'It's a big step forward for us': Wessels praises Rebels' composure against Reds

Fri, May 10, 2019, 2:47 PM
Emma Greenwood
by Emma Greenwood
The Brumbies have a chance to take the Australian conference lead when they take on the Sunwolves on Sunday. The Rebels and Reds face off at AAMI Park on Friday night while the Waratahs face a make-or-break clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels says his team has taken a massive step forward on its journey towards a maiden Super Rugby finals campaign after remaining composed against a gritty Reds side that threatened to steal the Australian conference lead.

Instead, the Rebels' ability to control their emotions in the dying stages led to a pivotal scrum win against the feed that snuffed out the Reds' chances of an upset and cemented the Rebels place at the top of the Australian ladder with a 30-24 victory.

The Rebels had the best of possession and field position in the opening 60 minutes of the match and seemed set to cruise to victory after pushing to a 13-point lead early in the second half, after scoring two tries when the Reds were down to 14 men.

The Queenslanders refused to give up and scrapped their way back into the match. But when Taniela Tupou was ruled to be held up over the line and the Rebels won the resulting scrum against the feed, the home side sealed the win.

"I'm just proud of the boys, I thought it was gutsy," Wessels said of breaking a three-match losing streak.

"The big growth in our team in the last 10 days, two weeks, has been our ability to control our emotions and get on to the next job and I think we saw that last week with a really bad start in Wellington (last week), where we managed to rally and get ourselves back into the game.

rebels forward Matt Philip celebrates the win with (left) Angus Cottrell and (reight) Billy Meakes. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

"And then in different circumstances tonight, we were leading and the game could have gone either way and maybe in the past, we would have let some soft moments go.

"But we hung in there, we actually played really tough and strangled them and I thought everybody was really working for a good outcome.

"So that's the really big story of the game for us, it's a big step forward for us. We're pretty proud of that."

The Reds picked up two yellow cards and will rue their indiscipline.

While the Rebels were not at their best, the win will bolster their confidence as they strive for a maiden finals appearance. With just one Australian side likely to make the finals, it's likely to be winner take all in the conference and while the Reds are now on the backfoot, they sealed a valuable bonus point with their 80th-minute penalty.

The win may have come at a cost for the Rebels though, who lost Quade Cooper to concussion after he got his head in an awkward position attempting to tackle Reds captain Samu Kerevi.

Cooper, who had played almost every minute of every match before going off early in the second term, was able to walk unassisted from the ground but will have to pass concussion protocols before being allowed to line up against the Bulls next week.

"We've been very lucky with the fact that Quade has been so fit for so long," Wessels said.

A trainer attends to Quade Cooper after he was concussed making a tackle on Reds captain Samu Kerevi. Photo: Getty Images

"We get Matt Toomua in a week's time, which makes a big difference for us, and that probably takes a bit of pressure off Quade in having to play every single minute.

"But to be honest, I wouldn't like to be the guy that has the discussion not to play Quade. He's so invested in things at the moment and enjoying his rugby that I think he wants to be out there."

Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty conceded his side faced a much-improved Reds outfit from the one they skittled easily in Brisbane in round seven.

"I felt like we were in control but I feel like that's a much improved Reds side from the one that we played four or five weeks ago, they've come a long way," Haylett-Petty said.

"They've got their tails up after a couple of wins and they just hung in there and that's why I was really proud that we were able to grind it out.

"Maybe we did push things a little early in that first half but we did put them under a lot of pressure for a large part of that game and it's good to come away with the points."

Reds coach Brad Thorn was happy with elements of his team's play, especially their ability to compete at the set piece against a Rebels side that has led the lineout stats this season.

But the Queenslanders were again left to rue the simple errors and indiscipline that have so often undone the young team's previous hard work.

 

"I thought the guys came down to play and there's a lot of good stuff out there around the set piece, some real dominance there at the side of the lineout and the scrums. When we had the ball, we were using it well," Thorn said.

"Defensively there were some big shots, just there were some little moments - I guess the yellow cards didn't help obviously - but there were a few other moments there that at this level, put a bit of pressure on.

"Also Melbourne, they're brilliant at their own game and bringing pressure as well, so I'm not taking away from them.

"It was good to come away with a bonus point, it's pretty important at this time of the year.

"We've got aspirations and another five games to go.

"There was a lot of positive stuff out there but also some learnings to take out of it and then we front up again next week."

The Rebels failed to make the most of their opportunities in the first half despite scoring two tries to one.

The Reds were under pressure to improve their set piece against a Rebels outfit that dominated in that area in their opening clash and did so early with a pair of strong lineout wins and a scrum penalty that left loosehead prop JP Smith roaring in approval.

Samu Kerevi was handed a yellow card after challenging Will Genia in the air under the high ball. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

Good field position just minutes later led to a Reds penalty and the opening score of the match, with Bryce Hegarty converting.

The Reds were soon on the back foot though, with Melbourne finding plenty of territory and only their own errors preventing them from scoring.

The visitors managed to fight their way out of trouble but were soon a man down after captain Samu Kerevi was handed a yellow card for dangerous play after a mid-air collision with Will Genia.

The Rebels made the most of their advantage, scoring a try through Marike Koroibete, with Quade Cooper's conversion giving them a 7-3 lead.

But they were unable to extend their lead, with the Reds earning another penalty opportunity and converting while Kerevi was off the ground, to claw their way to within a point.

Melbourne was in again soon after, Anaru Rangi crossing from a maul as the Reds tested the patience of referee Angus Gardner, who warned them another card would not be far off if the infringements continued.

Junior Wallabies fullback Isaac Lucas entered the match after Koroibete's try as Queensland fullback Hamish Stewart was forced from the field with a shoulder injury and scored his first try after a lovely interchange with Taniela Tupou to get the Reds back in the contest.

Isaac Lucas scoots over for his maiden Super Rugby try after coming on at fullback for the injured Hamish Stewart. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

The Rebels had a final chance to score in the first half - and held the numerical advantage after Scott Higginbotham was handed a yellow card - but knocked on just short of the line to keep the Reds' hopes alive.

With Higginbotham off, the floodgates opened in the second half, with the Rebels scoring twice before he returned.

Tetera Faulkner finished off a movement started by Reece Hodge, before Dane Haylett-Petty scooted over.

As they had in the first encounter between these teams, Genia and Cooper started to dominate with quick ball.

But Cooper was forced from the field in the 55th minute after becoming concussed when he got his head in an awkward position attempting to tackle Kerevi.

Just as the Reds seemed out of the game though, they hit back with a try to Harry Hoopert.

But their attempt to turn a run of possession into points came unstuck when Tupou was held up over the line and the Rebels won the resulting scrum 5m out against the feed.

A penalty conversion put the Reds within a converted try but their panicked with their late options, Hegarty kicking the ball away from a scrum win looking for a Hail Mary play and then conceding a penalty that Hodge calmly slotted to seal a Rebels win.

Marike Koroibete crosses for the Rebels to help them to a halftime lead against the Reds. Photo: Getty Images

RESULT

Rebels 30

Tries: Marike Koroibete, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner, Dane Haylett-Petty

Cons: Quade Cooper 2

Pens: Reece Hodge 2

Reds 24

Tries: Isaac Lucas, Harry Hoopert

Cons: Bryce Hegarty

Pens: Hegarty 4

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