Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

High-flying Brumbies wary of Melbourne Rebels with a cause

Rebels' Rob Leota (C) is tackled by the Brumbies' Nick Frost (R) during the Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the ACT Brumbies in Melbourne on February 23, 2024. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite their superior position on the ladder, the ACT Brumbies are wary of a wounded Melbourne Rebels who have everything to play for with a maiden finals berth on the line.

ADVERTISEMENT

The sixth-placed Rebels are in a strong position to qualify for the first Super Rugby Pacific finals campaign in the club’s 14-year history.

Reaching the knockouts would be a lift for the Rebels’ long-suffering fans, with the club in administration and at real risk of folding at the end of the season.

But they still require one win from their last two games to sew up the spot, including a daunting round-14 away trip to the third-placed Brumbies on Friday night.

Brumbies lock Nick Frost is not taking the embattled Rebels lightly.

“It’s a team that we’ve traditionally always had good games against, and we’ve struggled against,” he said.

“They’re a big, physical pack and they’ve got good backline players.

“They’ll be ripping into us. That’s what we want. You want these good games at the end of the year. You don’t really want an easy run.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Winger Ollie Sapsford, who recently secured his future with the Brumbies until the end of 2026, expects the Rebels will have a point to prove.

“It’d be super tough for them,” he said.

Related

“I feel really sorry for the boys down there. A lot of them probably don’t know if they’ve got jobs next year.”

History is in the Brumbies’ favour. The Canberra-based side have won four of their last five encounters with the Rebels, and 13 of 22 in total.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a top-two spot still not out of the equation for his side, Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham knows the importance of a bonus point against the Rebels – but isn’t getting ahead of himself.

“The top two teams, the Blues and the Hurricanes, do have some challenging games coming up but those results are out of our control,” he said.

“The only thing we can do is try and get a performance on the weekend.

“The first priority is to get a win. If we’re in a situation where the game is comfortably won within the last 10 minutes, then we’ll be talking about those scenarios.”

Larkham has made three changes from the Brumbies’ chaotic last-minute penalty-try win over the Crusaders last time out.

Hooker Billy Pollard (knee) and winger Corey Toole (ankle) return to the starting line-up from injury, while lock Tom Hooper has been promoted from the bench.

Rebels coach Kevin Foote will be without Wallabies five-eighth Carter Gordon, who has been ruled out with concussion symptoms.

Foote was happy to welcome back Andrew Kellaway, who missed the side’s narrow loss to the Chiefs as he recuperated from a head knock of his own.

Kellaway’s battle with Brumbies ace Tom Wright, as they each try to tie down the Wallabies fullback jersey, is likely to be a highlight.

“I have a great appreciation for his game sense and how he manages the game,” Foote said of Kellaway.

New tickets for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 are now available, with prices starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Buy now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Final | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wild Knights vs Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Bronze Final | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
O
OJohn 382 days ago

About time the Brumbies pulled their finger out and put in for 80 minutes.

And stop b….. cheating !

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
TokoRFC 1 hour ago
Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

Mate, what TK and Ben Smith are forgetting is that a comp needs more games that matter, and its a balancing act getting that right.

They haven’t understood that having so many teams fighting over the 6th spot is what fueled the back end of the regular season. Not to mention the games to decide the top end of the finals seeding. It would have been a bit flat if the 4 bottom teams were out of the running with a few rounds still to go.


The current finals format is a bit funny to get used to, I agree. But if they sort out the scheduling guff where the BRU vs HUR match could have been a non knockout game, as well as giving more punishment for the lucky looser (dropping them to 4th seed in the semis). The current format creates more meaningful matches than the alternatives.


Some examples of finals formats:


Top 6 14 matches that matter

With the improvements above, the current system creates 6 competitive finals, plus say 8 matches in the regular season that are effectively knockout games. 14 games that definitely matter. Plus some games to decide the finals seeding in there too.


Top 4 10 matches that matter

3 finals matches and say 6 games to fight over the top 4. At a best case you may get 12 crucial games


If offered the choice, the sponsors, the broadcasters, the fans, the players and the all blacks selectors would all take more meaningful games over any alternative format.

19 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Cory Jane signs off on Hurricanes' season with message for All Blacks selectors Cory Jane signs off with message for All Blacks
Search