Hobbled Rebels no answer for Super Sharks
Frustrated Melbourne coach Dave Wessels says his Super Rugby team failed to win the "big moments" in their disappointing 36-24 loss to the Sharks in Ballarat.
Playing their first match in country Victoria, the Rebels were looking to back up their impressive breakthrough win over the Waratahs.
They were in the hunt early on before being ultimately outplayed by the Durban-based side, with Springboks winger Makozole Mapimpi scoring two tries among their haul of five.
"I'm just frustrated that we lost so many big moments in the game," Wessels said.
"We can sit here and say we feel unlucky about this or that but that's not helpful.
"We didn't control the things we can control in the big moments and therefore we lost the game.
"We need to have a proper discussion about why we lost the moments that mattered."
The Rebels had a disrupted build-up, losing a number of key players including Wallabies Matt Toomua and Reece Hodge to injury, and then cen tre Campbell Magnay in the final training run, forcing them to play two halfbacks on the bench as their only available backs.
But that couldn't be blamed for the loss, with the Sharks making the most of any attacking opportunity.
The period either side of halftime proved crucial, with the Sharks scoring a try in the 39th minute when five-eighth Curwin Bosch through a long cut-out pass that appeared to float more than a metre forward.
South African referee AJ Jacobs didn't hesitate before awarding the five-pointer to Madosh Tambwe and a successful conversion gave the visitors a 22-10 lead into the break.
Soon after halftime the Sharks found themselves down to 13 men, with hooker Kerron Van Vuuren yellow-carded for a tip tackle on Marika Koroibete.
Four minutes later Tambwe joined him for intentional off-side.
But the Sharks smartly wound down valuable minutes on the clock, making the most of the Rebels' decision to elect for a scrum.
The Sharks wasted six minutes by repeatedly forcing scrum resets and the Rebels were only able secure one try, scored through Isi Naisarani, despite the big numerical advantage.
The 49th minute conversion brought the margin to five points but that was as close as the Rebels got.
Hooker Anaru Rangi crossed in the 78th minute to make the margin more respectable but it was a disappointing afternoon for the home side.
Skipper Dane Haylett-Petty said it felt like the match was closer than the scoreline suggested.
"Scoreboard aside it felt like a really even tussle and for 90 per cent of the game it would have been hard to tell who was on top but as Dave said, we lost some key moments and you pay for it in this competition," Haylett-Petty said.
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Finau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
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