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Rebels out for redemption against Hurricanes after blowing win over Chiefs

(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

After blowing a vital win on the siren last round, Melbourne’s theme for their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Hurricanes is about redemption.

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The Rebels looked headed for a crucial victory over the Chiefs only for their opponents to score a try in the 80th minute to take the result by three points.

The ninth-placed Rebels haven’t given up on an unlikely finals berth but need to beat the fifth-ranked Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday to stay in the race.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 14

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 14

Their theme against the Chiefs was ‘Man in the Mirror’, with the Melbourne players urged to reflect on how they could improve after a horror loss to the Blues.

The performance against the Chiefs showed the theme had hit home and Rebels coach Kevin Foote was looking for a similar response this week.

“We showed great character last weekend,” Foote said.

“This week’s focus is on redemption, so we’re hungry to put forward the best version of ourselves and play the brand of Rebels rugby we know we’re capable of and that our fans expect.

“Our young players like Carter Gordon, Josh Hill, and Lukas Ripley continue to grow every game and the leadership from our senior guys such as Michael Wells, Matt Philip, Reece Hodge, and Andrew Kellaway has been excellent.

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“We’ve had a strong week on the track, and everyone is just really excited for the opportunity on Saturday night.”

Matt Toomua makes his long-awaited return from a head knock at No.12 with his experience and composure missed as the clock wound down last round.

He will partner fellow Wallaby Andrew Kellaway in the centres for the first time this year.

Kellaway was one of the Rebels best last week, scoring his second try of the season along with running for 42 metres from nine runs.

The Rebels suspect defence will need to aim up with the Hurricanes winning their last eight clashes while scoring an average of 44 points per game.

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Melbourne have a tackle success rate of 71 per cent which is the lowest in the competition.

They at least won’t have to worry about stopping Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea, who almost single-handedly dragged his team to victory of the Waratahs last round.

All Blacks No.8 Savea has been rested with halfback TJ Perenara to lead the side.

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J
JG 51 minutes ago
Scott Robertson opens up on drama surrounding Bongi Mbonambi's knock-on try

Oh my word, for how long are they still going to keep bleating about that try.

The match officials DID explain it at the time, ruling that the ball was knocked out of Bongi’s hand by a NZ player. The ball went straight down (not forward) and Bongi fell on it, thus resulting in the try being awarded.

So it is disingenuous of Robertson to say that it wasn’t checked. If the match officials are confident in their decision, based on what they saw, then they don’t usually go to the TMO - even if requested.

Or else they’ll be going upstairs for virtually every try scored in a match.

Seriously, the Kiwis must now get over themselves. Every time they lose a match by a narrow margin, they find something to go on and on about. It’s almost as if they believe that other teams are “not allowed” to beat them.

Mind you, I think that dates back to a few years earlier when it seemed like the All Blacks were untouchable in the eyes of the match officials at the time.

Maybe Robertson still thinks that is the case nowadays. He hasn’t received the memo about the ABs no longer being unfairly “protected” by match officials.

Let’s face it - there was a time, not too long ago, where players from other teams were almost too afraid to touch or tackle a New Zealand player, for fear of incurring the referee's wrath.

And also, around the same time, NZ captain Richie McCaw was the “golden boy” amongst match officials and even amongst the big brass at the (then) IRB (now World Rugby).

Dont get me wrong, I’m an admirer of McCaw as a player and captain - I think he was great. And I will ALWAYS regard the All Blacks as a great Rugby team.

BUT let’s just be realistic, the New Zealand Rugby fraternity do tend to have this rather large sense of entitlement when it comes to test matches won or lost.

They expect other teams to accept it whenever a dubious decision goes the All Blacks’ way in a game.

BUT they don’t seem willing to do the same.

They'll routinely congratulate their opponents when they lose a match, but will then (for months, or even years afterwards), continue to bleat and “bitch” about a decision or incident that occurred in that match, trying to play the “victim” that was hard-done-by.

Perhaps it’s time for all involved in NZ Rugby to realize and accept that NO team should expect to have the right to always be “protected” or “favoured” in every match they play in.


Come on Scott Robertson, quit sinking to the low levels of some of your predecessors who, annoyingly, believed that the All Blacks have some divine, inalienable right to win every match they play.

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