Melbourne Rebels captain's message following ill-disciplined win over Western Force
Melbourne Rebels captain Michael Wells says the onus is firmly on players to get their tackling technique right following a spate of recent cards.
Rebels playmaker Matt To’omua was yellow-carded for a tackle-gone-wrong that led to an accidental clash of heads in Friday night’s one-point win over the Western Force.
His teammate Ray Nu’u copped a red card in the 52nd minute for his tackle that resulted in his shoulder clashing into the head of a Force opponent.
The two cards came just two weeks after star Brumbies fullback Tom Banks was red-carded for his attempted tackle that resulted in a head clash with Force flyer Toni Pulu.
Banks suffered a fractured cheekbone in the incident, and a SANZAAR foul play review later deemed there were enough mitigating factors to rescind the red, saying it should have been a yellow instead.
The Rebels overcame the yellow and red cards to hold on for a gutsy 22-21 win in Perth.
Although Wells isn’t a fan of the game being held up for so long while referees review incidents, he said it was important for the players to correct their tackling technique to avoid head-high hits in the future.
“It’s that balancing act. We don’t player welfare to come second, we also want the game to remain a spectacle,” Wells said.
“At the end of the day it is a contact sport, but the onus is on us as players to bring the tackle height down.
“World Rugby has been pretty clear on it. There’s not much discretion for refs. Any (head-high) contact they’re going to have to pull a card out.
“So it’s up to the players to work on the tackle technique.
“If you hit anyone on the head or above the shoulders you’re going to be in trouble.”
To’omua returned to the field to play a crucial part in the win, nailing a clutch penalty in the 68th minute to help the Rebels regain the lead.
It was his second match since controversially being overlooked for a 40-man Wallabies’ training camp.
“I want to credit Matt, because it’s probably the first time Matt’s been left out of the Wallabies squad, and you would never have known at the club,” Rebels coach Kevin Foote said.
“He was still the same Matt, putting the team first. It’s huge. That’s selfless. He’s been incredible. He’s just showing that leadership.
“Even after getting the card, no problem, just gets back out and does a good job.”
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
26 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
26 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
26 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
26 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
26 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
26 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
26 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments