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Rebels have no answer for Super Crusaders

Crusaders player Oli Jager is tackled during the Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Canterbury Crusaders (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Melbourne Rebels have been unable to square the ledger with the Kiwi teams, crashing to a 42-17 defeat by the heavyweight Crusaders to wrap up Super Round in Melbourne.

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In the early game on Sunday at AAMI Park, which hosted five Super Rugby Pacific matches over the weekend, the Brumbies got the sole Australian win over a New Zealand team, beating the Highlanders 28-17.

The NSW Waratahs went down to the Chiefs 51-27 on Friday night while the Queensland Reds blew a 17-point lead to lose to the Hurricanes 30-17.

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      Melbourne’s hopes of an upset weren’t helped by losing veteran midfielder Matt Toomua to a head knock 13 minutes in, replaced by youngster Carter Gordon, who has only had one start at 10 this season.

      The Rebels were in the hunt at halftime, trailing 7-3 with No.8 Cullen Grace the sole tryscorer with the Crusaders making a swag of uncharacteristic errors.

      But the men from Christchurch put the hammer down immediately after the break with the h ome side unable to match them for skill or pace.

      Rebels coach Kevin Foote said missing 34 first-up tackles meant his team were gassed, while the Crusaders in comparison only missed six.

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      “I think halftime we’re right in it but we had too many first phase errors so we couldn’t get any attack at them,” Foote said.

      “Even at the end of the game to score two tries showed the guys kept believing, but we are disappointed.”

      “The message at halftime was if you hit the first time tackles, you don’t have to run 30 metres backwards to go and scramble, so we will look at that.”

      All Blacks flanker Ethan Blackadder scored twice within 10 minutes to push the lead out to 19-3 by the 53rd minute.

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      Argentina captain Pablo Matera was another of the Crusaders’ stars, with a hand in two tries.

      In the second the flanker showed his skills by toeing the ball ahead before reeling it in and recycling, with Tamaiti Williams finding the line for the Crusade rs’ fourth try of the night.

      Melbourne made the scoreline more respectable with Reece Hodge running on to a Gordon grubber into the in-goal to score before hard-working lock Matt Philip was rewarded with a try.

      But the Crusaders had the final say with winger Leicester Fainga’anuku managing to wrestle the ball down despite the efforts of three Rebels defenders.

      Coach Scott Robertson said his team unnecessarily complicated their attack.

      “Early on we made so many opportunities we didn’t know which one to take,” he said.

      “More of our a mindset was to complete them and put pressure on them straight away but we kept them in the game.

      “We got there in the end – the frustration could have got to us but we kept a clear head.”

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      PL 2 hours ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

      Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


      Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


      The officiating of last feet is non existent

      The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

      A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


      Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

      Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


      About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

      Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


      The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


      I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


      The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

      Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

      Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

      My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


      Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


      Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

      Last feet to last feet + 1 m


      When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


      As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


      Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

      25 were scrum for dissent


      Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


      All the s.ite would disappear


      The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


      Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

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