Melbourne’s Rebels have played the Chiefs five times and won just one match. That victory for the Rebels was in 2015 and was at their Melbourne home AAMI Park. That match was won 16-15 by the Rebels.
While the Chiefs lead the Super Rugby standings this season the Rebels are in last place.
The Rebels have made four changes to the side that were defeated by the Hurricanes in Wellington two weeks ago, with home-grown prop Fereati Sa’aga to be given his run-on debut.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
BEEP! After a short hold up we are underway in Melbourne.
3.00: PENALTY! Reece Hodge lines up a shot at goal from his 40m.
4.00: It’s wide. The Chiefs have the 22 drop out.
7.00: A little bit scrappy. The Rebels, letting the Chiefs attack them, concede a penalty.
8.00: McKenzie will have a shot…and misses. The scores are still level.
10.00: The teams are struggling to get into their groove.
12.00: The Chiefs are on the attack after the game’s first bit of excellence. The Rebels were on the front foot but, turnover ball sees the visitors clear their lines. Phew.
15.00: PENALTY! Some scuffles break out. The forwards are in a battle royale. Hodge will have another shot at goal.
17.00: It’s no good. Hodge has left his kicking boots in the change room. This time he kicks high and to the left of the posts, the groans of the home support ring round the ground. Still scoreless.
19.00: Another PENALTY! Referee Federico Anselmi has to speak to the Chiefs’ skipper. Hodge will attempt his third penalty of the night.
20.00: Oh dear. Hodge has missed, again. All three penalties have been kickable and at this level, against high calibre opposition, missing will prove costly.
22.00: The Chiefs almost make the home team pay. A miracle ball sends the visitors on an attack deep inside Rebels territory. The ref consults the TMO.
22.00: Tom English stripped the ball but his good work is undone as the loose ball is picked up by Dominic Bird who scores from close range.
23.00: McKenzie adds the two.
25.00: TRY!? The ref goes to the TMO for a foot in touch from Shaun Stevenson. Good call as the fullback is clearly in touch. NO TRY! Lineout around halfway to theRebelss.
28.00: PENALTY! YELLOW CARD! The Chiefs have Liam Messam sent to the bin for leaving his feet at the ruck. Hodge slots the penalty.
30.00: Aaron Cruden kicks a penalty to touch; chiefs have the ball inside the 22.
31.00: Scrum to the Rebels after a handling error relieves pressure.
34.00: The Rebels are holding their own but another knock on in an attacking position gifts the ball to the chiefs.
37.oo: Penalty to the Chiefs. They kick to touch and start a move in midfield. Messam is ready to enter the field.
38.00: Stephen Donald drops a pass into touch and the Rebels will have a chance to end the half strongly.
39.00: The Chiefs’ rush defence is causing the home side issues.
40.00: The siren sounds with one last opportunity for the Rebels. They attack from a scrum but knock on.
The halftime score is Rebels 3 Chiefs 7
The Rebels will be happy with the overall display in the first period but might rue Hodge’s inaccuracy from the kicking tee.
BEEP! The Second half is off and running. Tawera Kerr-Barlow has changed his jersey to No 25 – his previous one was covered in blood.
43.00: TRY! The Rebels score after a wonderful backline move sees Marika Koroibete get his first Super rugby try.
44.00: Excellent hands and an inside ball releases Garden-Bachop who throws it out to the winger who takes his try brilliantly. 8-7 after the conversion is missed.
45.00: TRY? McKenzie scores after a quick lineout inside the Rebels 22. Mr Anselmi is checking with TMO Damien Mitchelmore. Checking if Shaun Stevenson is in touch as well as a knock on.
45.00: Some confusion. “White player in touch,” says Mr Anselmi. OH NO! He’s penalised the Rebels for a shoulder charge. Nic Stirzaker complains to the ref. McKenzie will kick at goal.
47.00: The crowd roars as the kick goes wide. Replays show a shove but it happened outside the field of play. Phil Kearns calls it “absurd!”
49.00: The ref stops play for another conference with the captains about ill-discipline.
52.00: Colby Fainga’a is having a blinder. The openside saves his team at the breakdown with another steal. Jackson Garden-Bachop will have a shot from in front.
53.00: It’s good. Garden-Bachop extends the lead to four.
56.00: Another stoppage. Checking for a tip-tackle on Sefa Naivalu from Solomon Alaimalo.
57.00: YELLOW CARD! The debutant Alaimalo goes in the bin. It’s 15 v 14 again.
59.00: Big scrum from the Chiefs. Rebels take quick lineout and attack.
60.00: PENALTY! chiefs kick to corner and have a lineout drive going.
62.00: Sefa Naivalu attempts a kick-chase but it’s out on the full. Chiefs get lineout inside Rebels territory.
64.00: Tyrel Lomax is warned for a second penalty, this time taking out a player after the ball was released. Late hit. “No more,” says the ref.
65.00: Chiefs attack deep inside the 22 but lose it forward. Ben Meehan clears. Teams making some changes.
67.00: TRY! A seven-man lineout and the Chiefs go to the back, set up a maul. Hika Elliot takes the ball but shifts it to Brodie Retallick to score. The Rebels’ resistance is finally broken.
68.00: McKenzie adds the extras.
70.00: Johnny Faauli races up but is pinged for not using his arms in the tackle. Penalty from around 35 metres but it is in front, slightly to the right.
71.00: It’s good from Garden-Bachop and it’s a tied game.
72.00: Shaun Stevenson is down with what looks to be a hamstring. Trainer is giving it some work.
73.00: PENALTY! McKenzie will take a shot.
74.00: The fullback makes no mistake, slotting from in front with his third kick of the night.
77.00: TRY! Chiefs score from a driving maul. Sam Cane is helped over the whitewash by two team-mates. The conversion hits the uprights from close range.
80.00: TRY! Another. Game over. Shaun Stevenson scores after a break away inside their half. Brodie Retallick set the move in motion, keeping the ball alive. Bonus point secured as well.
The final score is Rebels 14 (3) Chiefs 27 (7)
Scorers
Rebels
Tries – Koroibete
Pen – Garden-Bachop (3)
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Chiefs
Tries – Bird, Retallick, Cane, Stevenson
Pen – McKenzie
Con – McKenzie (2)
Drop –
Cards – Yellow (Messam, 28th minute), (Alaimalo, 57th minute)
Match Officials
Referee: Federico Anselmi
Assistant Ref 1: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant Ref 2: Graham Cooper
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore
Teams
Melbourne Rebels
15 Jack Debreczeni, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tom English, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Fereti Sa’aga.
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Murray Douglas^*, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Sione Tuipulotu, 23 Ben Volavola.
^Super Rugby debut
*Rebels debut
Chiefs
15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 Solomon Alaimalo**, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Sabastian Siataga, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 23 Johnny Faauli.
**denotes Super Rugby debut
