1
‘Little Engine That Could’: Melbourne Rebels ‘competitive’ with the best
Former Wallaby Cameron Shepherd has described the Melbourne Rebels as the “Little Engine That Could” in Super Rugby Pacific after their turbulent season to date which has included plenty of headline-grabbing ups and downs.
ADVERTISEMENT
The well-known children’s book ‘The Little Engine That Could’ by Watty Piper was published in the 1930s. The story initially conveys messages of challenges and hardships, but the theme mainly centres around perseverance and self-confidence.
In southern hemisphere rugby this season, the Rebels have played a similar role to the small blue engine from that book. No team in Super Rugby Pacific has experienced the same highs or lows as the team now ranked fifth on the ladder.
While an element of uncertainty remains about the future of the club, although a report last week said they may be bought out for as much as $30 million, the players have let their rugby do the talking during the seven games so far in 2024.
With four victories from seven starts, which includes a 41-20 win over the Fijian Drua at AAMI Park on Friday night, former Wallaby Cameron Shepherd believes the Rebels have proven that they’re “definitely competitive with some of the best.”
“A Little Engine that Could. It’s been such an up and down season for them so far,” Shepherd explained on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven.
“When they put it together, they’ve definitely competitive with some of the best teams in the comp.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Carter Gordon’s starting to find his confidence again (with) some nice work on the edges, and the forward pack, which I actually think was one of their biggest problems at the start of the season, has really started to mould into a cohesive unit, especially at the set-piece.”
After six games, the Rebels had a 3-3 record. The Melburnians had beaten the Western Force, Moana Pasifika and NSW Waratahs but suffered some big losses as well.
Match Summary 
1
Penalty Goals
1
6
Tries
3
4
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
111
Carries
112
9
Line Breaks
3
20
Turnovers Lost
16
7
Turnovers Won
3
The Rebels were placed in the top four earlier in the season before suffering a 53-26 loss to Aussie rivals the Queensland Reds and a 54-28 thrashing by the Hurricanes in Palmerston North.
But back playing at Melbourne’s AAMI Park for the first time since March 15, the Rebels wanted to give their home fans something to smile about last Friday. It wasn’t easy but the hosts won the night with a 41-20 scoreline over the Drua.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Drua led by 20-8 before the Rebels fought their way into a 14-point lead. Two red cards against the Fijians all but sealed their fate as the Aussies moved up to fifth on the ladder with their second win in as many games.
“It was one of their biggest recruitment targets. Kevin Foote had a really clear plan on a style of game plan, we saw it last year starting to come into play,” 2001 Super Rugby champion Justin Harrison added.
“They wanted to score points. They’re adventurous in what they did (but) they just didn’t have that backend and size and physicality to be able to hold on for the full 80 minutes.
“They’ve put a new squad together, it’s taken a couple of weeks to get that car started, but now it’s moving forward.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Etsebeth is right about 1 thing. Boks after winning a RWC have been crap. Only in 2009 did they reach the heights of what a RWC Champion should look like but that was only after 3rd/last in the TriN 2008. Lost a home series in 1996 (vs ABs); didnt win even 1 x Rugby Championship after 2019. ABs and Wallabies and England at least played like Champions after winning RWC.
27 Go to commentsCrusaders will knock one of the top seeds out in the first round, hope it’s not my Chiefs
24 Go to commentsEben really seems like just a deeply unpleasant man.
27 Go to commentsDMac. BB crabs too much at 10.
2 Go to commentsIt is every boys dream to be a Springbok. I managed it in a discipline other than rugby…But rugby, I have always engaged with passion. It does my old heart good to see the mix of people in the team and this displays the possibilities for this wonderful country. The logo “stronger together” says it all. This current edition of the Boks is nothing short of inspirational.
2 Go to commentsIrish people about the best damn people on the planet. OK, in the NH. Fijians are the World’s best happiest friendliest people. But as far as European cultures producing good people, Ireland stands alone. But on the rugby pitch there is a creeping arrogance that has detached from humility. eg Sexton abusing a match referee, and not for the 1st time. He was extremely lucky to make it to the RWC, strings were pulled. And O’Mahoneys sledge to Cane was lowballing, attacking an opposition Captain seems opportunistic and gutter talk. Cane is a real gentleman. Have never seen ABs unleash after the whistle like they did on O’Mahoney after QterF, it was well deserved. Unlike Bok supporters, the Bok players understand history. Massive amount of respect between Boks and ABs is evident, they get on well and have throughout history. Even Pinetree Meads best mate (except his old cobber Kel Tremain) were Springboks, friendships forged after tours. And Meads was always targetted given his star status (he even played 2 x Tests with a broken arm). On the contrary, ABs and Wallabies famously dont get on, bad blood after Aussies not taking offer of beersies postmatch.
