SUPER RUGBY 2024, GAME TWO. MELBOURNE REBELS V ACT BRUMBIES FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY, 2024,
AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE
REBELS
It’s gone from bad to worse for the Rebels as they enter season 2024 staring down dissolution within weeks. Entering administration earlier in the year, it’s been revealed the club is more than 20 million in debt, while their CEO Baden Stephenson and several administration staff were made redundant a week out from their season opener. While Rugby Australia has confirmed the Rebels will play out the season, distractions off the field could play a huge role in the team’s performance on it. Off-field issues aside, the Rebels have built an impressive roster with Taniela Tupou the big name signing alongside Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu. The inclusions of All Black Matt Proctor and English international scrum-half Jack Maunder makes it one of the most internationally capped squads the Rebels have assembled. Meanwhile, all eyes will no doubt be on Carter Gordon following last year’s World Cup and how well he can bounce back from disappointment, so too the many Wallabies players scattered through the team. With a solid roster and a decent draw including two home games first up and a trip to Mt Smart to face Moana the Rebels have the perfect opportunity to quiet the noise early and make a mark on the competition, otherwise it could be a long and sad demise for the club.
2023 HISTORY
It was another year full of potential for the Rebels only to finish the season outside the top eight and out of playoff contention. Yet again their inability to close out matches proved costly while several blowout losses sent them tumbling down the ladder to finish 11th. Big wins over the Waratahs, Reds and Force showed the team’s gritty potential, and their impressive attacking ability, but an injury crisis cruelled any potential. Without Rob Leota and Matt Philip for much of the season, the Rebels were already hit hard up front, but the side soon became a group of walking wounded with the tight five decimated as the season went on with Alex Mafi, Trevor Hosea – who was one of the competition’s leading lineout winners — and Pone Fa’amausili spending time on the sidelines. Add to that Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge from the backline and the team had little chance of becoming a cohesive unit.
BRUMBIES
Larkham has steeled his focus on the Brumbies after he was overlooked for the Wallabies job in favour of Joe Schmidt, but he is armed with the knowledge that a Super Rugby title in either of the next two seasons would make him an almost irresistible candidate to succeed the Kiwi. And he has a squad to do just that, despite the loss of key veterans Nic White and Pete Samu. White’s shift to the Force creates the opportunity for Ryan Lonergan to truly own the No. 9 role, while Reimer and Scott will battle for the right to partner Hooper and Valetini in the back-row. As is the case with all the Australian teams, the Wallabies’ early World Cup exit means players returned to preseason earlier than ever, and if Valetini’s comments after his John Eales Medal win are anything to go by there is a real burning desire to hit the ground running in 2024. Just which way Larkham turns at No. 10 will be interesting, with Noah Lolesio’s World Cup joker stint in Toulon sure to have been of great value, and Debreczeni looks to really push his case for a Test call-up after a fine return to Super Rugby last year. The Brumbies have what looks like a soft start to the year, making their Super Round clash with the Chiefs a huge contest; win that, and they may well be on a path to a top-two finish, something that has proved a bridge too far the past two seasons. Allan Alaalatoa, meanwhile, is believed to be targeting a return from his Achilles rupture midway through the year.
2023 HISTORY
It was another semifinal finish for the Brumbies in 2023, with their campaign ending in New Zealand for a second straight year. That defeat away to the Chiefs must have had coach Stephen Larkham questioning his decision to send a weakened team across the Nullabor to Perth in Round 13 of the regular season, a defeat that ended up costing the Brumbies second spot and a home semifinal. Still after seeing off an Ardie Savea-inspired Hurricanes in a dramatic Canberra quarterfinal, the Brumbies had their chances early against the Chiefs, but were unable to turn sustained field position and possession into scoreboard pressure. Still, they were by far and away the best performed Australian outfit, with Rob Valetini, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright and a rejuvenated Jack Debreczeni often leading the way. It’s true, too, that Larkham also had to juggle Wallabies rest weeks, so criticism of the Force call must be tempered somewhat. Elsewhere, Corey Toole’s transition back to 15s from the Australia sevens squad was outstanding, while the likes of Rory Scott and Luke Reimer showed the benefits of another season under breakdown guru Laurie Fisher.
I am going to go for the away team here. The Rebels can certainly win this game and really they must or the whole season is in trouble, but the Brumbies will not make it easy for them. I expect to see the Brumbies in the top four teams this year so a good start is needed. Nick White has also headed west to join the Western Force, which leaves opportunities for other number 9’s.
Watch out for review of Game three also. Hurricanes v Force
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