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'There's a softness in our group that's crept in' - Rebels rue another wasted play-offs chance
By Online Editors
Devastated Melbourne coach Dave Wessels says his team needs to harden up if they are to take the next step and play Super Rugby finals.
The Rebels required only a win for a maiden play-off berth but fell 59-8 to a rampant Chiefs at AAMI Park, which wrecked any hope.
Melbourne started the season with a flourish and looked well on track for a top-eight berth but lost seven of their nine games - the last two in humiliating fashion.
It's the second year in succession they've blown their chance of finals with a last-round defeat.
Wessels said his team, stacked with Wallabies, became soft and lost confidence.
"One of the things is that there's a softness in our group that's crept in and obviously that's been started by me in some way," the coach said after the match.
"When we get ourselves in tough moments we don't deal with those things, particularly against more physical opposition we tend to do silly things so that's the most frustrating thing.
"We just don't have the confidence to play as maybe we have in previous weeks."
Wessels put his hand up for his role in the season capitulation and felt he deserved to have some anger directed his way.
"I haven't done my job in the last couple of weeks and I think there will be people out there who are angry about that and they should be so I have to have a long, hard think about what I'm going to do differently," he said.
He forecast personnel changes as the club searched for a harder, winning edge.
"There are certain guys, and I might be included in that, that need to ask are we tough enough to do this as it's a very hard competition.
"If you're going to win it you have to be on every week and at times we haven't been on or have put the white flag up when things have got hard and that's just not acceptable."
Their seven wins for the season equals the best performance by the club, but is a disappointment given the calibre of player in the squad.
Wessels said he was committed to the club.
"I will definitely continue with the group but it's about are we going to do things better; our leadership stuff better, playing with an intensity that makes those moments tonight not possible.
"Are we a better team than this time last year - yes, but we weren't good enough."
AAP
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Latest Comments
I think it was a better rugby destination for him.
He was developed in Melbourne and had a relatively brief stint there. I think he was possibly dropped out of the squad for the return of someone like To'omua (also a Melbourne local) in 2019 ahead of the RWC. But then he wasn't picked up by another Australian team and went to play in Japan when he only really seemed to play a hat full of top level games (maybe injured for long periods??) before he went on to Scotland. But it was only in Scotland that he started to get a lot of consistent game time and selection.
The thing is, no one talked about him being a missed opportunity in Australia before he left - a little like Mac Hansen. But he has been able to forge a top level career since leaving. Both men only had a handful (5 or 6?) games at Super Rugby level before they made a decision to leave (or had it made for them I suppose). Other countries have gone on to develop them and that is great for them and it is probably good for the global game as it means the best players are rising to the top - if not in their birth country than in another. I think there are a lot of issues with poor player development in Australia but I don't know if these two blokes are very good examples of it.
Go to commentsOk I understand. Give them my number please Nick.
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