Super Rugby: Bulls beat Rebels 32-17 in Melbourne
A two-haul by Marika Koroibete wasn’t enough to save the Melbourne Rebels from a disappointing 32-17 loss to the Bulls, which blew their chance to regain the Australian Super Rugby conference lead.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A two-haul by Marika Koroibete wasn’t enough to save the Melbourne Rebels from a disappointing 32-17 loss to the Bulls, which blew their chance to regain the Australian Super Rugby conference lead.
The Rebels went into the Friday night match just a point behind the Brumbies, who had the bye this round, but were unable to capitalise on the golden chance on home turf at AAMI Park.
Melbourne dominated everywhere - possession and territory - except for where it counted, on the scoreboard.
Too often an attacking error proved their undoing in a frustrating affair while the Bulls made the most of their limited opportunities to continue the Rebels losing run against South African opponents this season.
Koroibete scored a try in each half to double his tally for the season in his best performance of the year.
Pushing his case for World Cup selection, the Wallabies winger was fired up from the opening whistle in a niggly contest against the men from Pretoria, who return to the top of the tightly-contested South African conference.
Koroibete opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Quade Cooper found Dane Haylett-Petty, who managed to pop a pass for the burly winger. In a bizarre opening half Melbourne had 72 per cent of possession, 76 per cent of territory and had 84 runs to 27 yet trailed 17-12 and it proved an ongoing theme for the match.
Koroibete’s second try, which came from a pick and go into the corner, levelled the score three minutes into the second half but they were unable to add to their tally from there.
Bulls winger Rosko Specman set up a try for Burger Odendaal and then scored one of his own as the visitors opened up a commanding lead.
Koroibete’s second try, which came from a pick and go into the corner, levelled the score three minutes into the second half but they were unable to add to their tally from there.
Bulls winger Rosko Specman set up a try for Burger Odendaal and then scored one of his own as the visitors opened up a commanding lead.
Rebels star recruit Matt Toomua got on to the field in the 71st minute for his first appearance since arriving from UK club Leicester, but with Melbourne on the back foot he didn’t have a chance to make an impact.
BULLS 32 (Cornal Hendricks, Burger Odendaal, Handre Pollard, Rosko Specman tries Pollard 3 cons2 pens) REBELS 17 (Marika Koroibete 2, Will Genia tries Quade Cooper con) at AAMI Park. Referee: Federico Anseimi
Originally published as Super Rugby: Bulls beat Rebels 32-17 in Melbourne
Tears, tries and a dad’s dream: The real Suaalii story
Rugby’s $5 million man, cross-code superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been big news since he was 14-years old, now Jamie Pandaram reveals the complex character behind the headlines.
Reds primed for Super season
The Reds don’t want to waste their good work on a successful pre-season tour of the United Kingdom when they kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific season later this month.