their last start against the Rebels; only twice in the last six seasons have they won more in a single game (14 v Waratahs in Rd 4, 2017 & 14 v Cheetahs in Rd 5, 2016).
- Jack Maddocks has been directly involved in five tries this campaign (3 tries, 2 assists), more than any other player in the competition.
- The Rebels will be looking to break another club record after winning their opening two matches of the season for the first time ever
- Rebels winger Tom English will step in as interim Captain while Adam Coleman recovers from sternum soreness
- The Brumbies welcome back Wallabies prop Scott Sio after a calf strain kept him out of action for the first two weeks
- Coach Dan McKellar has replaced Tom Cusack with flanker Lolo Fakaosilea in the starting XV
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Melbourne for this all-Australian clash.
3.00: The Brumbies win a free-kick, then a penalty, both in the scrum.
4.00: The Brumbies get a penalty for offsides. Tom Banks kicks to the corner.
5.00: Another penalty, Banks kicks to touch.
6.00: The Rebels collapse the maul; four penalties in six minutes. Next infringement will be a card. Brumbies will go for another driving maul.
6.00: Oh dear! The Brumbies were powering to the try-line, but they lose the ball forwards. big let-off for the home team.
8.00: There’s been a bit of ‘afters’ in the game. Lots of niggle between these two.
9.00: A powerful drive ends with the Brumbies going wide. They get three penalty advantages before the ref goes to the pocket.
9.00: YELLOW CARD! Jordan Uelese is sent to the sideline. He was pinged twice for offsides.
9.00: TRY! Chance Peni steps a Dane Haylett-Petty and beats Tom English and Reece Hodge to the corner. 0-5
10.00: MISS! The conversion attempt is wide. 0-5
14.00: It’s all Brumbies at the minute. Another promising move comes to an end with a mistake. Allan Alaalatoa’s pass was forwards. Scrum, Rebels.
16.00: Another knock-on by the visitors. They’ve not made the extra man count. The Rebels have hardly had any territory or possession, either.
18.00: Scuffles breaking out, again. Lots of feeling in this derby. The referee is talking to the skippers and asking for self-control.
19.00: MISS! The Rebels missed the chance to get some points after Hodge’s penalty sails wide. 0-5
24.00: The scrum is reset, three times, eating up nearly four minutes before the Brumbies win the penalty and clear.
26.00: The Rebels get a penalty at the breakdown. Hodge kicks to the corner.
27.00: The Rebels go to the driving maul. And they get another penalty, which they kick to the corner.
28.00: The Brumbies collapse the maul; it should be yellow, but the ref is not going to his pocket. It will be another lineout.
29.00: Wait! The Rebels are opting for a scrum in centre field, five metres out.
29.00: TRY! Amanaki Mafi breaks off the back of the scrum. The No 8 powers through Lachlan McCaffrey and Christian Lealiifano before placing the ball at the base of the right-hand post. 5-5
30.00: CONVERSION! Hodge gives the hosts the lead. 7-5
33.00: Joe Powell’s kick is charged down. Seven phases later, Hodge is in for the score. What a turnaround! 12-5
34.00: CONVERSION! Hodge converts his try. 14-5
39.00: Sefa Naivalu is tackled into touch by Banks; what a tackle! Saved the Brumbies five and keeps them in the game at the break.
40.00: Half-time
The half-time score was Rebels 14 Brumbies 5
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway in Melbourne.
44.00: Another poor pass, this time by Tevita Kuridrani, kills a promising move for the visitors.
50.00: Both teams are starting to empty their benches. The Brumbies keep making silly mistakes which is killing them.
52.00: Hodge charges down Wharenui Hawera’s kick, gathers, but nothing comes of it. The Brumbies have possession and are trying to bash their way out of their half.
55.00: TRY! Henry Speight is in for his sixth try against the Rebels. A great spin move by the winger before powering over the whitewash. 14-10
56.00: MISS! Hawera hits the post. 14-10
58.00: Tom Cusack is penalised for holding. Hodge will attempt a shot at goal from halfway.
59.00: MISS! It is well wide by the centre. 14-10
60.00: The Brumbies are under pressure after having the 22-drop-out charged down. Finally, they clear.
62.00: Will Genia puts the penalty into touch. Brumbies in trouble, here.
62.00: YELLOW CARD! Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin is in the bin for collapsing the maul.
63.00: Big defence by the Brumbies. Mafi is down holding his chest. The visitors did well to not give away another penalty. They have struggled with the Rebels’ driving maul, all night.
64.00: TRY! Hodge in for the double. 19-10
66.00: CONVERSION! Hodge converts his own try and the Rebels lead by two scores. 21-10
67.00: TRY! Jack Maddocks finishes off the Brumbies. Mafi set the play up with an audacious back-door pass. 26-10
68.00: CONVERSION! Hodge goes past 200 points in Super Rugby. 28-10
71.00: TRY! Michael Ruru takes Richard Hardwick’s excellent pass and races away to score in the corner. 33-10
72.00: MISS! Hodge can’t add the extras. 33-10
77.00: The Rebels are almost in for another score. somehow, the Brumbies keep them out and now are on the counter-attack.
80.00: The Brumbies get a penalty and kick to touch. They are trying to deny the Rebels a bonus-point.
81.00: The Rebels win the ball and kick it into the stands for the win.
FULL-TIME
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The final score: Rebels 33 (14) Brumbies 10 (5)
Scorers
Rebels
Tries – Mafi, Hodge (2), Maddocks, Ruru
Pen –
Con – Hodge (4)
Drop –
Cards – Uelese (Yellow, 9′)
Brumbies
Tries – Peni, Speight
Pen –
Con –
Drop –
Cards – Leuluaialii-Makin (Yellow, 62′)
Match Officials
Referee: William Houston
Assistant Ref 1: Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 2: James Leckie
TMO: Ian Smith
Teams
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English (captain), 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Lopeti Timani, 5 Ross Haylett-Petty, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Tetera Faulkner
Replacements: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Colby Fainga’a, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Billy Meakes, 23 Marika Koroibete
Brumbies
15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Chance Peni, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Lolo Fakaosilea, 6 Lachlan McCaffrey, 5 Sam Carter (captain), 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Faalelei Sione, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Andy Muirhead