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'It showed a connection' - The moment that proved the Rebels are the real deal

The Melbourne Rebels celebrate a Billy Meakes try. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Forget the four tries, an error that could have cost the Melbourne Rebels their Super Rugby win over the Highlanders and the response to it was the highlight for Rebels coach Dave Wessels.

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Leading by five points late in the AAMI Park clash, the Rebels’ attack was turned around after a loose Quade Cooper pass.

Winger Marika Koroibete then won a race down field to secure the ball and prevent a Highlanders try.

Wessels said he thought it was the best moment to come out of the 24-19 result, which maintained Melbourne’s unbeaten start to the season and secured their first home win against a New Zealand team in almost four years

“That was the best part of it; us holding on at the end,” Wessels said.

“We threw an intercept and 15 jerseys chased him down and we defended our line, so out of a bad moment, that was the best moment for me.

“It showed a connection and guys care about the team and want to work for each other.”

While the Rebels dominated for a large part of the game, it wasn’t perfect.

Cooper was indicative of that.

He set up two tries but he also pushed some passes that weren’t on.

Wessels defended his playmaker and said rewards come from taking risks.

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“Things happen in the game which are 50-50,” Wessels said.

“We want to have a go at different times and it’s not always going to work, and that’s not only for Quade but for the whole team.

“I was really pleased with the way he and Will (Genia) controlled the game.”

Jack Maddocks scored his third try in two games, when he ran on to a brilliant no-look pass from Cooper.

Young Wallabies outside back Maddocks said he was relishing playing outside the mercurial five-eighth.

“One of the special things about Quade is that he’s not a programmed player and you’re always in the game when you’re running off him,” Maddocks said.

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“He’s got great vision and great passing skills, so if you get in and around him and find space and he will get you the ball.”

The Rebels next host the Brumbies, who fell to the Hurricanes on Friday night.

World Rugby set for shake up:

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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