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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  • 51.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:00 pm

    Pathetic actions by Beale. Soccer style pantomime…

  • 52.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:00 pm

    rebels putting up a good fight here!

  • 53.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:02 pm

    Well, hope Keiran is ok.
    To me it should be a penalty to the Saders.
    Rebels lock had his hands all over the Kerian Read in the air.

  • 54.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:04 pm

    good try, pass from mortlock looked forward though..

  • 55.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:04 pm

    saders blowing hot & cold this season

  • 56.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:06 pm

    offside at the ruck

  • 57.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:07 pm

    unreal… you make your own luck, this is going to blow the comp right open..

  • 58.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:07 pm

    Looks to be game here

  • 59.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:07 pm

    this was supposed to be a GIMME for the saders :D

  • 60.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:08 pm

    @chch(chch)-56: cant be, SA has the best refs in the world, and only Saffa teams get the bad calls :lol:

  • 61.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:08 pm

    Listen to the commentators, wow are they happy or what lol

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

    Now that’s may be the upset of the season and easily the best ever game for the Rebels. Bookies are tearing their hairs.

  • 63.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:11 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-62: SA/AUS reffing conspiracy fer sure.. lol

  • 64.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:11 pm

    Why are they being given a 2nd chance after taking the quick throw. It’s a 5 meter scrum to the Crusaders for taken back into goal.

    More rugby charity for the Australians

  • 65.boktillzero: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:12 pm

    hope the rebels can pull it off either way next year the rebels and cheetahs are going to cause problems in super rugby

  • 66.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:13 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-63: :D

    To be fair, Rebels look on fire from the go. If they win (which looks likely), good on them, they deserve it.

  • 67.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:13 pm

    Cmon the Rebels.
    I can see the Kings being this competitive next year. Pffft.

  • 68.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:15 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-66: I agree, have been the much hungrier team.. Saders took them too lightly..

  • 69.ufo: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:18 pm

    REBELS With Our Applause…!!

  • 70.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:18 pm

    well done to the rebels… deserved their win

  • 71.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:19 pm

    Great results for the Sharks this morning.
    If the Sharks get their full 5 points it means they go into 6th place, 1 point behind the Saders in 5th.
    If the Sharks don’t win well tonight they don’t deserve to make the playoffs.
    End of story.

  • 72.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:20 pm

    Congrats to the Rebels. Well played. A huge result for them

  • 73.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:20 pm

    Holy sheet! Rebels kick the Crusaders to touch! If we could use this game to put things into perspective the young Bulls team deserve some credit.

  • 74.JA-JA: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:21 pm

    Bwaaahahahahahaha

  • 75.Beertjie: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:22 pm

    Gie gie gie

  • 76.jeest: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:22 pm

    Saders were arrogant resting players – that’s what happens.
    Now if they can only stop the Saders from constantly cheating the whole comp will be looking better.

  • 77.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:23 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-73:
    Where did you learn math.

    The Crusaders can still win the competition.

  • 78.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:23 pm

    time out for crooked crusaders, taken out by committed Rebel outfit

    Pity Peyper didn’t ref WC final instead of Paddy’s bloody stooge Joubert and France would have earned the WC win they deserved.

  • 79.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:23 pm

    blackadder fluffed it! Underestimated the Rebels & paid for it.

    Well done Rebels!

  • 80.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:24 pm

    Congrats, Rebels, huge win. Crusaders not have let cat in among the pidgeons.

  • 81.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:24 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-76:

    Every team has rested players when they were not 100% fit. That goes for all sports and competitions in history.
    You sound ignorant or just plain stupid.

  • 82.Tuna: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:25 pm

    Well done Rebels.
    Watch them get smashed in their next game.
    Funny game this.

  • 83.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:25 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-76: so the Saders lose and theyre still cheats?

    bwahahahaha

    thats the funniest thing Ive ever heard on this site… congrats for that..

  • 84.jeest: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:25 pm

    @skopskiet(skopskiet)-78: Not sure about Peyper – he has some pretty ordinary games but you are corrct in saying that anyone else would have resulted in a French victory.

  • 85.jeest: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:26 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-83: Just cause you lose doesn’t mean you are not cynical and constantly engage in illegal play – the funniest thing I’ve read was your post where you failed to comprehend that.

  • 86.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:27 pm

    It is easy for any moron to say that a favoured team underestimated the opposition when they lose. There is no evidence of that. Some non 100% players played and some non 100% players didn’t play.

  • 87.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:27 pm

    77 @ chch

    Did you see me mention the Crusaders are out of the running? What are you on about? LOL

  • 88.jeest: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:27 pm

    Ha ha ha I love it how Kiwis can dish it out to everyone but get so defensive when they lose. Kiwis – worst winners and losers in the world.

  • 89.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:28 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-73: “If we could use this game to put things into perspective the young Bulls team deserve some credit.”

    The Blues in Pretoria!

    Another perspective. ;)

  • 90.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:29 pm

    Rebels have arrived

  • 91.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:30 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-88:

    Read post 72. Your just making craap up left right and centre. When South African sides lose we get pure hate on here. You have nfi. You are a complete joke.

  • 92.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:31 pm

    @skopskiet(skopskiet)-78:
    Boks still would have been watching so no matter

  • 93.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:31 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-88: really, this from a nation that creates a facebook page to slag of a , wait for itm its a big surprise this, a referee?

    hahahah seems the 20 years of being our ******* has you seeing ghosts…

    what a larf… I dont even support the saders, so it doesnt worry me if they win or lose…

    but yep, its only NZ teams that are cynical… just dont watch the Bulls or the Stormers, because they are never cynical either huh?

    what a tosser..

  • 94.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:32 pm

    since Rebels chucked out that pisswilly little pompous pom and shifted Beale to fly half they turned the corner, Crusaders were never really in this game all their points coming from opportunistic turn over ball and Rebels stepped it up big time to squash any Crusaders cheating cause

  • 95.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:32 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-76:
    You need to rest players so they did. Idiot

  • 96.jeest: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:32 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-93: @chch(chch)-91: And when did I say I was from SA?

    You’ve both just made yourselves look very stupid.

  • 97.Nils: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:33 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-80: “now let cat in”

  • 98.chch: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:33 pm

    What is with people like jeest. Just a trail of continual lies and untruths compiled from his own ignorance and prejudice.

    What nationality is that knoob anyway?

  • 99.SAussie/QldRed: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:33 pm

    Not bad from the weakest team in the weakest conference

  • 100.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    12 May 2012, 13:33 pm

    @jeest(jeest)-85: seems someones still hurting from last year..

    you should come to NZ, you’ll be able to see William Webb..

    hes staying for another 3 years at least..

    did you enjoy coming 8th? :lol:

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