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Rebels win comes at injury cost as Quade Cooper does the double over Brad Thorn

By Online Editors
Quade Cooper receives medical attention during his side's 30-24 win over the Reds. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Melbourne have cracked a confidence-boosting win over Queensland to reaffirm their position at the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference.

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The Rebels ran in four tries to two for a 30-24 victory at AAMI Park on Friday for a welcome victory after three successive losses.

It was far from their best performance but it allowed Melbourne to move four points clear of their nearest rivals, the Brumbies, at least until their game in Canberra against the Sunwolves on Sunday afternoon to complete the round.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels said it was a game that in the past they may have lost so he felt his team had taken a “big step forward”.

“There’s a big growth in our team in our ability to control our emotions and get on to the next job,” Wessels said.

“We were leading tonight and then the game could have gone either way and maybe in the past we would have let some soft moments go, but we hung in there, played tough and strangled them.”

Despite dominating possession, territory and having the benefit of two Reds’ yellow cards, the Rebels only held a three point lead at halftime.

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Queensland lost skipper Samu Kerevi for tackling Will Genia in the air while Scott Higginbottom faced the same fate after illegally collapsing a maul with their discipline telling throughout the match.

After winger Marika Koroibete opened their scoring Melbourne took a leaf out of the Brumbies’ playbook and used their rolling maul for hooker Anaru Rangi to rumble across.

Queensland’s first half try was scored by Isaac Lucas, who replaced injured fullback Hamish Stewart midway through the half.

The Australian under-20s representative showed some individual brilliance to turn Koroibete inside out before touching down.

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Melbourne scored twice early in the second half to push the margin out to 24-11 but they were unable to shake the visitors.

The Rebels lost five-eighth Quade Cooper to a head-knock while he tried to tackle Kerevi.

Wessels said Cooper had concussion, putting him doubt for next Friday’s clash with the Bulls.

A minute later Reds prop Harry Hoopert was across the line, while the conversion and then a penalty strike by Bryce Hegarty kept their team in the game.

But the Rebels defence stood up to repel the visitors’ hopes of an upset and they were forced to settle for a bonus point.

Reds coach Brad Thorn said there was a lot to like about his team despite falling short.

“There was a lot of good stuff out there around the set piece – some real dominance there – and when we had the ball we were using it well and defensively there were some big shots,” Thorn said.

“The yellow cards didn’t help and there were a few other moments that put a bit of pressure on.”

Stewart’s shoulder will be further assessed back in Brisbane, with the coach fearful it could be serious.

AAP

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Trevor 1 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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Bull Shark 5 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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