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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12 May 2012, 14:30 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-195: hope your bringing your missus to the Opera bar mate, I will have a nice time showing her all your misogynistic posts.. but best you declare that type of plastic mate, otherwise you could get into trouble…
12 May 2012, 14:31 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-196: trust me bro. just ask him whos the best openisde in the world. if he says Pockokc, hes an aussie, if he says Brussow,, hes a saffa, if he sayd MCcaw, hes a kiwi. its science.
12 May 2012, 14:32 pm
@jeest(jeest)-199: I understand, you cant admit your nationality, I truly do understand… it must be pretty bad though if you have to hide it from people… do they not have an extradition treaty with Hong Kong? is that why you reside there?
12 May 2012, 14:33 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-193:
It means you have sided with The Dark Side red.
And when they have finished with Popps………………………………………..they will crucify you.
They loath us,
But they consider your lot lower than a worms tits.
12 May 2012, 14:33 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-202: nah, hes probably not even a rugby fan… seems rather insular though, slagging of another country without having the kahunas to state his own..
must know the truth and be scared to make comparisons..
12 May 2012, 14:34 pm
pooper i will bring her along if you promise not to stare
12 May 2012, 14:35 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-203: You truely are an idiot. If you can’t understand how someone would struggle to define “own country” you must have been educated in a sewer.
12 May 2012, 14:35 pm
@ossewa(ossewa)-197:
Suppose a South African would know.
How many are leaving your country?
12 May 2012, 14:36 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-202: Beale has been a revelation at 10 for the Rebels, do you think he should play there for the Wobs? and I do believe Gerrard would be good in the Wobblies too.. your thoughts?
12 May 2012, 14:38 pm
do you keewees want to stop returning serve as from now?
12 May 2012, 14:39 pm
@jeest(jeest)-207: whats struggle is there to define your “own country” ? only a spastic wouldnt know that…
where were you born? its that fck simple you dckhead…
12 May 2012, 14:39 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-209: Well with cooper and o’conner injured and with barnes playing rubbish, i think he’s all we have left. gerrard is god for his kicking, but robbie is so insistent on these young guys i doubt he will get a look in. of the rebels i reckon hugh pyle should be the locking partner of horwill. sharpe/simmons too soft.
12 May 2012, 14:40 pm
pooper who was the first pakistani to play test rugby for england?
12 May 2012, 14:40 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-211: now a question for you. who should be the backup 10 for the AB’s. gluttoney of choice. Barret? I like him
12 May 2012, 14:41 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-212: yep, Pyle has been great… had another massive game tonight ..rebs have beaten 3 kiwi teams this year, good signs for the Wallaby’s..good to see new talent coming through for you guys..
12 May 2012, 14:42 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-210:
Fern ya 2 faced git. Look at the thread Canes rally past Landers.
You tell me.
12 May 2012, 14:42 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-208:
I have noticed a couple of absolute great posts by you in recent weeks Hurricane.
8).
P.S. Wainuiomata in the top 3 for the Swindale Shield at present.
Hell has frozen over.
12 May 2012, 14:42 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-211: How fcking thick are you?? You think no one has ever associated with a country they are not born in.
Seriously, no joking. You are too fcking thick to comprehend simple concepts.
Born in the old USSR which doesn’t exist any more idiot. Was only there until I was 18 months so certainly don’t consider myself an easterner.
12 May 2012, 14:42 pm
Too many Hurricane!! Unfortunately our talent moving your way is just going to make the ABs stronger!
Jeest must be a shark supporter…they love the sharks and hate all other SA teams cause they suck balls!!!
12 May 2012, 14:43 pm
hurricane i am suggesting a truce
12 May 2012, 14:43 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-214: Cruden mate… has grown his game this year immeasurably… seems so much more self assured, is taking all the right options and you can see the work he has been putting in just by the improvement in his kicking game alone..
12 May 2012, 14:43 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-210:
No go fckk yourself.
12 May 2012, 14:44 pm
cane go and read post 220 my brother
12 May 2012, 14:44 pm
@cane(cane)-217:
haha
Go the Nui.
