Rebels punish bumbling Blues

Rebels punish bumbling Blues

5 Apr 2012

JON CARDINELLI reports on the Rebels’ 34-23 win against a hapless Blues outfit on Friday.

It was fitting that the Rebels scored a seven-pointer on the hooter, because the Blues didn’t deserve a bonus point. They were outplayed at the collisions on this occasion and their lack of leadership, synergy and unity continues to hamper their performances.

They were on top for much of the first half, although the half-time scoreline won’t reflect the fact. With Tony Woodcock back, the Blues pack had the Rebels on the rack, and if not for some schoolboy handling errors the visitors may have earned more than nine first-half points.

The Rebels hung on during the early stages. Their defence did an admirable job, and it was on the back of a determined defensive effort they Kurtley Beale snatched an 80-metre intercept try. Their forwards continued to beat the Blues to the breakdowns, and their defence swallowed up Blues ball-carriers who were guilty of standing far too flat.

The pressure applied by the Rebels often forced the Blues to make poor decisions which inevitably led to turnovers and lost possessions. The Blues took the lead through some smart handling at the start of the second stanza, but this was rare example of the visitors’ ability to string several passes together or indeed show any kind of synergy.

Jarrod Saffy had an outstanding game on defence and at the breakdown, while James O’Connor exposed some tired and patently disinterested Blues defence. O’Connor scored 23 points on the night, and aside from an important goal-kicking display, his surges with ball in hand allowed the Rebels to cross the gainline regularly.

The performance will serve as confirmation that the once mighty Blues have hit rock bottom. They continue to struggle at the lineout while their overall forward play hasn’t been up to standard.

They will argue that the loss of All Blacks Anthony Boric, Jerome Kaino and Daniel Braid has impacted on their forward effort, but there just doesn’t seem to be much direction in their game nor the necessary leadership when the game is tight.

The Rebels deserve credit for what is a valuable, and rare, win. They were always going to be tough to beat in Melbourne, but they will need to start beating sides away from home if they want to be taken seriously in this competition.


164 Comments

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  • 1.cane: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:09 am

    Blues will massacre the Rebel Dragons.

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:12 am

    Cmon Rebels. O Connor and Beale to add the Orange Spark needed to ignite this team.

  • 3.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:14 am

    Is this on today?

  • 4.cane: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:20 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-3:

    yes.

  • 5.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:27 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-3: A first for Superugby.

  • 6.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:29 am

    Is it Friday?

    What’s going on?

  • 7.Rage: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:32 am

    @ Sasuke & Dawn
    Im just as confused

  • 8.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:37 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-6: Its like a friday dawn because tomorrow isnt work. They are taking advantage of the Holiday tomorrow.
    Just be happy there is some rugby to look forward to today!

  • 9.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:40 am

    Go Blues!!

    Rip these Aussies apart please.

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:42 am

    Cmon Rebels!

  • 11.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:43 am

    Yes great start boys!

  • 12.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:53 am

    Im going for a rebels win!

  • 13.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:55 am

    Oh Yes Amy Beale!! That is Supersport and Fox fantasy points! This is going to be a good weekend!

  • 14.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 11:57 am

    @THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-12: Me to but only by 3 points I am not that confident in them.

  • 15.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:01 pm

    Yes boys keep piling on the pressure.

  • 16.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:02 pm

    Yeah i also have them close… I think the Blurs are rubbish at the moment and really dont know how the Bulls lost to them…

  • 17.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:03 pm

    This is not a good start, I had the Blues to win.

  • 18.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:05 pm

    No Live commentary?

  • 19.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:06 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-17: Game is far from over? It was 12-0 nil to Rebels last week, we all know how that turned out…

  • 20.Kea-Cat: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:07 pm

    The rugby is *****, but the shytest of them all is the ref, Bryce the d##s.

  • 21.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:08 pm

    @THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-16: True.

  • 22.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:09 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-17: @Bagel(Bagel)-19: I am hoping the rebels can hold out this week.

  • 23.Nils: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:11 pm

    Lam to the slaughter.

  • 24.Vetkoek: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:11 pm

    Bryce Lawrence has a real colgate smile. Such nice white teeth.

  • 25.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:12 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-23: lol

    @Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-24: Thats what he uses to hypnotize the Sanzar officials!

  • 26.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:13 pm

    @Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-24: Sal nog beter lyk met n straight left

  • 27.cane: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:14 pm

    @Kea-Cat(KEA)-20:

    That’s Sir Bryce to you……………………………………………………….. New Zealander Of The Year 2011.

  • 28.Vetkoek: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:14 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-25:

    Still can’t shake the belief that I’d take great pleasure in knocking them down his throat though. Give that whiney little dingo voice of his a more manly edge.

  • 29.Vetkoek: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:15 pm

    @KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-26:

    stem heeltemal sam

  • 30.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:16 pm

    @Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-28: lol Brutal

  • 31.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:19 pm

    Jy Rebels watch out the Blues are edging back into this game.

  • 32.Vetkoek: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:20 pm

    There’s more fumbling in this game than there is at a standard 7 dukskou.

  • 33.Nils: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:22 pm

    Ranger is strong though, it takes 3 men and additional one with an axe to bring him down.

  • 34.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:22 pm

    @Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-28: Pis hom net nat voor jy hom moer dat hy soos n man ruik anders voel dit of jy n vrou donner

  • 35.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:26 pm

    Cmon Rebels… they will lose though. It’s been a comeback Super 15.

  • 36.Kea-Cat: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:28 pm

    @cane(cane)-27: Not such a great achievment beeing knighted in NZ, considering the previous person was Tiger Woods’ caddy.

  • 37.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:28 pm

    OK so the Blues are close to level.

    Let’s go guys. Battle of the bottom teams, I wouldn’t care except I need the ‘Bru points.

  • 38.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:29 pm

    Now I know how Tacitus feels when he watches, well, anything that doesn’t have the Bulls in it.

  • 39.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:32 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-38: lol

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-37: Cmon on Rebels keep it up.

  • 40.Nils: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:33 pm

    In cutthroat business toruneys like NHL pats lams of this world are fired on the spot, once their team is clearly rotting. “Potential conference winners” look by far the worst of the lot and can be out of business today already – and they haven’t reached even half line of the race.

  • 41.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:34 pm

    Ranger is wasted at the Blues.

  • 42.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:38 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-39: Jou moer. I’m almost 3 points behind you. Go Bloooooooooooooo’s.

    :D

  • 43.Hoops: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:38 pm

    Come on blues! Superbru!

  • 44.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:39 pm

    No Rebels that is sloppy!

  • 45.Nils: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:39 pm

    Phew, small reason to cheer. Maybe they’ll live another day.

  • 46.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:41 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-42: lol

  • 47.cane: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:42 pm

    Rebels get Rudi awakening.

  • 48.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:44 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-40: since the NZRU is looking to sell off shares in their franchises maybe Roman Abramovich can buy the Blues (good branding opportunity with Chelsea also colloquially known as the Blues), he would fire Lam pronto.

    since Roman took over Chelsea has had 8 managers in 8 years :roll:

  • 49.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:47 pm

    That was close rebels keep it up. Pressure them!

  • 50.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Apr 2012, 12:48 pm

    @cane(cane)-47: lol

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