Varsity Cup
Rebels (0) 0 / Waratahs (10) 43 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels, the debutant team of the Super Rugby Series, hosted the Waratahs at AAMI Park, Melbourne at 19:40 AEDT (10:40 SA Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
After a slow start by the Waratahs they just got better and better… or is it that the Rebels fell away more and more…. resulting in a scoreless sheet for the Rebels against 7 tries by the Waratahs.
Not a good debut for the Rebels at all.
Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen says that his new Super rugby team must be a competitive franchise from day one.
The Rebels are Super rugby’s newest franchise and they will need to build support and a fan base quickly as he most gruelling provincial rugby competition will quickly any weaknesses.
Melbourne’s eminent entry into the Super Rugby club took another step in the right direction when the Rebels showed they truly belong.
Although the Rebels lost 14-19 to the seven-time champion Crusaders, they attracted a crowd of 13,013 for the first ever Rugby Union game at the new state of the art stadium in Melbourne.
The Melbourne Rebels have confirmed that former Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock will skipper the side in its debut year in Super Rugby, supported by vice captain Gareth Delve.
IT WAS expected the Melbourne Rebels would be rusty and somewhat disjointed when they took on Tonga in their first trial game last night at Olympic Park. They certainly were, but in between the clumsy periods, there were some promising stanzas during their 43-13 romp.
The Melbourne Rebels officially launched their brand-logo and jersey at the Weary Dunlop Luncheon on 29 July 2010.
They have now also made the Logo available to the Media.