12 May 2012, 14:45 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-215: is it three? fark i thought just the blues and saders so far? Little bit of complacency maybe. they are still rubbish. Im off to the reds game tomorrow. will be a massive game. sunday arvo always pulls a good crowd. maybe 40K. itll be the end of the reds if they dont win. im scared. haha
12 May 2012, 14:45 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-209: Till Cooper returns I think Beale is a shoo in for wallaby 10,and Gerrard’s booting for touch is flawless.
12 May 2012, 14:46 pm
@ossewa(ossewa)-219:
lol
Keep sending them over ossewa
12 May 2012, 14:46 pm
@jeest(jeest)-218:
You have the manners and diplomacy an Ivan.
8)
12 May 2012, 14:47 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-214: Taylor has been ticking all the boxes.Is Carter still 1st choice at 10 for AB’s?
12 May 2012, 14:48 pm
@jeest(jeest)-218: ahhh that explains it then, you have too much of a liking for the vodka, or your parents did…
so why did they move when you were 18 months old? dad up to his mafia tricks again was he? or did dad beat your mum so you had to “disappear”
not nice is it chump, to be labelled something when the person labelling has no fcken clue… so continue with the wife beating jokes, theyre oh so funny/
12 May 2012, 14:48 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-221: yeah cruden is looking the goods. he looks like he’s matured 10 rugby years this year.
12 May 2012, 14:48 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-225: Canes as well..
12 May 2012, 14:50 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-221: Cruden is solid allright.
12 May 2012, 14:50 pm
Did not see the game. How did the Crusaders lose?? Did they play badly, or were the Rebels good?
12 May 2012, 14:52 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-230: Actually your comments don’t worry me at all.
I’m not as precious as you and Chch
12 May 2012, 14:53 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-231: agree mate.. he should be buying his forwards a few beers every week… Reds game should be a cracker tomorrow, will miss it due to baseball though so not happy…
Think the chiefs are due for a loss soon, but they keep surprising me…
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-229: Deans may prefer him at Fullback with barnes at 10 though… Taylor has been kicking well for the Saders, but dont think he offers enough outside of that yet..
12 May 2012, 14:53 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-233:
Carter will still first choice if 100% fit.
Cruden still the 2nd choice and 1st choice on the bench.
The youngsters will have to wait their turn.
12 May 2012, 14:53 pm
@RWC’11 was fixed(richardmarais)-234:
Rebels were pretty good hey,’saders may have been a tad overconfident.
12 May 2012, 14:54 pm
@jeest(jeest)-235: whose precious? youre the one who thinks it funny to laugh at domestic abuse…
12 May 2012, 14:54 pm
@jeest(jeest)-235:
Yeah right.
12 May 2012, 14:56 pm
so keewees,are we gonna call a truce?
12 May 2012, 14:58 pm
@jeest(jeest)-235: you cxame in here and mentioned the Saders cheating when they LOST? you also then said you wanted a reaction from kiwis who had actually congratulated the Rebs on their performance..
you then used a domestic violence in NZ jibe as some sort of point scoring..
tell us again youre not precious, please…
12 May 2012, 14:58 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-238:
A good kick in the pants never did any Team any harm.
Best thing that could have happened to the Crusaders.
I still think they will be real contenders come the playoffs.
(they do miss Sir Bradley, me thinks).
12 May 2012, 14:58 pm
@cane(cane)-237:@poppa69(poppa69)-239: ok nonu or SBW?
12 May 2012, 14:59 pm
@cane(cane)-243: na they miss sir Byrce. Hahaha. im still not over last weekend
12 May 2012, 15:01 pm
Thank you Rebels!!!
Every upset great help for my side
Correction to article, this is greatest upset in Super history. No debate.
Choke on it McCaw
12 May 2012, 15:01 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-241:
No……………………………………………….Fernly.
Not as long Popps breathes air.
And Satan has reserve seat for you, up close to the fire.
12 May 2012, 15:02 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-244: Nonus the incumbent, and I believe he will get the nod first… I was impressed with Ellison tonight, but think we will only see three maybe four new members in the AB’s.. dependant on injury to those who were there last year though..
12 May 2012, 15:03 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-244:
Sunni Bill.
( But the year is young Red, the year is young.)
12 May 2012, 15:03 pm
Stirling Mortlock intercept..classic
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