Rebels must be wary of Sunwolves as they push for finals berth

The Rebels have an attractive run-in that could finally see them make the Super Rugby finals, but one slip up could be disastrous.

Rebels halfback Will Genia scores against the Sunwolves in February. Picture: AFP

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Three games against teams below them in the last four rounds of the Super Rugby season have kept the door ajar for the Melbourne Rebels to finally make the finals.

But the closeness of the competition this season, and in particularly the Australian conference, mean one slip up, including this weekend, could slam that door shut.

The Rebels are $1.38 favourites to care of the enigmatic Sunwolves, who are last in the competition and didn’t score a single point in their most recent outing against the Queensland Reds, in Japan on Saturday.

But it looms as the ultimate “banana peel” game for the Melbourne outfit which last season blew a super start to the season with a horror loss to the Reds in the second-last round and missed a maiden finals berth.

Rebels halfback Will Genia scores against the Sunwolves in February. Picture: AFP

The Rebels are 6-6 after 12 rounds and on 28 points, one behind the Brumbies and two ahead of the Waratahs, with the Lions (29) and Sharks (30) from South Africa part of a mid-table traffic jam.

There are 10 teams, from the second-placed Bulls to the Stormers in 12th, separated by just six points and, with four points awarded for a win, the tables could turn on every result.

After the Sunwolves the Rebels play the Waratahs (home), Crusaders (away) then finish with the Chiefs (home). They should start favourites in the final round, and beating the Crusaders away in New Zealand would be a bridge too far.

The Rebels have been boosted by the arrival of Matt Toomua. Picture: AFP

That makes the clash with the Waratahs at AAMI Park next Friday, should they take care of business in Japan, potentially the match-up that decides the Rebels’ season.

The Rebels are getting their best players back, with former captain Adam Coleman set to play the Sunwolves, Matt Toomua is on board to take some load off star fly-half Quade Cooper, and Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese is in Japan and primed for a return.

“There is a lot of rugby still to be played,” Rebels coach Dave Wessels said.

“The Brumbies have still got to play the Bulls for one thing.

“We’ve just got to find how we can keep improving as a team.”

Originally published as Rebels must be wary of Sunwolves as they push for finals berth