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'I thought a place in the play-offs was cursed': Rebels navigating brave new do-or-die world

By AAP
Dave Wessels. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Rebels will look to rearrange their travel schedule ahead of their Super Rugby AU play-off against the Queensland Reds on Saturday, feeling their gruelling trip cost them in the last meeting.

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Melbourne booked a place in the qualifying final, courtesy of a miracle last-minute try to prop Cabous Eloff and conversion from Matt Toomua against the Western Force.

The kick put them through ahead of the NSW Waratahs on for and against on the ladder.

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The Reds are in ominous form, outplaying the Brumbies 26-7 on Saturday night, with the Canberra side already hosting the grand final on September 19.

After a 19-3 thumping in their round seven match at Suncorp Stadium, Rebels coach Dave Wessels said they had learnt from their same-day travel experience.

Based on the NSW Central Coast, the Rebels had a two-hour trip to Sydney airport, plus check-in, travel time and then commute to the Brisbane venue.

“We will change it – last time it was an eight-hour trip up there,” Wessels said.

“Probably if I reflect on the game we got held up (over the line) five times which is a little bit of luck on the Reds’ side but I thought the whole game we lacked the energy we want to be known for.

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“I think some of that is down to the travel so we will figure out a better way to try to do that.”

Wessels hoped they could be given a dispensation to stay in Sydney the night before the flight, rather than have to travel from Terrigal.

The Rebels had earnt a tag of chokers after narrowly missing the finals the past two years due to late-season form fades and Wessels admitted he was worried.

“I thought a place in the play-offs was cursed after leading well at halftime and then fell in a big hole so I’m super proud of the guys for fighting out of that,” he said.

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“I think it’s a mental hurdle for some of the players that we’ve now got over.”

He said they needed to improve their discipline if they wanted to win the remaining two games to claim the domestic title.

“Yes, we want to enjoy this win but the next focus is on beating the Reds, which we feel confident we can do but we’ve got to play well,” he said.

“We feel like we’ve got a good 160 minutes in us and we can challenge both the Reds and the Brumbies.”

Halfback James Tuttle is their only injury concern after leaving the Force match with a hamstring strain.

– Melissa Woods

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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