On Friday night, the Melbourne Rebels started their 2014 Super Rugby campaign, and did so in beautiful fashion, recording a 35-14 win over the Cheetahs. As the game progressed, one phrase kept repeating in my mind: ‘they are playing for each other’.
Coach Tony McGahan has commented in numerous interviews that he wants the team to ‘play for each other’ and it seems he is getting through to them. Right throughout the game the players were playing for each other, not only as a cohesive team unit, but also as individual combinations.
For me this was most evident when it came to support play – no matter where a player was on the field, there was someone right there in support. It was this support that led to the brilliant team try, eventually scored by Lachie Mitchell. The team appeared to almost effortlessly run with the ball and offload with perfect timing, often breaking through tackles, the momentum gained leading to Mitchell’s try. At the breakdown there was always someone there to regather the ball and pass it on to a new pair of hands… I know this is a natural part of the game but they just did it so flawlessly.
One combination that quickly made me take notice (and not JUST because they are both Kiwis!) was the combination between fullback Jason Woodward and centre Tamati Ellison. Woodward and Ellison seemed to read each other instinctively well, and I lost count of the offloads they made to each other. Yes – I was counting – it is what I do.
While the Woodward/Ellison combination stood out to me, it wasn’t the only one. The outside backs trio of Tom English, Lachie Mitchell and Woodward also seemed to work very well together and I don’t think it is a coincidence all three scored tries. Scott Fuglistaller and Scott Higginbotham were two players that were great in support, and I think they are part of why there was such a good understanding between the forwards and backs. A prime example of the cohesion between the forwards and backs, is the sweet little kick Higginbotham put through, which resulted in Woodward’s try. Both Higginbotham and Woodward read the situation perfectly. It sounds cliché, but every single Rebels player stood up and did what was needed and expected of them.
While the support play and various combinations were impressive, when watching the game you also got a feeling that the team have a renewed hunger for the game of rugby. Every single player on the field looked like he wanted to be there and looked proud to be wearing the Melbourne Rebels jersey. They looked comfortable and confident, they looked as if they deserved to be there, they looked excited to be there. More than anything, the Rebels looked like they were a team who was hungry for the win and the Cheetahs never seemed to display that same hunger, that same desire to win.
I was personally hoping for a close match, a real nail-biter, instead it was one way traffic, with the Rebels dominating every aspect of the game. If you had asked me a month ago who I thought would win the Rebels v Crusaders match (which is next weekend), I would have easily answered ‘Crusaders’ but now I just can’t see it happening… I think next week the Rebels are going to upset the Crusaders for the second time, and you know what? I think they will deserve that win.
The Rebel revolution – the ‘Rebelution’, if you will – is well and truly under way.
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