Can the Rebels break their play-off duck? - Super Rugby 2019 Preview
From competition cellar-dwellers in 2017 to play-off hopefuls in 2018, the Rebels will be hoping to continue their sharp turn in fortunes in 2019.
The Melbourne-based franchise enjoyed a revival of sorts under the stewardship of newly-appointed coach Dave Wessels last year, finishing the campaign in a lot better condition both on and off the field compared to 2017.
The culling of the Western Force wasn’t met kindly by large parts of the Super Rugby faithful, with many believing that the Rebels deserved to be cut due to a financial rut the club found itself in at the time, a poor following of the sport in Melbourne, and an atrocious season that saw them finish with a 1-1-13 record to finish in last place.
2018 needed to be a year where the Rebels stood up and made themselves a side worthy of being apart of the competition, and that they did.
An influx of former Force players – including Wallabies stars Dane Haylett-Petty and Adam Coleman – followed Wessels from Perth to Melbourne, while their presence and ambition within Victoria was enough to secure the signatures of veteran Wallabies halfback Will Genia and former British and Irish Lions lock Geoff Parling.
Those new additions, combined with established squad members such as Amanaki Mafi and Marika Koroibete, brought the best out of a previously stagnant Rebels outfit, which came within a whisker of qualifying for their first-ever play-offs berth.
No. 8 Mafi was particularly outstanding with ball in hand, with the blockbusting Japanese international finishing the year in first place for carries and fourth for metres gained.
However, an assault charge in the wake of the Rebels’ dismissal from the competition following a defeat at the hands of the Highlanders in the final round was enough to see both Mafi and fellow loose forward Lopeti Timani depart the club in ignominious fashion.
Promising loose forward Colby Fainga’a has also left, signing on with Irish club Connacht, while veterans Parling and prop Laurie Weeks have opted to hang up the boots.
The Rebels have filled the gaps left in the forward pack well though, with the addition of Fijian-born Wallabies prospect Isi Naisarani being their best pick-up.
After impressing in his debut season with the Force in 2017, Naisarani continued his good form with the Brumbies last year, constantly making his presence felt as a barnstorming No. 8 who knows how to bulldoze past the advantage line.
His addition to the squad makes him a like-for-like replacement to Mafi, which will ease the burden of his loss for the Melbourne franchise.
Auckland, Maori All Blacks and former Brumbies hooker Robbie Abel should also provide a good layer of depth in the front row as he prepares to tussle with Wallabies rake Jordan Uelese and the under-rated Anaru Rangi for a starting role.
The most significant off-season acquisition, however, comes at first-five, with Quade Cooper set to re-take the field after a year-long hiatus from Super Rugby.
His well-documented fallout with Reds coach and former All Blacks enforcer Brad Thorn has seen the 70-test pivot shift south from Queensland in a bid to reignite his World Cup aspirations with the Wallabies.
Set to link up with long-time Reds and Australia teammate and halves partner Genia, the Rebels will be hoping that the duo can combine as they did during the Reds’ golden era at the dawn of the decade, where they claimed their solitary Super Rugby title in 2011.
Should Genia’s tactical astuteness and Cooper’s fleet-footed ability on attack gel together as well as it did all those years ago, then the Rebels can expect to yield a string of positive results and build on their franchise-best performances from last year.
Fellow new signing Matt Toomua should also make an impact as a playmaker from either first or second-five-eighth, although the 42-test Wallaby won’t make an appearance for the Rebels until the conclusion of his Premiership campaign with Leicester Tigers, which will be in late May or early June.
Further out wide, the addition of another former Queenslander in Campbell Magnay from the Japanese Top League should offset the departure of wings Henry Hutchison and Sefa Naivalu to the Australian sevens side and the Reds, respectively.
All in all, the Rebels appear to have a balanced, experienced squad that is operating under the guidance of a smart coach in Wessels.
Provided that they iron out the creases that prevented them from missing out on the play-offs in 2018 – namely a lack of discipline, both on and off the park – then there is more than enough quality within the Melbourne club to mount another strong challenge for the play-offs.
2019 Predictions:
Australian Conference Placing: 2nd
Player of the Year: Will Genia
Rookie of the Year: Trevor Hosea
Best Signing: Quade Cooper
Breakout Player: Campbell Magnay
Squad Movements:
In: Mees Erasmus (Brumbies), Robbie Abel (Auckland), Hugh Roach (Waratahs), Luke Jones (Bordeaux), Isi Naisarani (Brumbies), Brad Wilkin (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Reds), Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers), Campbell Magnay (Suntory Sungoliath)
Outs: Tom Maloney (released), Laurie Weeks (retired), Nathan Charles (released), Sama Malolo (released), Mahe Vailanu (Panasonic Wild Knights), Geoff Parling (retired), Colby Fainga’a (Connacht), Lopeti Timani (La Rochelle), Amanaki Mafi (NTT Communications Shining Arcs), Taylor Adams (Southland), Jack Debreczeni (Chiefs), Jack McGregor (Western Force), David Horwitz (Connacht), Hunter Paisami (released), Henry Hutchison (Australia sevens), Sefa Naivalu (Reds)
Squad:
Forwards: Jermaine Ansley, Ben Daley, Mees Erasmus, Pone Fa’amausili, Tetera Faulkner, Fereti Sa’aga, Sam Talakai, Robbie Abel, Anaru Rangi, Hugh Roach, Jordan Uelese, Adam Coleman, Esei Ha’angana, Trevor Hosea, Sam Jeffries, Matt Philip, Angus Cottrell, Richard Hardwick, Ross Haylett-Petty, Luke Jones, Rob Leota, Isi Naisarani, Brad Wilkin
Backs: Will Genia, Harrison Goddard, Michael Ruru, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Reece Hodge, Bill Meakes, Sione Tuipulotu, Semisi Tupou, Tom English, Dane Haylett-Petty, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks, Campbell Magnay
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments