Things were a bit different this week.
For one thing, I'm across the Tasman and away from my beloved IQ, which meant I had to get up at (what I deem to be) a horrendous time on Sunday morning to do things the old fashioned way and watch replays.
For another - I do have the Rugby Channel :) which means rugby anytime I like during the week including old and European games, and for a third - the Rebels finally strung together 2 in a row and claimed their first scalp on the road.
It was one for the record books either way in Perth: the Rebels had never won on the road, and the Force hadn't won at home all season. One of these had to change, and I'm quiet happy about the way things turned out.
Now, I obviously didn't watch the game in Melbourne, but I have it on good authority (he told me himself) that my usually calm and self-possessed boyfriend was yelling at the TV - usually my job - and getting all worked up about the close finish, apparently I've introduced a new of stress ....suck it up princess ....
I can quite understand the sentiment. It was a cracking finish to what started out like any other Rebels game on the road: 12 minutes in - 9 missed tackles, 2 tries conceded and no ball. It looked like the 'good' Rebels forgot to get on the team bus and stayed behind at AAMI Park.
But wait, what happened next? The Rebels scrum dominated, Danny Cipriani slotted a couple, Mark Gerrard got sin binned for a high tackle that wasn't, and the Rebels put together 26 - that's right, count 'em, 26 phases.
The Dr Jekyll Rebels were well and truly in control and put the Mr Hyde Rebels firmly back in their box. Now, if only we can convince them to start a game that way rather than hemorrhaging points in the first quarter.
Hugh Pyle's intercept try, his first in Super Rugby ('this is my try, there are many like it but this one is mine' - I can't help it, every time the commentators mention him my brain goes Full Metal Jacket) was against the run of play and helped lift the Rebels playing away from their vocal support-base.
Gerrard was in fine form - and retains his unbeaten streak in navy (or white), and Cipriani's cheeky cross field kick to Richard Kingi - while the Force camped out under the posts expecting him to kick the penalty - sublime.
The forwards put in another strong performance; notably Somerville, Lipman and Saffy, Nick Phipps had a blinder and Mortlock was all over the park in defence. The Rebels now head into the bye with confidence.
Elsewhere in Super-land:
The Highlanders dispatched the Brumbies in the deep south, with all their tries in Invercargill scored by the front row - Hooker Jason Rutledge scored a double, one on each wing.
Poor discipline should have kept the Brumbies in touch, but Matt Giteau had a shocking night with the boot - he had to score his first points like everyone else, going over the chalk.
The Highlanders competed strongly, and not always legally, at the breakdown and came away with the win.
The Chiefs couldn't take advantage of their best playing conditions in weeks as their handling let them down again in Sydney. Rod Kafer said the Chiefs weren't hungry on defense, I'm going one further to say that in the first half they looked down-right lazy with no one committed to the breakdown.
The Blues should have put up a much more convincing total over the Cheetahs in Whangarei. Fifteen minutes in my Dad asked how the Cheetahs were going and I had to say I couldn't tell - all I'd seen them do was tackle Blues players. The Blues had all the ball in the world, just didn't seem to be able to use it effectively, running all over the park, but struggling to break the advantage line.
They only just hung on as the Cheetahs finished with a strong last quarter (and had 2 tries properly disallowed).
The Hurricanes, oh the Hurricanes. They were back in yellow this week at McLean Park, but it didn't seem to help. The big boots of Morne Steyn and Fourie du Preez kept the Bulls out in front on territory and the score board. The South Africans had 2 penalties and a drop goal before Daniel Kirkpatrick even had his first shot at goal - which fell well short.
The Bulls didn't seem interested in crossing the try line, and the Hurricanes couldn't get near it until the 45th minute when Serge Lilo crashed over.
It was a messy game, and both sides gave away too many penalties, 41 penalties in all; 22 for the Hurricanes and 19 for the Bulls.
Exellent review Rugby Grrrl but I continue to be highly disappointed at Cipriani and his playing style. Agree that the crossfield kick for the Rebels try was indeed sublime but overall I'd argue that a. his kicking out of hand (or, indeed, off the tee) is nothing out of the ordinary, b. defensively he's a liability and most damning of all, c. he does absolutely nothing that doesn't make him look good while he's doing it. He's a show pony. Any first five worth his salt (Carter, Steyn, take your pick) will do the hard yards when necessary, clear out when under pressure, and so on. Cipriani will do nothing that doesn't involve cheeky little flip passes that don't ruffle his hair or dirty his shirt. Compare and contrast the relentless workrate of the Rebel forwards and yes indeed, even the backs (particularly Gerrard and Mortlock)and "Danny" looks even more pedestrian and full of himself.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more Dadwardo.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice the stern words from Mortlock after his brain explosion taking the Force player out?He looked like a sulky little boy.
I haven't seen the Rebels play in heavy rain, and thereof mud, but I'm sure Danny's uniform would be spotless regardless.