A MATT TOOMUA-INSPIRED Melbourne Rebels put NSW Waratahs to the sword today in a 29-10 win for their first back-to-back Super Rugby victories over the Sydney-based team.
The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against the ‘Tahs earlier this year and a masterclass from Wallaby fly-half Toomua was again at the heart of their performance.
He booted five penalties and two conversions while directing operations from midfield as his side scored two tries to Waratahs’ one. It handed them a maiden victory in Super Rugby AU, after a draw and a loss.
“A bit of a reward, we had a really good week’s prep and it paid off,” said Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty. “From the very first minute we felt like we controlled the game and we were able to close it out this time, turn pressure into points at the end.”
The Waratahs have managed only one victory from four in the domestic competition, with ill-discipline costly them dearly, conceding 17 penalties today.
Alex Newsome, the stand-in skipper after Rob Simmons went off injured, admitted they gave away too much possession and paid the price for twice being reduced to 14 men.
“I think (ill-discipline) has been a bit of an issue for us this whole competition and it snuck in again today,” he said.
“Too many rolling away penalties and offsides and it’s really hurting us. But full credit to the Rebels, they had 70% possession and 70% territory. They got the jump on us physically tonight as well.”
The Rebels started strongly and had a try disallowed for a knock-on after just three minutes, before the trusty boot of Toomua put them in front.
The advantage didn’t last long after Reece Hodge lobbed a careless pass which Newsome intercepted, sprinting to the line, with Will Harrison converting.
But poor discipline started creeping into the Waratahs’ game and they gave away two penalities in quick succession which Toomua expertly put through the posts, before Harrison pulled back three points after some aggressive attacking play.
The Waratahs were straying offside too often and the referee finally had enough, yellow carding Wallabies captain Michael Hooper.
It proved costly with the Rebels bagging 10 points while he was in the sin bin, including a try for Ryan Louwrens to give them a 19-10 half-time lead.
The second period proved tighter, with the Rebels dominating possession and creating chances with some hard running without being able to breach the ‘Tahs defence.
But the home team eventually ran out of steam when Jed Holloway became their second player yellow carded and Marika Koroibete clinched the game with three minutes left after finally punching through their defensive line for a well-earned try.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
I was thinking the same yesterday. Can you imagine a player like Aidan O’Shea was left on the bench for a whole game. There would be a mutiny the day after their championship campaign ended.
@Ned Flanders: cheap shot. O’Shea showed he is the ultimate team player by switching to a totally new position over the last 2 games to help the team get over the line. I guess haters are always gonna hate though
@Pepper Brooks: ultimate team player? That particular tactic nearly blew up in mayos face. In the replay he was soloing around his 21 half way through second half and trying 40 yard outside of boot passes that ran out over the line. If kerry hadnt panicked and had taken points earlier rather than going for goals when 7 down it could have been a very different
@Pepper Brooks: O’Shea wouldn’t make the Dublin bench.
Juniors maybe
@johnnyA the game is also about opinions,for you it’s bitter and twisted against Dublin,while us Dublin fan’s are enjoying every minute of this great Team,so happy days for us Ha Ha ha
@alan dodrill: *fans
It’s a great achievement to show humility when you’re strolling through the championship. Fair play to the Dublin/AIG players for being such good winners. If Gavin exerts such control he must endorse or at least turn a blind eye to the playacting. Cooper at it again yesterday. McCarthy and McCaffrey at it the last day – good footballers but while their fans have brought the worst aspects of UK terrace culture to Gaelic Games the players have brought Neymar type playacting into our national sport. Great lads all the same.
@Johnny A: Why not just enjoy the football instead of always having a bitch , life is too short
@Tony Talbot: the football championship used to mean something. Now it’s completely hollow. Very few meaningful contests – certainly none when Dublin/AIG are involved. Instead of mitigating their natural advantages – population, money, home advantage – the GAA have bolstered these and set them in stone. Teams like Tyrone and Monaghan now come up to Croker with ridiculous defensive systems just to keep the score down. The GAA have to look at the population and reconsider a split – for example Dublin North/AIG & Dublin South/HSBC. There should be an equalisation process with the corporate loot – they should be allowed keep 20-30% with the rest being redistributed. And they should be kept out of Croker a lot more – why not make them play an away semi final for example. I’ll enjoy it then.
@Johnny A: have to hand it to you mate you have bitterness to a new level. Short memories like most non dubs. This golden era has more to do wirh jim gavin than anything else.Maybe he should only be allowed manage smaller counties?
@Johnny A: explain 1995 – 2011??
If you split Dublin now you’d risk an all Dublin All Ireland final and that would be worse! Did you see the bench. Dublin A Vs Dublin B would be some game!
Other counties need to stop making excuses… Kerry has the same population as Wicklow as is the most successful football county by far
Also, let’s split Kilkenny into North & South and actually while we’re at what about the most successful football county, Kerry…well over due a split!!
@Brendan Farrell: if you think a 2 way split isn’t enough and they’d still be too strong then a 4 way split would be ideal. Could be 4 Dublin zones – AIG1, AIG2, AIG3, AIG4. Have their own provincial championship. The metropolitan cup or something like that.
@paddy: I wouldn’t call it bitterness – more like constructive hate.