Melbourne Rebels provide hope ahead of Super rugby debut

THE Melbourne Rebels showed they could match it with the big boys in their final trial against the Crusaders ahead of their historic Super rugby debut.

Melbourne were edged 19-14 by the Crusaders in their first game at AAMI Park, but did enough to give coach Rod Macqueen and their fans - 13,013 who turned out for a warm-up game - plenty to smile about.

The Rebels, who will play their opening round game against NSW on February 18, cruised through their first three trials against Tonga and Fiji.

However against rugby powerhouse the Crusaders, the most successful side in Super rugby history, they were given a reminder of their tough road ahead.

While they finished behind on the scoreboard, there were positives.

In only his second match returning from back surgery skipper Stirling Mortlock played 70 minutes and looked strong throughout, pulling off one of his trademark crunching tackles on Crusaders centre Adam Whitelock late in the first half.

Mortlock also played a hand in both of the Rebels' tries, scored by inside centre Cooper Vuna, who has scored in each of their trials, and five-eighth James Hilgendorf.

Their forward pack, which hadn't been tested against the island teams, was given a solid workout, but held their own at the set piece.

No.8 Gareth Delve was non-stop while Kevin O'Neill impressed at the line-out.

The Rebels dominated early possession, but their atttack faltered with their timing out which resulted in many passes going to ground.

The Crusaders lost All Black fullback Israel Dagg to a leg injury 14 minutes into the match, however still managed to post first points with a try to openside flanker Matt Todd three minutes later.

Vuna barrelled across near the goal post and then Hilgendorf touched down to put the home side ahead 14-7 at the main break.

Neither side managed to take control of the match in their third quarter, but the Crusaders closed the gap through a try by Whitelock.

The centre then scored the winning try in the 66th minute thanks to a 60 metre break by burly outside centre Robbie Fruean, who slipped out of a Delve tackle.

The Rebels toiled hard in the dying minutes but couldn't find a chink in the Crusaders' armour to find the winning points.

Macqueen said he wasn't bothered by the losing scoreline - hence his team's decision not to kick penalty goals, which could have given them the match.

“We got a lot out of that game, it gave us a measure of where we are,” he said.

“Certainly pleased with a lot of aspects of it and am not surprised at some of the other ones, we again turned over a lot of ball.”

He praised the input of fullback and former Brumby Julian Huxley, who was playing his first game for the year, and of Mortlock.

Macqueen was also particularly pleased the side came through without any injuries.

“If you'd asked me before the game where I'd like to be at the end of this, it's pretty close to where I'd like to be.”

AAP

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/melbourne-rebels-provide-hope-ahead-of-super-rugby-debut/story-e6frg7o6-1226000787313