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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5 Apr 2012, 13:29 pm
To think the Bulls lost to this team!!
5 Apr 2012, 13:29 pm
85@Sasuke…… You do know there was no luck involved just pure skill and all that jazz
5 Apr 2012, 13:31 pm
@cane(cane)-98:
Watching the basketball but not in Christchurch
5 Apr 2012, 13:32 pm
@gr8 white(gr8 white)-100: Agreed i think the majority of people thought the Blues will be contenders.
5 Apr 2012, 13:33 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-101: My thoughts exactly. I am still not sure where the Bulls are at this moment.
5 Apr 2012, 13:35 pm
@chch(chch)-103:
Jackson (the Yank import)…………………………………………..they wheeled that Guy out of the Country in a wheel chair 2 days ago.
5 Apr 2012, 13:35 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-102: Exactly thats why i also went with them!
You see what did I say in the beginning O’Connor and Beale will be the Orange Spark that ignites this team!
BTW who are the Blues capable of beating? Lions?
5 Apr 2012, 13:37 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-104: Make that almost 4 points.
5 Apr 2012, 13:37 pm
Another accurate prediction from Keo and his muppets
5 Apr 2012, 13:40 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-107: Doubt it, they cant even beat a pinata without a blindfold
5 Apr 2012, 13:40 pm
@Horings(Horings)-105: Pretoria
5 Apr 2012, 13:42 pm
@cane(cane)-106:
Yep that was very inspiring
5 Apr 2012, 13:42 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-104: John Robbie predicted Blues and Crusaders final.
he must feel so embarrassed right about now
5 Apr 2012, 13:42 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-107:
there is no honour in beating the lions…
and then to come on a public blog and say so…tsk..tsk…
5 Apr 2012, 13:44 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-107: Sad to say, but Bulls at Loftus!
5 Apr 2012, 13:45 pm
@Horings(Horings)-115: Bulls were complacent and deserved to lose.
5 Apr 2012, 13:45 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-107:
On any given day the Blues can beat themselves
5 Apr 2012, 13:47 pm
Horings at the moment a lot of teams are still finding their way…
5 Apr 2012, 13:48 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-118: The blues are finding their way to the bottom of the log
5 Apr 2012, 13:52 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-119:
They have arrived. As of today.
LAST.
5 Apr 2012, 13:53 pm
The rebels really is not a good side the Highlanders has proven that, and for the Blues,not so much that they lost but to have lost in the manner they did speaks volumes of where they are at, at this moment.
5 Apr 2012, 13:54 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-114:
You are a cruel cruel man Bakkies.
5 Apr 2012, 13:55 pm
@cane(cane)-120: NZ rugby not good at the moment, hung over from the WC?
5 Apr 2012, 13:57 pm
@Oranjebliksemblou(Oranjebliksemblou)-121:
“…………………………………….of where they are at, at this moment.”
At this moment, only dung beetles are lower.
5 Apr 2012, 14:02 pm
@cane(cane)-122:
life is cruel, caner… life is cruel…
8)
5 Apr 2012, 14:03 pm
News from inside the Lions camp is that they plan to turn their season around this weekend. Which is rather unfortunate for the high flying Cheetahs.
5 Apr 2012, 14:05 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-123:
NZ Rugby is just fine Guru.
Brad Thorn will be very difficult to replace, and some forward prospects will need Test experience.
But the talent is there……………………………………………….Never in all my years have I ever seen such talent at 15:
- Robbie Robinson.
- Israel Dagg.
- Ben Smith.
- Cory Jane.
- with Toeava keeping them all honest.
5 Apr 2012, 14:06 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-126:
you know the old saying:….never count your cubs before they….
5 Apr 2012, 14:10 pm
@cane(cane)-127: Once we have decided on our top 5 or 6 locks, and tied them down in Bok contracts, we can talk money about the leftovers. You guys could still pick up a bargain.
5 Apr 2012, 14:10 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-128: …before they turn round and maul you to death.
5 Apr 2012, 14:12 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-130:
5 Apr 2012, 14:14 pm
although, you have to admit there hasn’t been much mauling going on around the pride in a while now….
5 Apr 2012, 14:15 pm
@cane(cane)-127: Andre Taylor?
5 Apr 2012, 14:16 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-129:
We have used your leftovers before at lock.
We’ll keep your offer in mind.
8)
5 Apr 2012, 14:17 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-133:
I knew I’d forgotten someone.
5 Apr 2012, 14:20 pm
Williams cannot get along with some coaches.
Last year Nonu had issues with coaches.
The prop playing scrumhalf and flyhalf.
Reflects on the scoreboard….
5 Apr 2012, 14:21 pm
@cane(cane)-135: shap
5 Apr 2012, 14:25 pm
*****……………………………I hope the
5 Apr 2012, 14:26 pm
@cane(cane)-135:
six fullbacks a rugby team does not make, caner…
go easy on the moonshine man, save the hard drinking for when heyneke and boys come riding into town….
its gonna be such a show…
5 Apr 2012, 14:34 pm
I’ll try that again:
Phaaaark ………………………………..I do hope the Lions/ Cheets don’t get ditched for the Kings/Spears.
If this site is left under the total dominance of Guppies/Bullies and the pack of hounds that frequent The Fire Station ………………………………….there is no hope.
Not sure what the answer is ……………………………………But somewhere it does exist.
5 Apr 2012, 14:36 pm
Rebels smash the Blues.
Man the Bulls must be even more kak than I thought.
5 Apr 2012, 14:39 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-139:
Heyneke’s record with the Bulls in NZ, would suggest his game plan is not exactly innovative.
We will be ready.
5 Apr 2012, 14:57 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-141:
keep talking koek’s… keep talking…
5 Apr 2012, 15:03 pm
saw something in news about the ARU cutting the number of contracted players in order to boost competition for test places
5 Apr 2012, 15:06 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-141:
personally i blame ludekak.
5 Apr 2012, 15:12 pm
@cane(cane)-127: dagg, smith, toeava, jane & taylor will slot in at wing at one point or another as the ab’s continue to field not just “finishers” but players who can exploit space, overload to create overlaps & have the requisite highball skills.
i can’t wait to see what “boofhead” hansen has in store with fossy in tow.
i forsee good comedy.
5 Apr 2012, 15:25 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-123:
no hangover. times have changed. the crusaders and blues are not the strongest teams in super rugby anymore, and hence are not going to supply 75% of an AB squad.
5 Apr 2012, 15:26 pm
@cane(cane)-140:
no, cane its not relly about ditching the lions, if by ditching you mean abandoning/destroying them. its about trying to make them stronger by introducing a carrot and stick approach to their participation in super rugby.
for too long they have been allowed to munch away at carrots without getting a taste of the stick. the result as you well know has been 16 years of misery and humiliation…. this cant go on forever, cane.
5 Apr 2012, 15:31 pm
@cane(cane)-140:
relegation/promotion is a viable solution to this problem.
the incentive to achieve will earn you promotion to the real deal, failure however will gain you a run in the ‘ladies’ league…. where you want to be as a team/uniion is entirely up to you.
the net result of this is that on any given day in any given year the saffa’s will be fielding their strongest possible sides in the super comp… this will bring great pain for the cheats and scoundrels…
5 Apr 2012, 15:43 pm
@cane(cane)-140: no need to worry cane, the kings/spears project was a saru ruse on the government to secure the billions needed as insurance to bid for the IRB world cups. as soon as the bids fail, the “franchise” gets canned only to re-surface again when another bid opportunity arises. with england and japan hosting the next 2 events saru are under no obligation to play along
for the next decade the cheetahs & lions will be playing super rugby.
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