The Melbourne Rebels have played the NSW Waratahs 18 times in Super Rugby since 2011, the Rebels have only won three matches and lost 15 times.
The Rebels’ three wins give them a record of winning 17% of their matches against the Waratahs regardless of venue.
- Melbourne have won their last two Super Rugby games against the Waratahs after having won only two of their first 17 encounters in the competition (L15).
- The Rebels have not conceded more than 20 points in any of their last five Super Rugby games; it’s their longest ever streak of restricting their opponents to 20 points or fewer and more times than their 16 games.
- The Rebels (86%) boast the highest lineout success rate of any team in Super Rugby AU; however, the NSW has stolen 19 lineouts this campaign – nearly twice as many as any other team.
- NSW Waratahs’ Will Harrison (91%; 31/34) and Rebels’ Matt Toomua (85%; 23/27) are the two most accurate goalkickers after the opening eight rounds of Super Rugby AU.
- Tom Horton (Waratahs) has crossed the gain line with 78% of his 27 total carries in Super Rugby AU, the highest percentage of any player to have made at least 10 carries this campaign.
We are waiting for the kick-off.
In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Sydney. Reece Hodge took a knock in the warm-ups and is walking very gingerly.
2.00: Rebels win the first scrum-penalty, but nothing comes from the next attack; however, NSW is caught offsides.
4.00: PENALTY! Matt To’omua opens the scoring with a clean strike. 3-0
5.00: The ref is playing advantage but nothing comes from it, so Will Harrison will kick to the corner.
7.00: TRY! Jake Gordon picks up the ball at the base of the ruck, sees a gap, and darts under the posts from close range. 3-5
8.00: CONVERSION! Harrison adds the extras. 3-7
9.00: A scuffle breaks out after the Rebels win a penalty.
10.00: MISS! To’omua’s kick hits the post and bounces out. 3-7
13.00: Both packs taking a while to set the scrums. Now we have a couple of resets.
14.00: Gordon knocks-on trying to win the ball from his opposite number Frank Lomani.
16.00: It’s reset after reset at Leichhardt Oval.
18.00: Jack Maddocks cleans up the bouncing ball before bashing a big kick into the Rebels’ half. Maddocks chased his kick, and the Waratahs won the penalty at the ruck. Harrison kicks to the corner.
19.00: A great offload by Gordon to Michael Hooper is forward after a well-worked middle-of-the-lineout move.
23.00: TRY! Jack Dempsey scores between the sticks after catching the Rebels napping at the breakdown. 3-12
23.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 3-14
25.00: Andrew Kellaway’s big kick lands on the line and is brought back to his 22.
27.00: The Waratahs botch the lineout; it looked like a mix-up between the lifters and jumpers.
28.00: Tom Robertson gives away a free-kick after an early engagement. The Rebels opt for another scrum, looking to milk a penalty.
29.00: A break by the Rebels from deep ends when Lomani loses control of possession at the breakdown.
30.00: The Waratahs run from their 22. James Ramm boots the ball into the Rebels’ 22 and the ball bounces off Toomua and into touch for a Tahs’ throw.
32.00: The Waratahs should have scored after being camped on the Rebels’ line. The forwards battered away at the line, but knock-on trying to barge their way over. That’s a big let-off by for Dave Wessels’ side.
33.00: Good work by the Rebels to win the first lineout steal of the game. It allows them to clear their lines.
35.00: The Rebels have a good chance before the break to reduce the gap. They go to their driving maul after Isi Naisarani won a penalty.
36.00: Another penalty is kicked to the corner.
37.00: YELLOW CARD! Ned Hanigan goes to the bin for a toting-up offence. 3-14
37.00: TRY! To’omua runs a brave line and bashes through two defenders to score. 8-14
39.00: CONVERSION! The centre brings up his 100 points for the Rebels with the conversion. 10-14
42.00: PENALTY! Harrison extends the lead to seven points after the hooter. 10-17
The halftime score was Rebels 10 Waratahs 17
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway in Sydney.
43.00: Melbourne has started well, here. They are going through the phases, keeping patient while looking for the opening.
45.00: Marika Koroibete combines with Campbell Magnay, but after 11 phases the attack ends, although, the Rebels had the penalty-advantage and kick to the corner.
46.00: TRY! Naisarani crashes over from the rolling maul – easy as you like and well deserved for the hosts.
47.00: CONVERSION! To’omua levels. 17-17
49.00: TRY! The Waratahs hit back immediately! Harry Johnson-Holmes worms his way over the chalk from close range. 17-22
50.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 17-24
54.00: The Rebels win a lineout steal but immediately lose possession in contact. Penney’s team is awarded another set of penalties, and the ref gives To’omua a final warning.
57.00: TRY! Joey Walton takes Hooper’s deft pass and races away under the poles. Hooper danced through a defender before giving another the “eyes”. 17-29
58.00: CONVERSION! Another easy two for the flyhalf. 17-31
61.00: Superb work from Hooper and Robbie able to win the penalty near their goal-line. Harrison clears but does not find touch after Hodge keeps the ball in play.
62.00: TRY! Incredible from the Rebels, who have scored from the misplaced penalty-kick. Hodge kept the ball in play and Melbourne counter-attacked. To’omua sent Koroibete away in the corner, his momentum carrying the big winger over. 22-31
64.00: CONVERSION! To’omua’s touchline conversion is good. 24-31
67.00: NO TRY! Maddocks is held up over the line. 24-31
71.00: TRY! Naisarani crashes over after Billy Meakes goes close. The No 8 goes through a couple of defenders to score. 29-31
72.00: MISS! TO’OMUA misses his first kick of the evening. 29-31
74.00: TRY! Harrison scores under the poles after collecting Hooper’s charge-down – game over! 29-36
75.00: CONVERSION! Harrison adds the extras. 29-38
77.00: PENALTY! TO’OMUA kicks a penalty to make it a one-score game. 32-38
79.00: The Tahs win a scrum-penalty with seconds remaining on the clock.
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The final score is Rebels 32 (10) Waratahs 38 (17)
Scorers
Rebels
Tries – To’omua, Naisarani (2), Koroibete
Pen – To’omua (2)
Con – To’omua (3)
Drop –
Cards –
Waratahs
Tries – Gordon, Dempsey, Johnson-Holmes, Walton, Harrison
Pen – Harrison
Con – Harrison (5)
Drop –
Cards – Hanigan (Yellow, 37′)
Match Officials
Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 1: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 2: Amy Perrett
TMO: James Leckie
Teams
Rebels
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Matt Toomua (captain), 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Andrew Deegan, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Michael Wells, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Cameron Orr
Replacements: 16 Efitusi Ma’afu, 17 Cabous Eloff, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Billy Meakes. 23 Tom Pincus
Waratahs
15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Angus Bell, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Harris, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Nick Malouf
