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Rebels capitalise on Higginbotham red, Highlanders beat Blues in thriller
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Reds captain Scott Higginbotham was shown an early red card against his former club as the Rebels started a new era with a resounding 45-19 Super Rugby win and the Highlanders beat the Blues in Aaron Mauger's first game in charge.
Australia number eight Higginbotham was dismissed after only 10 minutes at AAMI Park on Friday for a shoulder charge, making contact with Matt Philip's head.
Tries from Duncan Paia'aua and Samu Kerevi put the Queensland side in front, despite being down to 13 with Lukhan Tui in the sin-bin, but it proved to be a miserable start to life under Brad Thorn.
Debutant Will Genia pulled the strings against his ex-employers and the new-look Rebels moved into a 26-14 lead at the break, Sefa Naivalu claiming a double either side of a Tom English score before Dane Haylett-Petty dotted down on his bow for the Melbourne franchise.
Haylett-Petty, who followed new head coach Dave Wessels from the defunct Western Force to Victoria, added a second try and Jack Debreczeni helped himself to a brace of his own as the Rebels got their season up and running in style after surviving the
Super Rugby cull - matching the tally of victories they achieved last season.
The Highlanders came out on top in a Dunedin thriller, seeing off the Blues 41-34.
Bryn Gatland, son of Wales head coach Warren, scored 19 points - including one of four Blues tries - and Akira Ioane went over the whitewash twice to establish a 31-24 lead early in the second half.
The 2015 champions got Mauger off to a victorious start, though, Rob Thompson and Teihorangi Walden scoring two tries apiece and Siate Tokolahi also weighing in with a five-pointer in an enthralling clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with Lima Sopoaga scoring 13 points from the tee.
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Latest Comments
Which people exactly?
Go to commentsWas anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.
Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).
This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.
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