Rebels fightback floors Brumbies

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The Rebels overturned a 16-point half-time deficit to claim a stunning 29-26 win over the Brumbies in Melbourne on Friday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.

When these two teams met in the first round of the competition, the Rebels battled back to claim a 34-27 win, and this time they produced a great escape to clinch a thrilling comeback victory.

It’s a result that sees the Melbourne-based side remain at the top of the Australian conference, while it’s their fourth successive win over the Brumbies.

Consider for a moment that the Rebels began the second half with just 13 men after two players had been sent to the sin bin before the break, while they trailed 19-3.

In that context, they made a quite remarkable start to the second stanza when Marika Koroibete showed great strength to finish off their opening try within the first minute of the restart.


It marked a noticeable momentum shift, and just as the Rebels had been restored to a full complement of players, winger Jack Maddocks was put away for a try in the 52nd minute. Quade Cooper knocked over the conversion, and suddenly the hosts trailed by just four points.


The Brumbies appeared to put that nervy start to the second half behind them when Rob Valetini barged over the tryline just before the hour mark, but Wallabies stalwart Will Genia hit back almost immediately with another five-pointer for the Rebels.

With Genia and Cooper increasingly taking control of proceedings, it was a lovely pass from the latter that next set up a second try to Maddocks. At the 70-minute mark, the Rebels led for the first time, and from there they controlled territory and possession to close out an important victory.

It had been so different early on in this clash. After a dominant period in the red zone in the first quarter, it would be the Brumbies who deservedly struck the first blow when winger Henry Speight superbly finished off a try in the corner.

That was the one highlight in an otherwise rather scrappy opening half-an-hour of play in which, particularly, the Rebels’ discipline let them down, with seven penalties conceded in quick succession.

In that context, it was with a sense of inevitability that Rebels lock Adam Coleman was eventually sent to the sin bin as a result of repeated team infringements, and the Brumbies made them pay immediately when Folau Faingaa dotted down from the back of a driving maul.

To make matters worse for the home side, the Brumbies set up another lineout drive just before the break, and were awarded a penalty try when Rebels prop Matt Gibbon illegally interfered with the tryline-bound maul. Gibbon was duly sent to the sin bin, while the automatic seven-pointer sent the Brumbies into a 19-3 half-time lead.


However, from there the Rebels produced a rousing fightback to maintain an unbeaten start to the season.

Rebels – Tries: Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks (2), Will Genia. Conversions: Quade Cooper (3). Penalty: Cooper.
Brumbies – Tries: Henry Speight, Folau Faingaa, penalty try, Rob Valetini. Conversions: Christian Lealiifano (2).

Rebels – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Adam Coleman, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Matt Gibbon.
Subs: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Luke Jones, 20 Ross Haylett-Petty, 21 Richard Hardwick, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Reece Hodge.

Brumbies – 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Tom Wright, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Christian Lealiifano (c), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Tom Cusack, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 James Slipper, 18 Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Chance Peni.

Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

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Craig Lewis