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Melbourne's Super Rugby AU season remains on a knife-edge after Rebels loss

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Melbourne’s Super Rugby AU season remains on a knife-edge after they fell to the Brumbies 26-20 in a thriller at AAMI Park on Sunday.

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The Rebels threw everything at the Brumbies in the second half but a knock-on stopped their attempt for a match-winning try three minutes after the fulltime siren.

Melbourne at least secured a bonus point, which may prove crucial with the last spot in the three-team play-offs to be decided in the final round next weekend.

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That will go to either the Rebels or Western Force, with the Brumbies and unbeaten Queensland Reds already secure.

The Force scrambled to a 31-30 win over the Waratahs on Saturday night to remain in the hunt, currently two points ahead of Melbourne.

The final round will see the Force host the Reds on Friday night, and the Rebels play NSW in Sydney the following day and bonus points and points differential could end up deciding third spot.

That team will play the Brumbies in Canberra in the semi-final, with the Reds hosting the grand final a week later.

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Poor discipline proved costly in the first half, with the Rebels losing Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete and then lock Trevor Hosea to yellow cards during a run of seven straight penalties.

They started well, with a try to hooker James Hanson, before the wheels started to fall off.

The home side got that in check in the second half and started to get on top, with halfback Joe Powell bouncing off the defence to touch down two minutes after the break.

But their 19-7 halftime deficit proved tough to run down.

Rebels skipper Matt Toomua said he was “very proud” of the effort to stay in the fight.

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“The scoreline probably didn’t reflect how we felt at halftime,” Toomua told Stan Sport.

“They probably had every right to be 20 up given the territory so we had a bit of energy going into halftime and that early try gave us some momentum.

“Ultimately our discipline hurt us.”

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Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.


Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.


Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.


They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.


Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.


Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen

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