27 Go to commentsHaha god NZ journalism is so crap listen to this guy “We’ll be proven in a few weeks if our baseless bs can stick” lol Everywhere else uses experts to write stuff but here they’re just career guys that don’t care about what they write, NOT CONCEDED A TRY IN YEARS lol > “Naturally, you’re looking for performance, sometimes that means you can’t think logically or use evidence to arrive at any sort of clarity of decision. Pretty much sums it up to a tee Paul ignores the articles in here about then runs off each team this year, that Penney is just a yearly stop gap until, who, Ellison is released by ABs, the huge imbalance of the injury front between teams at each end of the table, or who it was that _should_ have been coach. But of course if they actually do evidence and investigative work theyre shy of their article not hitting that sensationalism boundary and lose revenue. Leaving us non the wiser. They look like they would have been best with a geeup coach this year to turn around the razorless depression the clubs obviously going through. Hard to think of someone fitting the Bill to have been chosen instead, the clown Cheika? Id have been tempted to double play and entice O’Gara down. Hell maybe that is who they are waiting for, he wants a international gig and it could be after Scmidt or razor
24 Go to comments_Dan Carter weighs in on who should be Scott Robertson's All Black 10_ Dan: “It’s a toss up between Beudy and Dmac, although Mounga would be nice - but he can’t… so…” The Rugby Public: “Thanks Dan. For nuthin!”
2 Go to commentsEngland did this way back for the Croke Park match in the 2000’s. The shame actually seemed to weigh on them during the match. It will not be easy for Northhampton players to rationalize how their army went into a stadium of a major city of the then United Kingdom and opened fire indiscriminantly into terraces killed 14 and wounding scores. I am sure with a pro setup they will get this balance right. I live beside the stadium. A very old woman on the street remembers as a very young girl the crowds of people filling the street to escape the massacre. A lot of water under the bridge and the match has really little historical relevance for Irish/Leinster supporters any more. Those ghosts were freed in the trashing of England in the 2000’s match. Sure, it will motivate Leinster but Northhampton should not overly consider it or weigh on it in my opinion. Dowson is right to learn the historical importance and Northhampton are indeed giving the occasion due respect. It is important to show respect. But that’s enough for Northhampton. Fair play to them. On to the rugby now.
11 Go to commentsDouble World Cup Champions ? Wow since when did 4 become 2!
211 Go to comments“See you in the final” from a winning (Irish) team is just away of wishing a team well for the rest of the tournament. It’s actually saying I hope we both make it to the final. Etzebeth was the only player who PUBLICLY said that his team would make the final after that match. Does anyone honestly think Ireland who took 100 years to beat NZ and got hammerred by them in 2019 would for the slightest moment not take the perilous threat as seriously as it should be taken? Getting sick of Boks and Kiwis who spend all year every year trying boasting about how great and humble they are and then accusing others of arrogance. Respect people by trying to understand them before hitting a pretty humble people with this crap.
27 Go to commentsThe feelings of gratitude I feel when thinking about the Boks is difficult to describe. It really means a lot to people here. I would flat out ask Ox for a big hug if I met him in person. And then probably pass out after the squeeze. Totally worth it.
2 Go to commentsFarrell seems to be an outstanding coach and Ireland a very well prepared team. But they looked like they had no plan B against NZ. Maybe they really were looking past them, as Eben says.
27 Go to commentsMaybe if you come once in your life in France you won’t writte so much nonsense 🙃
1 Go to commentsWhy did they kill 14 people at a gaelic football match? What had happened earlier that day? Dowson sounds absolutely pathetic, believing what the Irish say about his people, rather than believing what his people say about the Irish.
11 Go to commentsI haven't really experienced the Irish as arrogant but I guess the players maybe got ahead of themselves after a big win. Just thought it being Ireland and their love afair with WC QF exits and it being the ABs maybe they would have taken it a bit more seriously. Maybe they did and just lost anyways, who knows.
27 Go to commentsNot surprising, they tend to get very carried away with themselves very quickly. I’ve never seen a team so devastated at the final whistle than those irish players in that QF, you’d think they had lost the final.
27 Go to commentsJust a roundabout way of claiming to great fun. Self -praise is no praise, frenchie.
1 Go to commentsIreland have played the ABs since the first game 1905 a total of 37 times. The ABs have won 32 and Ireland 5 times. If we look since the first WC, then they have played each other 28 times. All Ireland’s 5 wins have come since 2016. So the ABs won 23 games. Since Ireland won their first game in 2016, they have won 5 and the ABs 4 times. Fairly even. Whatever anyone says, beating ABs consistently is bloody difficult, and when you manage to win a few, show respect to them. Period.
211 Go to comments‘Mom'.
1 Go to comments