UPDATE: McKellar wants Brumbies to keep building momentum after round two win

Fri, Feb 7, 2020, 11:55 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
The Brumbies have made it 10 straight wins at home, with a 42-20 bonus point win over the Rebels.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says his side needs to keep adding to their early season momentum after a 39-26 win over the Rebels on Friday night.

The victory was their first over the Rebels since 2017, withe a four-try-to-one first half setting up a comfortable win.

Melbourne clawed their way back in the second half, narrowing a 24-point hole just before half-time to a 10-point gap in the final 15 minutes.

Friday's result also meant the Brumbies clinched their first two matches for the first time since 2016 after patchy starts to recent seasons.

A two from two record puts them at the top of the Australian sides and McKellar said he wanted to see his side continue to build on that.

"It's a good start and we're at home and we knew that it was important first three games at home, then we go to Hamilton and have a week off so we've just got to keep building momentum," he said.

Dan McKellar was measured in his praise of his team's round two win. Photo: Getty Images"I was pleased with the outcome last week but tonight there was a lot to like about the performance. We scored some really nice tries and played some really smart football at times."

For a Melbourne side hunting for redemption after last week’s Japanese loss, Friday night had more positives but still left them with plenty of head-scratching to do.

Four first half tries in the first half hour opened up a big gap for the Brumbies but the Rebels worked their way back into the contest, led by skipper Dane Haylett-Petty.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels was optimistic post-match, pleased with his side's ability to stay in the game late.

'We were obviously disappointed to lose, we just had a really poor start," he said..

"It was hard to fight our way back from that but we never stopped trying.

"We took a bonus point away from them in the back end of the game which I think at the end of  the season is going to matter. Little things like that, we'll take heart from those sort of things.

"We get to go home now with what I think is a little bit of rhythm and confidence from the back end of the game."

Rookie Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio produced another incredibly composed performance, setting up two tries and snapping a drop goal late in the game to keep the Brumbies an arm's length ahead in an intelligent showing.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was quick to praise his new 10, whose coolness showed through again on Friday night.

"It's a real strength of his, is how he's such a composed kid, doesn't worry about mistakes or let pressure rattle him," he said.

"If you've got that as a 10 it's a strong trait to have. He's a whole lot of natural skill to go with it as well but between the ears he's got a lot of quality."

Irae Simone was impressive for the Brumbies. Photo: Getty ImagesCentre Irae Simone was also influential, in a game where the Brumbies backline found themselves on the front foot more often than not.

The Brumbies found none of the issues in the front row that they had against the Reds in round one, quickly piling the pressure on the Rebels in set piece.

Captain Allan Alaalatoa said he felt the Brumbies took a stride in their scrummaging on Friday night.

"Last week we weren't happy around our set piece, was definitely a growth area for us," he said.

"I think in terms of being a tighthead and in terms of bring in front of the pack I think we took that step forward there, just need to continue to build on that."

Melbourne had themselves to blame for lost opportunities as well, with a mounting penalty and turnover count hurting the visitors.

Where the Rebels found themselves frustrated by basic mistakes, the Brumbies made their half chances stick in the opening 30 minutes particularly.

Simone made the most of the Brumbies’ early advantage in the fifth minute, fooling through the Melbourne defence with a dummy and bursting through the line.

Tom Banks made it two tries in 12 minutes, finishing off an out the back pass from Noah Lolesio to cross.

Rebels flyhalf Matt To’omua was taking it upon his own shoulders to try and create something attack and defence, making some pivotal tackles and putting in place a dangerous grubber to set up Melbourne’s best chance of the opening 20 minutes.

Angus Cottrell had a double for the Rebels. Photo: Getty ImagesNew ACT winger Solomone Kata fended off Reece Hodge with ease and offloaded to Simone who found  flanker Tom Cusack for the Brumbies’ third.

Kata went one better than an assist off the ACT’s next chance, after no. 8 Pete Samu burst down the middle of the field to create an opportunity from nothing.

A clever kick from Lolesio bounced up into Kata’s hands and the ex-NRL back finished with ease.

The Rebels clawed their way back in the final minutes of the half and Angus Cotrell managed to clinch a five-pointer to peg back some of the margin.

Cottrell finished off a perfect start to the second half for the Rebels as well, powering over in the 41st minute.

The Rebels were forced into a backline reshuffle with the replacement of Hodge and To’omua early in the game.

Billy Meakes was pushed into the key playmaking spot with Frank Lomani on the wing and Campbell Magnay shifting into the centres.

The Brumbies surprised the Rebels at the lineout with Allan Alaalatoa wrapping around the line and offloading to Folau Fainga’a to score another try.

It looked like Anaru Rangi had returned the favour just minutes later but a spot-on call from the TMO ruled the score offside.

Dane Haylett-Petty helped the Rebels get back in the game. Photo: Getty ImagesHaylett-Petty, though, made it second time lucky with a spectacular solo try, making the equation 10 points, capping off a strong outing for the Rebels captain.

A Lolesio drop goal kept the Brumbies score ticking over and a Simone kick opened the chance for Tom Wright to gather the ball and notch their fifth try.

Lomani finished off a slick Rebels chain to score in the 78th minute but the clock beat them out of any chance of a comeback.

Brumbies duo Tom Cusack and Scott Sio and Rebels' Matt To’omua and Reece Hodge all forced out of the match with head knocks but neither coach had any other injury concerns.

The Brumbies take on the Highlanders in their third round match next weekend while the Rebels face the Waratahs on Friday night.

RESULT

Brumbies 39

Tries: Simone, Banks, Cusack, Kata, Fainga’a, Wright

Cons: Lolesio 3

Drop: Lolesio

Rebels 26

Tries: Cottrell 2, D Haylett-Petty, Lomani

Cons: To’omua, Lomani 2

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