Melbourne Rebels fall to Stormers as South African curse continues

That’s gotta hurt! The South African curse is alive and well for the Melbourne Rebels with the home side succumbing to a shock defeat against the Stormers.

The Rebels suffered a heavy loss to the Stormers on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne’s South African curse has continued with the Rebels shock 41-24 losers to the Stormers in their Super Rugby clash on Friday night.

Heading into the AAMI Park match the Rebels’ only losses of the season had come in their two games in South Africa and the Stormers continued that hoodoo.

It was a game where little went right for the Australian conference leaders, although the men from Cape Town, who had lost their last three matches, deserved plenty of credit.

WARATAHS TELL FOLAU HE’S NOT WELCOME

RUGBY AUSTRALIA’S HARDLINE FOLAU STANCE

In a first half to forget Melbourne had 70 per cent of possession and 75 per cent territory and forced the visitors to make 83 tackles to their own 27 — yet trailed 10-3 at the break.

Late in the half they racked up 15 phases, hammering the try line, until centre Bill Meakes was unable to reel in a loose pass with the Stormers’ steely defence standing up.

Teenage winger Semisi Tupuo, filling in for injured Wallaby Jack Maddocks, mostly had a night to forget.

Dejected Rebels after their surprise defeat at AAMI Park. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian under-20s representative was gifted a perfectly weighted Quade Cooper cross-field kick into the in-goal but spilt it and later knocked on as he was charging downfield.

But he wasn’t alone with the Rebels uncharacteristically sloppy against the bottom-placed South African side.

Isireli Naisarani runs with the ball against the Stormers.

Cooper himself knocked on a kick from Stormers five-eighth Jean-Luc du Plessis midway through the second half which was scooped up by centre Ruhan Nel to score their fourth try of the night.

It looked like Melbourne coach Dave Wessels’ halftime blast had worked when two minutes into second half, Reece Hodge intercepted a long, looping pass by du Plessis to score.

Stormers player Sergeal Petersen evades the tackle of Richard Harwick.

Cooper added the extras to level at 10-10 but it was all downhill from there.

The Stormers piled on three tries in 11 minutes with Jaunro Agustus, Springboks centre Damian de Allende and then Nel all scoring.

The Rebels added two tries through halfback Will Genia and reserve back Campbell Magnay, but the Stormers had the final say with Nel adding his second of the night just before full-time.

STORMERS 41 (Ruhan Nel 2, Juarno Augustus, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds tries Joshua Stander3, Jean-Luc du Plessis 2 cons du Plessis, Stander pens) REBELS 24 (Will Genia, Reece Hodge, Campbell Magnay tries QuadeCooper 3 cons pen) at AAMI Park. Referee: Mike Fraser.

Originally published as Melbourne Rebels fall to Stormers as South African curse continues