Amazing Successes in Super Rugby; Melbourne Rebels & Jaguares

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At the start of the 2018 Super Rugby season, changes to the conference system took much of the attention. Reduced teams would mean that it would be a tough year of ‘adjusting to change’. But recent successes from the Melbourne Rebels and Jaguares, have added more intrigue to the projected placings.

Not that Last Word on Rugby have made any predictions, but there was an assumptions that the Lions would be the strongest team in the South African conference. That the ACT Brumbies should be the most competent team in the altered Australian conference, and that the champion Crusaders would still be the strongest in the leading New Zealand conference.

Yet, all of those teams have been beatable. On multiple occasions now, each of the presumed leaders have not returned with victories. Often in away matches, those early expectations have instead seen lesser names shine. The Melbourne Rebels having the most success…..and incredibly currently lead the competition.

Amazing Successes in Super Rugby; Melbourne Rebels & Jaguares

The competition appears to be tougher in 2018. No teams has established a superiority. The New Zealand teams have been busy with the fiercest local derby matches out of all the conferences. The internal battles have been entertaining, while being the toughest test so far.

When some sides have traveled, it has thrown in a mix of results. Magnified this week, in the second ever loss by the Emirates Lions, to the South American Jaguares. Grouped with the South African conference, the ‘local derby’ saw the Lions lose yet again, when visiting Buenos Aires.

This follows the surprise loss to the Auckland Blues, who stole a famous – and intermittent – win on the road. It removes some of the shine of the Lions, who still have a tough trip to New Zealand approaching. This loss to the Jaguares was unexpected, with few punters backing the home side.

Melbourne Rebels – a Revelation in 2018

Most spectacular of the teams to enjoy success in 2018, is the Melbourne franchise. In a state where the union game is third in popularity; behind Aussie Rules and League, the Rebels often find it hard to make the sports news pages.

That will have changed, with their success in 2018, four wins from five matches sealing that. Their style is one of high scoring, and the side has shown plenty of heart in recent weeks. This latest win over the Sharks, might well be their finest success of the season to date (or one of the best in their history to date).

And their task does not get any easier. In the next weeks, they must face trans-Tasman matches that will test the sides spine. Firstly the 2016 champion Hurricanes side. They then follow that up with a match against Jaguares.

And that fixture will bring two sides together, who have enjoyed different levels of success.

Jaguares claim another Lions scalp

Beside this latest victory, the Jaguares are sitting nowhere near the right end of the table. Placed in fourth position within the five South African conference sides–only the Bulls sit below them [although the Bulls hold a game in hand].

The Jaguares 49-35 win is impressive. The match report talks of the hosts holding the advantage throughout the game. A 25-14 halftime lead was held, including three penalties that provided a healthy 14 point margin. The only negative being no bonus point, although denying the visitors any points at all, will assist the conference in reigning in the Lions.

However, this second win is still not going to satisfy coach Mario Ledesma. He will have wanted more from the early run of home games, and means that the week 8 fixture against the Crusaders is ‘must win’. And that is not an easy proposition.

Next two-thirds of Super Rugby season the true Test

If fans of the Melbourne Rebels and the Jaguares are to have any satisfaction, then a winning trend must continue. Especially for the Argentine team, who need to catch the Sharks and Stormers, before they consider any attempt at redressing the Lions lead.

Having already faced them in the reverse fixture, the South Americans must take this win and multiply it. That is what the Melbourne team have done best. After their week two victory, it motivated the Rebels to their 33-10 win over the ACT Brumbies (see main photo). A solid win, the bonus point had given them their best ever start in Super Rugby history.

And it is history that they must carry on making, if their goals of carrying on with such good form can continue. Not many will have expected that the Rebels had much chance. Signing current Wallaby Will Genia was a coup, that has reaped reward. While the signing of ex-Western Force players like Dane Haylett-Petty and Jermaine Ainsley, Tetera Faulkner and Ben Daley has aided Rugby Australia’s franchise choice, plenty had questioned if the Victorian team were the best choice by SANZAAR. Yet in 2018, the high performing Rebels must surely be a reinforcing the decision.

If the Melbourne Rebels, and the Jaguares, continue to surprise this season, then other sides will take them more seriously. From the Crusaders to the Hurricanes, visiting the two sides will no longer be a ‘gimme’. As seen over this opening third of Super Rugby, they will each feel confident to defend their home patch now.

“Main photo credit”
Embed from Getty Images

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