Super Rebels stun Saders

Super Rebels stun Saders

12 May 2012

SIMON BORCHARDT reports on the Rebels’ 28-19 upset win against the Crusaders in Melbourne.

These teams did not meet in 2011, because of the conference format, and the general consensus was that the Crusaders missed out on five easy log points.

Richie McCaw’s side must have arrived in Melbourne for this 2012 fixture expecting a comfortable bonus-point win but they left with nothing after conceding two quick tries, in the 67th and 70th minutes, which turned the game on its head.

First, replacement lock Al Campbell passed in the tackle to winger Mark Gerrard, who cut back inside and sent scrumhalf Nick Phipps away for the try. Then 34-year-old substitute centre Stirling Mortlock intercepted a poor pass from Crusaders prop Owen Franks and found Cooper Vuna. The winger attracted the only covering defender and gave the ball back to Mortlock, who dived over.

The Rebels then defended that nine-point lead for the next 10 minutes to pull off one of the biggest upsets in Super Rugby history.

And it was a well deserved win, too. They dominated the breakdown, used the width of the field on attack, and Gerrard’s tactical kicking was superb from the back.

The hosts had all the ball early on and were rewarded with a try to Phipps, who threw a dummy, burst through a gap between two wrong-footed defenders and planted the ball on the line.

Phipps, though, effectively gave those seven points away on the half-hour mark when he knocked on 35m out. The Crusaders booted the ball ahead, regained possession, and second rower Sam Whitelock scored the simplest of tries after a burst down the left touchline by fullback Tom Marshall.

Flyhalf Tom Taylor kicked the conversion and then slotted his third and fourth penalties to give the visitors a 19-10 half-time lead.

But it was all the Rebels in the second half and while they weren’t able to breach the opposition defence in the third quarter, two penalties from flyhalf Kurtley Beale cut the deficit to three.

Then came the two tries that stunned the seven-time Super Rugby champions, and gave the small crowd a reason to celebrate long into the night.


352 Comments

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  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:34 am

    beale to give taylor a torrid time! mccaw there as cover defence insurance.

  • 2.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:40 am

    We’ll see how young taylor fares

  • 3.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:45 am

    Rebels starting nicely. Time for Crusaders to show who’s the boss.

  • 4.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:46 am

    he was already in touch. That’s rubbish

  • 5.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:48 am

    only the 1st player it touched can be classed as a charge down. 2nd player looked to have knocked on.

    Crusaders doing well despite **** calls

  • 6.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:52 am

    Oh, Crusaders are the okes in blue?

  • 7.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:52 am

    Rebels are in it to win it. Viewer to switch allegiance soon.

  • 8.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:56 am

    No worries yet. Still 65+ mins to score 4+ tries.

  • 9.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 11:59 am

    and them referee is?

  • 10.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:04 pm

    Crisp passing & running by rebels

  • 11.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    rebels on fire.

  • 12.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:09 pm

    Promising move breaks down

  • 13.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:09 pm

    They have said Robbie Frueans name. Stupid commentators

  • 14.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:11 pm

    Turnover. Try!

  • 15.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:11 pm

    The Empire has struck.

  • 16.Slappes: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:11 pm

    Cmon Rebels!

  • 17.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:12 pm

    Rodney blake. Conditioning?

  • 18.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:16 pm

    Tacler rolls away. Does second piling in have to stay on feet? Answee pls

  • 19.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:19 pm

    Sorry. I meant does the second man piling in after the tackler rolls away have to stay on feet to contest ball?

  • 20.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:21 pm

    @viewer(viewer)-19: yes he does..

  • 21.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:23 pm

    Those scrum penalties are jokes. How does Crockett get away with his illegal binding or in some cases no binding? Hilarious!

  • 22.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:23 pm

    Good to see the Rebels Captain ( I think ) knows how the game is played.
    He said to beat the Saders you have to put points on the board.
    Now who says rugby players are stupid? :-)

  • 23.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:24 pm

    @viewer(viewer)-19:
    Obviously yes.

    Although this season many players have been allowed to ‘bridge’ supporting their weight with their hands on the ground which is just wrong.

  • 24.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:24 pm

    Ok p69 but. . .hhmmm I think the saders got a bit lucky there

  • 25.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:25 pm

    Hi Hurricane. Great game vs you guys

  • 26.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:25 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-21:
    I will answer as we all know where this is going.
    ITS COS HE IS KIWI.

  • 27.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:26 pm

    @chch(chch)-25:
    Yeah mate sure was a goody

  • 28.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:27 pm

    The saders pile in en masse & so quickly. I support them but it seems like sleight of hand stuff

  • 29.ufo: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:28 pm

    blake is absolutely owning crockett…

  • 30.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:35 pm

    was that not a maul?
    odd

  • 31.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:37 pm

    Ref missed rebel taken out of play . Oh saders, so lucky sometimes

  • 32.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:37 pm

    @chch(chch)-30:
    yeah, thats one of those rules that can go either way.
    In south Africa its called ” the ref cheated ” :-)

  • 33.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:38 pm

    26 @ Hurricane.

    I think its easy to spot someone not binding or pulling their opponent down. None so blind.

  • 34.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:39 pm

    @viewer(viewer)-31:
    I remember one year the Saders were lucky when the Christchurch mist gods came down and ruined my Hurricanes teams chances.

  • 35.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:42 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-33:
    Its alot harder to spot your own team doing it though.

  • 36.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:43 pm

    Richie sitting on his @ss on the wrong side of the ruck – ripping the ball – classic

  • 37.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:43 pm

    Richie turns the guy the wrong way. He’s back :grin:

  • 38.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:43 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-34:

    The referee gave the option of playing the next day/week. Everyone wanted to play.

  • 39.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:46 pm

    Corey Flynn looked to be offside there

  • 40.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    35 @ Hurricane

    That is why its easier for me to see it when my team isn’t on the park.

  • 41.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-36:
    I hope your not talking about McCaws tackle and he turned the guy?
    He didnt rip the ball.

  • 42.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    Rebels unrecognisable from last year. Well done so far

  • 43.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    Cameras on McCaw but that was Crockett

  • 44.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:50 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-40:
    Yeah i know your side is not playing at the moment.
    Still does not mean what i said was incorrect.

  • 45.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:51 pm

    Composure deserts the saders ATM

  • 46.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:51 pm

    Crusaders not the same team without Kieran Read on the pitch.

  • 47.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:52 pm

    41 @ Hurricane

    No – I’m referring to where the Crusaders 15 took the ball up and was penalised for holding on

  • 48.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:53 pm

    Rebels hooker has giant biceps!

  • 49.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:55 pm

    The Rebels are doing a good job here at the moment

  • 50.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 12:56 pm

    @Hurricane(Hurricane)-49: rebels are going well.. Saders may have to bring the big guns on to win this..

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