Cooper cuts down Rebels

Cooper cuts down Rebels

7 Mar 2013

Quade Cooper’s boot fired and James O’Connor’s misfired as the Reds outlasted the Rebels in Melbourne.

The Reds won 23-13 after the Rebels scored just before half-time to lead 13-10.

Cooper kicked with greater authority and O’Connor’s three penalty misses from five attempts came at decisive moments in the match.

The Rebels enjoyed the better first half but the Reds were dominant in the second half and never looked in danger of losing the match.

Both teams showed good attacking intent but committed defence prevailed and contributed to the low-scoring nature of the match.

O’Connor, starting at No 10 because of injury to Kurtley Beale, played well but his goalkicking, so good in recents weeks, was a disappointment against the Reds.

Cooper was equally effective in general play but the accuracy of his goalkicking gave the Reds second half reward and a match-winning result.

The Rebels, victorious against the Force in the season opener, have lost their last two matches against Australian opposition.

By Mark Keohane


64 Comments

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  • 51.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:29 pm

    Cane

    Congrats on the victory mate…

    McCabe is abit iffy not having a passing game and all.

    Agree with Beale

    My AB side is coming up…

  • 52.mark_keohane: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:33 pm

    Cooper cuts down Rebels http://t.co/ML9Qe9M6L4 via @sharethis Cooper’s boot the difference in 23-13 win for Reds

  • 53.Brads: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:33 pm

    Have the Reds gone backwards or have the Rebels improved?

    Either way, both teams were wandering all over the place looking to take an advantage and came up lucky with opposition mistakes rather than genius.

    Well done Reds on the win, but kudos to the Rebels.

    They were in the game right to the last handful of minutes.

  • 54.cane: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:35 pm

    @grant10-49:

    Could have gone either way. Such are the fortunes of the game.
    NZ Conference looks very even.

    Crusaders will only improve from here.

    Blues still my pick,
    as the Team to beat.

    It will be interesting to see what happens to them, once they lose a game!

  • 55.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:38 pm

    @CSI:Rugby-50:

    Few of the Waratahs backs will force their way in. Yet to see Folau at his best but he might even do it as a winger… plus if Drew Mitchell can stay fit that guy is brilliant.

    AAC can also add some much needed physicality and experience if he hits form.

    Wallabies problems won’t be in the backs. It’s their forwards (apart from openside flankers) that are no good.

    AB’s backline reasonably obvious. I’m going to go outside the box and say Ben Smith would make a better centre then his namesake Conrad. AB midfield getting old quickly.

  • 56.cane: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:38 pm

    @CSI:Rugby-50:

    I got a feeling, we might have a pretty good Team this year. (AB’s that is).

    ;)

  • 57.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:40 pm

    @cane-52:

    NZ conference very powerful this year, much more so then I thought it would be.

    Their turn to have 3 play-off teams probably, not including the Hurricanes & Crusaders (you heard it here first).

  • 58.Brads: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:43 pm

    @cane-52:
    The Blues are back this year without doubt.

    The bigger question that will grow and grow as the season evolves is who truly engineered it.

  • 59.shane_keohane: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:54 pm

    Cooper cuts down Rebels http://t.co/yBbivs1XYZ via @sharethis

  • 60.cane: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 12:54 pm

    @Brads-56:

    Fresh air and a new broom.

    ;)

    But like In said……………………………lets wait and see how they react to a bit of pressure.

    That said, I’m very impressed.

  • 61.polaris: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 13:00 pm

    @cane-54: Congrats, mate. Fark it was so close, on the bright side it was more desparate for Canes, so good on them and nice to have them back in the mix and at least Saders got 2, it may help later.

    Looks like all 5 will have a say in the business end, no real weaklings sofar. Which is great for keeping interest and may be real bad for letting neighbors sneaking home semis. Hobbitland conference teams urgently need a points donor to make thing even with the rivals, any ideas? :D

  • 62.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 13:09 pm

    AB’s form XV after two weeks:

    15.Anscombe
    14.Halai
    13.Nanai-Williams
    12.Crotty
    11.Savea
    10.Carter
    9.Weepu
    8.Read
    7.Braid
    6.Luatua
    5.Retallick
    4.Williams
    3.Faumuina
    2.Parsons
    1.Afeaki

    16.Coles
    17.Toomaga-Allen
    18.Whitelock
    19.Shield
    20.A.Smith
    21.Cruden
    22.B.Smith

    Let’s Debate lol

  • 63.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Mar 2013, 13:29 pm

    @CSI:Rugby-61:

    Carter and Crotty out. Cruden and Saili in.

    Don’t care about the rest.

    Have a good day all. Out.

  • 64.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 06:10 am

    Rebels won in the first round.

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