The second Super Rugby match on Friday in Round 17 is between the Rebels and the Waratahs in Melbourne.
It will be a battle for the top spot in the Australian conference.
The Rebels first ever Super rugby match was in 2011 and was against the Waratahs. They lost 0-43 at home.
- The Rebels have now played the ‘Tahs 14 times and they have won twice.
- The Waratahs have won 12 of their previous 14 games against the Rebels, posting 50+ points in each of their last two meetings.
- Victory for the Rebels in this match would mark their fourth win on the bounce, setting a new record for the club in Super Rugby for most consecutive wins.
- The Waratahs have won 12 of their last 13 away games against their current conference members, posting 50+ points in each of their last two such fixtures.
- New South Wales have gained 493m per game this campaign, more than any other team in the competition.
- Kurtley Beale has won 12 turnovers this season, only one back has won more so far this season (Waisake Naholo – 13).
- The Rebels sit just one point behind the Waratahs who are leading the Australian Conference ladder on 35 points
- The Rebels have made two changes to their starting XV which will see Ben Daley make his 2018 debut and Geoff Parling step in for injured Captain Adam Coleman
- Bernard Foley will Captain the Waratahs while Michael Hooper recovers from injury
- Taqele Naiyaravoro requires just two tries to break Israel Folau’s record (12) for most tries in a season for the Waratahs
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Australia.
2.00: The Rebels start hot; they go nine phases before winning the penalty.
3.00: PENALTY! Reece Hodge gets his side on the board. 3-0
5.00: The Waratahs win the turnover, but make a hash of the counter-attack. Scrum to the Rebels.
6.00: Massive scrum by the ‘Tahs. They win the scrum against the head, and a penalty to set up an attacking lineout inside the Rebels half.
9.00: Big defence from the home team, winning the turnover and allowing them to clear their lines.
13.00: Billy Meakes misses out on an interception, the ball also went through Tom English’s hands. That would have been a runaway score against the run of play.
15.00: Nick Phipps throws a terrible pass, gifting away a good attacking position, and the ball.
16.00: YELLOW CARD! Meakes is called out for a cynical infringement. He is off for ten.
16.00: Cam Clark loses the ball over the line after a big hit from Taqele Naiyaravoro. Clark should have dived for the corner instead of dotting down. Bernard Foley kicks to the corner because the Rebels were pinged for collapsing and so they had an advantage.
18.00: TRY! It was coming. Several phases ended with Phipps switching play, sending a pass to Kurtley Beale. The inside centre raced through a gap made by English shooting the line. Beale then popped to Naiyaravoro, who was in for his 12th score of the season, equaling the missing Israel Folau who is suspended. 3-5
19.00: CONVERSION! Foley adds the extras. 3-7
22.00: Colby Fainga’a breaks in midfield and races into the Waratahs 22. They go 12 phases before Sefa Naivalu is shadowed into touch. Good tackle by Bryce Hegarty.
23.00: The Rebels win a penalty and decide to take a shot at goal.
25.00: MISS! Hodge, replacing the ball after it was blown off, pulls his kick past the left hand upright. 3-7
28.00: Will Miller wins the penalty at the breakdown after Ben Daley found himself isolated.
32.00: PENALTY! Foley slots the kick and extends his side’s lead to seven. 3-10
35.00: Nearing halftime in an entertaining game which is being dominated at the breakdown between Miller, Michael Wells and Geoff Parling.
36.00: TRY! Dane Haylett-Petty takes Meakes’ pass, ghosts through Beale and Curtis Rona and races away to score. It came from a first-phase play lineout. Wonderful attack. 8-10
37.00: CONVERSION! Hodge’s kick sneaks inside the post and the scores are level. 10-all
39.00: TRY! Wow! Miller finishes off a superb attacking move that involved Alex Newsome, Wells and Rona, who stepped out of a tackle to make it a three on two for Newsome on the sideline. 10-15
40.00: CONVERSION! Foley won’t miss from there. 10-17
41.00: Oh dear! Angus Cottrell knocks on with the try-line at his mercy. What an end to the half. Phew!
The halftime score was Rebels 10 Waratahs 17
41.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Melbourne.
43.00: Superb work by Fainga’a at the ruck. His team were under pressure, defending for 15 phases before the flanker saved the day.
44.00: TRY! Dane Haylett-Petty takes the penalty quickly and barges towards the try-line, taking two defenders with him. Michael Ruru picks up and darts over the goal-line for the try. 15-17
45.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good, and we are once again level. 17-all
46.00: Damien Fitzpatrick is pinged for playing the ball on the ground. hodge calls for the tee.
47.00: PENALTY! Hodge gives the Rebels a deserved lead. 20-17
48.00: Schoolboy error by Naivalu. He takes Foley’s clearance-kick, but instead of letting it bounce into touch on the full, the winger takes the ball out and gifts possession back to the Tahs.
50.00: It’s all Rebels. They are offloading like the All Blacks. Sensational offloading between the forwards; Parling, Newsome, Mafi, all involved as the win a 5m scrum on the Waratahs’ try-line.
53.00: Big scrum from the Melbourne pack. Tom Robertson is penalised. His ear looks like it is about to explode. Hodge will take a shot.
54.00: PENALTY! Hodge increases his team’s lead to six. 23-17
57.00: The Rebels have all the momentum and are dominating at the rucks.
58.00: Foley is checked for foul play, but only penalised. It was poor from the TMO and Mafi slipped into the standoff’s hit.
59.00: PENALTY! Hodge extends his side’s lead to two scores. 26-17
61.00: The Rebels defence has been strong, but they’ve had all the ball since the break. They have also kept the last two Aussie teams scoreless in the second-half.
65.00: this game is open. NSW are starting to get a foothold back into this match.
69.00: TRY! Beale’s break set-up the score. After some pick-and-goes on the try-line, Ned Hanigan picked up and bashed his way over. 26-22
71.00: CONVERSION! Foley reduces the Melbourne lead. 26-24
72.00: TRY! Bernard Foley intercepts Billy Meakes’ pass and runs 50 metres to score under the posts. 26-29
74.00: CONVERSION! Foley adds the extras. 26-31
75.00: The rebels have the lineout on the Tahs’ 22. They go to their driving maul and have an advantage.
77.00: Penalty to the Rebels after losing the counter-ruck. Boy, that is lucky. It is right in front of the poles. They might go back to the lineout for a maul.
78.00: Rebels knock on after battering the Waratahs’ line.
80.00: Insane! The Waratahs tried to pick-and-go from their try-line. they went 15 phases and eight metres before giving away a penalty.
81.00: The Rebels botch the attack. The ball is stolen and Beale launches the ball into the stands.
Game over.
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The final score is Rebels 26 (10) Waratahs 31 (17)
Scorers
Rebels
Tries – D. Haylett-Petty, M. Ruru
Pen – Hodge (4)
Con – Hodge (2)
Drop –
Cards – Meakes (Yellow, 16′)
Waratahs
Tries – Naiyaravoro, Miller, Hanigan, Foley
Pen – Foley
Con – Foley (4)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 2: Jordan way
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore
Teams
Rebels
Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English (captain), 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Semisi Tupou
Waratahs: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley (Captain), 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Will Miller, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Alex Newsome.
