I went, I saw ... and I have to say, neither team conquered, but that's what you expect in a trial game. Unless it's a blow out like some of the other games this weekend (and the Reds v Crusaders a week ago).
I must confess my plans to wear red and black underwent a bit of a change - in deference to the pain in the ass weather we're having in Melbourne at present rather than a change of heart.
But I did still wear my red and black beanie (and had to defend it once a Rebels beanie was purchased to replace it).
The 13,013 crowd at AAMI Park wasn't quite split down the middle. But there were plenty of red and black jerseys around, and they were reinforced by a fair number of blue and yellow; red,black and yellow (hello Highlander and Chiefs fans) and even some black jerseys, so the Canterbury boys weren't short of supporters.
There continues to be a strong prevalence of New Zealand and South African accents at the Rebels matches (in Ballarat the two guys behind me in the porta-loo que were nattering away in Afrikaans wearing Rebels polo shirts).
That's not to say there are no Australians supporting rugby union in Melbourne - I just mean that ex-pats from the other tri-nations countries are strongly represented. But I spose that's to be expected, this is what we've all been hanging out for - LIVE rugby in our own backyard.
So, to the particulars. Both sides had some shocking periods of ball handling. For a while there it looked like no-one on a wing could catch a ball for love or money (it didn't help the Crusaders cause that, on the right wing at least, the player was a forward - a big one, with a small number on his back).
But there were some moments of brilliance. Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland showed class on the left wing and they combined for some great runs, the pace of which the Rebels seemed to hard pressed to match, in the first half at least.
The Canterbury defense absorbed a hell-of-a-lotta pressure in the first spell (the first try to Matt Todd seemed to come against the run of play) and did well to hold out, but when the competition starts in earnest, first tackles have to be made - and on Saturday night too many of them weren't.
There were some great ones though - thank you Robbie Fruean - and obviously both sides are still shaking off the cobwebs and ironing out the kinks; and, with each try raising $3,000 for flood relief, there was some good to come out of the few that got through.
I was looking forward to the head-to-head between Greg Somerville and Wyatt Crockett in the front row. The pair traded honours in the first period with penalties going each way. But I think the Crusaders scrum was the better of the two in the second half, the Rebels never really got good clean ball from the back.
All in all, a successful night out. Nobody who's watched the Crusaders in previous years will write them off due to a rusty performance in the pre-season. And with Brad Thorn, Dan Carter and Kieran Read coming back next week, the Highlanders will be kept very busy (and I think their fans fairly quiet).
The Rebels on the other hand proved they are nobody's whipping boys or easy beats.
SIDEBAR: This is unfortunate for the other Australian and New Zealand teams as it virtually guarantees at least 2 South African teams in the top 6 as the Sharks and the Bulls will almost certainly come away with maximum points every time they play the Cheetahs or the Lions.
But, back to the Rebels - that was my one game of 'disloyalty' and I will now assume my seat in row E safe in the knowledge that I can be 100% behind the boys in blue .... unless by some miracle they make it to the top 6 ....
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