Rebels 2021

[Rebels3]

One thing I think the Rebels are struggling with atm is they have no identity on the field now. To start the season and in their best performances last year they were a very South African pragmatic style. It’s not pretty but it suits the abrasive style of player they have in their squad and allows them to capitalize on the one area they are better than compared to the other Aus teams which is kicking. They have attempted to expand their game considerably the last couple of weeks but when they have to go toe to toe against other teams they just don’t have the dynamic players other teams do and will more often than not lose that battle.

If you look at the two best teams in Aus both played a couple of years of conservative rugby to build foundations from. Saracens did it years ago with a huge South African influence then built on the game from there. Rebels need to do the same, a couple of weeks is not a foundation. 20/30 games is and only once you have nailed these areas you look to expand on them.

In the past two weeks they have pushed an unusual amount of passes to the sidelines resulting in 2 interceptions last week and this week a lot of isolated players and turnovers. They need to go back to the first two weeks of line speed, territory and contestable kicks making other teams play to our strengths. The try’s will come when teams overplay their hand thinking they need to do something different as they don’t want to get into a dog fight with the Rebels or if they are up with 20mins to go and the opposition needs to throw caution to the wind to catch up. But unfortunately they are trying to prove they can move the ball around, bringing essentially knives to a gun fight against the likes of the Brumbies and Reds.

 

[Rebel man]

I think the issue yesterday is that we actually overplayed at times. Throwing the ball around from side to side between the 50-40m mark of our own half. Eventually turn the ball over and gave a team that couldn’t attack to save their lives the only field territory they would get. I’m confident if we hit the corners more than we did we win that game by 10+, pretty confident that will be on display in the review this week. I can’t recall one contestable kick or many times that we asked them to execute at line out time in their own half. They were playing video game rugby by passing it side to side with no meaningful go forward

We carried the ball 165 times which is twice the amount qld did against us last week and more than the Highlanders did of their spanking of Crusaders last week

Look we just had no clear plan we would crab across the field one way then come back the other. Was just so frustrating to watch

 

[eastman]

I am really liking what sevens players like Anstee, Anderson and Holland are offering to the fifteens game and giving us another good pathway. The skills focus of sevens is giving these players another edge to the games. Shows the value of continuing to invest in sevens to benefits of also super rugby.

This pathway is nothing new- it's exactly how players like Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley and Sean MacMahon started in professional systems.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

This pathway is nothing new- it's exactly how players like Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley and Sean MacMahon started in professional systems.

This pathway is nothing new- it's exactly how players like Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley and Sean MacMahon started in professional systems.

Yep not new but good seeing a big batch of players coming through which more covid related. As been long time between drinks since had good decent batch of players coming through sevens to fifteens as all the players you cited coming from 7's to 15's was many years ago...like I said seen large batch come through which COVID related which reinforces value of 7's pathway

 

[Rebels3]

Look we just had no clear plan we would crab across the field one way then come back the other. Was just so frustrating to watch

Agreed it was so frustrating. The forward pods in attack were not in good shape, some of it caused from the sideways nature. We were also crying out for a big ball runner off first phase or someone in the centres/outside backs that can take a crash ball hit up and win the gain line to bail the team out after a few phases and reset.

Pone also seems to be the man that’s taken over Philip’s role of playing it out the back with the blocker plays. Perhaps they have gone for him because he will attract two defenders to stop the gain line but I’m not sure if it suits his game. Hosea might be the better option here or play Wells tighter to distribute and push Pone wider like the Reds do with Tupou. Philip was really good at it last year for wallabies and Rebels, Brumbies are prob the best in Aus with a nominated forward distributor on blocker plays, staying square, taking it to the line and then distributing it out back to either the 10/12 sweeping around.

