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Rebels reflect positively on 'lessons' and 'experience' after elimination
By AAP
Melbourne Rebels flanker Brad Wilkin believes his team can build on this year's performances in the Super Rugby Pacific after their current season limped to an end with a 33-17 loss to the ACT Brumbies.
The Rebels had harboured hopes of squeezing into the playoffs after the Blues' victory over the Highlanders on Friday but the defeat in Canberra for Kevin Foote's injury-hit side brought a close to a frustrating campaign.
"We've got a platform there now where we know how we want to play, what that looks like and what it takes to win," Wilkin said.
"There's some lessons that we learned this year and what we need to do better to get those wins. It's a learning experience for a lot of guys.
"The group is very strong and we'll keep working towards next year. We'll be a lot better for it."
The loss to the Brumbies, who finished the regular season as Australia's highest-placed team in fourth, was the Rebels' 10th defeat from 14 games.
Only the winless Moana Pasifika, with 13 defeats from 13 going into Saturday's clash with the NSW Waratahs, finished below them in the ladder.
Head coach Foote was unhappy his team had been unable to keep their Super Rugby campaign alive for at least another week.
"It's very disappointing," he said.
"It's not where we set our goals to be. We played some really good rugby this year.
"It's a really nice group to coach and I feel really disappointed that it's come to an end.
"Sometimes you get to these points of the season and the group's a bit drifted or they're not all committed, but I never felt like that with this group."
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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