Will the real Rebels please stand up?

Forget consistency between matches. This week it was more like split personality disorder at AAMI Park as the ‘bad’ Rebels seemed to take the field only to morph into the bloody great Rebels round about the 20 minute mark.

In the first quarter I thought they’d picked up right where they left off in Brisbane and the (many) Hurricanes fans in the crowd seemed intent on being the first to drown out the vocal – and much lauded – local support. However, I’m glad to say things couldn’t have turned out more differently.

There was no soft penalty to cinch this win. The Hurricanes scored three quick tries (a point a minute for the first 17), and then had to wait an hour for their fourth while the Rebels ran in six of their own.

The early Rebels – the bad ones – fell off a multitude of tackles, or went in too high and allowed strong players like Cory Jane, Victor Vito and Conrad Smith to stand in the tackle and get the pass away.

Fortunately things picked up, although the Rebels backline still seems to lack a bit of direction at times. They still seem to be looking for the elusive spark, and this victory really belongs to the forwards who scored four of their six tries.

I have to say this is the first game I can recall, ever, where the ref did not call a single forward pass.

Not because there weren’t any, because oh boy, there were a few – especially once the players seemed to realise that this ref seemed to be blissfully ignorant of the fact that we were playing RUGBY, which means the ball must be passed BEHIND YOU (must have thought he was at the AFL game across the road).

He was also slightly hazy on the ol’ off side rule. I tried to set him straight – numerous times in fact – but I’m not entirely sure he heard me…

Regarding the Hurricanes, I can only say that it seemed their grey jerseys just sucked the life out of them (I know the Crusaders never play 100% when they’re wearing their hideous grey strip).

They’ve never been the strongest team in the competition, mentally, and it showed. There are units within the side that play very well together, but it never seems to quiet carry across the 15, and I don’t see the ‘canes making the top six this year.

Another team who I think will struggle, the Chiefs, weren’t helped by another shocking night of rain in Hamilton.

The first minute kind of summed it up really. Delany, in his 22, slipped while attempting the clearance. The ball didn’t go far, just to Rene Ranger, who then knocked it on. Chiefs kicked it down field again, where Jared Payne couldn’t tidy it up. Liam Messam slid in for five points.

The Blues were unable to take advantage of very similar circumstances late in the second half, and, having turned down an easy three points, set about initiating a full five minutes of scrum resets … I counted at least six … before opting to go for the posts.

The second half began as the first had ended – with a scrum. Although this one was on halfway after the Chiefs re-start didn’t go the 10. Happened twice during the game and, in those conditions was simply unforgivable.

Now, after the excitement of the Rebels game (the only one I didn’t pick right this week I must add – although I still dropped 6,000 places L), I knew it was greedy of me to keep my high hopes for the Crusaders Sharks battle royale at Twickenham, but I’m glad I did ‘cos it was a CRACKER.

The first game of Super Rugby to be played in the Northern Hemisphere, and although we still had a southern ref, Kiwi come Aussie Steve Walsh who’d been on Six Nations duty the week before, this was the first I’ve heard called by completely neutral commentators (but former Crusader and All Black Justin Marshall did chip in and contribute a little antipodean flavour).

The BSKYB team seemed genuinely excited to be seeing this game live and in person and definitely had their favourites; Bismarck du Plessis, Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams. Although the way the game unfolded we certainly heard a lot more about the latter two than poor little Bismarck (I can only say that as I’m hundreds of miles away and he doesn’t know where I live).

The Englishmen described this as ‘gorgeous rugby’, and they weren’t wrong.

Willem Alberts benefited from something I’ve griped about in this blog before – the ‘not held’ vs ‘release the tackler / ball’ conundrum – but this was the first of four tries for the Sharks.

The Crusaders however seemed to be able to break the advantage line at will in the first half. The backs ran fantastic angles, hit the line at pace and, of course, SBW threw his miracle off loads. These were real team tries, Maitland, Carter, Fruean, Guilford, Dagg and Williams were all involved, and often.

It was great to hear the sounds of Dave Dobbyn, Split Endz and Supergroove echoing around the London ground as the Crusaders dotted down their five tries.

 All in all, an impressive day at the office. But the Crusaders will feel a little disappointed for letting in Potgieter for a gift five points a minute after their third try (Guilford's) and just before half time. It gave the Sharks a sniff and they came out with the momentum in the second half.