 

[swingpass]

One thing I think the Rebels are struggling with atm is they have no identity on the field now. To start the season and in their best performances last year they were a very South African pragmatic style. It’s not pretty but it suits the abrasive style of player they have in their squad and allows them to capitalize on the one area they are better than compared to the other Aus teams which is kicking. They have attempted to expand their game considerably the last couple of weeks but when they have to go toe to toe against other teams they just don’t have the dynamic players other teams do and will more often than not lose that battle.
Agree completely, trying to plan an expansive game when not up to it
If you look at the two best teams in Aus both played a couple of years of conservative rugby to build foundations from. Saracens did it years ago with a huge South African influence then built on the game from there. Rebels need to do the same, a couple of weeks is not a foundation. 20/30 games is and only once you have nailed these areas you look to expand on them.

In the past two weeks they have pushed an unusual amount of passes to the sidelines resulting in 2 interceptions last week and this week a lot of isolated players and turnovers. They need to go back to the first two weeks of line speed, territory and contestable kicks making other teams play to our strengths. The try’s will come when teams overplay their hand thinking they need to do something different as they don’t want to get into a dog fight with the Rebels or if they are up with 20mins to go and the opposition needs to throw caution to the wind to catch up. But unfortunately they are trying to prove they can move the ball around, bringing essentially knives to a gun fight against the likes of the Brumbies and Reds.

Agree trying to play an expansive game without the foundation.

 

[Members Section]

This pathway is nothing new- it's exactly how players like Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley and Sean MacMahon started in professional systems.

Yeah but he was terrible with us after 7's lol

 

[Rebel man]

Rob Leota is leaving. Disappointed to see him go was hoping to see the club really build a foundation of these local boys

 

[Scooter]

Rob Leota is leaving. Disappointed to see him go was hoping to see the club really build a foundation of these local boys

Say what? Where is he going?

 

[Rebel man]

Say what? Where is he going?

France. Saw a post on Instagram announcing it

 

[Pone's Mullet]

France. Saw a post on Instagram announcing it

Can you screenshot pls?

 

[Scooter]

France. Saw a post on Instagram announcing it

Always disappointing to see a Victorian leave.

 

[Rebel man]

So what happens with the Rebels extended squad. It was me that we don’t want them playing Dewar but does that mean they won’t play any rugby until the end of the TT? If so that is terrible

 

[RugbyReg]

I believe they’ll play in Qld and NSW comps.

 

[Blackadder]

Super Rugby 2021: Lachlan Swinton set for Waratahs return as Reece Hodge sidelined for two months (smh.com.au)

Reece out for up to 10 weeks

Rebels have been hit hard by the diagnosis of Reece Hodge’s knee injury.
The Wallabies and Rebels star suffered a grade two MCL injury in Melbourne’s loss to the Force and he will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks.
He will play no further part in the Rebels’ season but is expected to be fit and available for selection in Dave Rennie’s side that faces France in July.

 

[Rebels3]

Super Rugby 2021: Lachlan Swinton set for Waratahs return as Reece Hodge sidelined for two months (smh.com.au)

Reece out for up to 10 weeks

Rebels have been hit hard by the diagnosis of Reece Hodge’s knee injury.
The Wallabies and Rebels star suffered a grade two MCL injury in Melbourne’s loss to the Force and he will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks.
He will play no further part in the Rebels’ season but is expected to be fit and available for selection in Dave Rennie’s side that faces France in July.

I’d like to hear a little more from the ref review on the challenge that caused this. It was reckless verging on unprofessional.

 

[Dctarget]

I’d like to hear a little more from the ref review on the challenge that caused this. It was reckless verging on unprofessional.

Yeah impressive you can take someone out for 2 months without even a penalty.

 

[James GC]

Yeah impressive you can take someone out for 2 months without even a penalty.

I think Rebels staff can bring incidents up with match review board by Monday after the game can't they? It looked bad in realtime the defender to his credit was desperate to stop the drop goal attempt but his follow through was clumbsy and reckless and if that act puts someone out of the game for 3 months then surely there should be some player protection of a kickers planted leg.

 

[Members Section]

If we ever needed a boring bonus point loss its this sunday more than ever,

Pincus back to 15 Glen Viahu back in 22?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Rebels actually need a new coach - we have had years of rebels having talented squad not matched by quality of team cohesion and play on the field. Wessels is not the answer.