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Fight for survival: Rebels coach calls on Melburnians to get behind team

Rebels head coach Kevin Foote looks on after the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Hurricanes at AAMI Park, on March 03, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Melbourne coach Kevin Foote believes two things can help the financially-stricken Super Rugby Pacific side mount a case for survival – winning and crowds.

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The Rebels have had little of both in recent seasons but will attempt to rectify both come Friday night in their round one match against the ACT Brumbies.

Tickets for the contest were set to finally go on sale on Monday afternoon after Rugby Australia (RA) reached an agreement with the venue operators of AAMI Park.

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With the club in administration and carrying debts of more than $20 million, RA had to renegotiate with the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (MOPT) – which oversees the ground – as well as caterers believed to be among the parties owed money.

Foote urged rugby fans in Melbourne to get behind the team.

“We’re really hoping that we get a good crowd ,” Foote said ahead of Monday training.

“The boys have trained well, had two great trial games and a big crowd at the stadium would be really special for us.

“It’s five days (away), so let’s get behind it and we will be playing a brand of rugby that people love to watch so get down.”

RA is expected to make a call on the future of the ailing club as soon as next month with chief executive Phil Waugh saying that on-field results will factor into the decision.

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Foote acknowledged that winning could only help their case for survival.

“As a young coach, you probably don’t speak about winning as much you say process, process, but winning is important and talking about winning is important,” he said.

“It’s not lost on us, but we understand that there’s obviously a long season to go … we do speak about winning and it is important and given where the club’s at, it’ll definitely help.”

Long-time chief executive Baden Stephenson was among 10 administrative staff laid off last week and Foote said they were determined to make them “proud”.

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He said while the off-field situation was distracting they were using it to galvanise the squad for the season ahead.

“As Baden left we said to him this 2024 season and what we want to create as is about him, so we’re now pretty focused on the rugby,” Foote said.

“We’re going to look to make Baden and everybody else who has been part of this journey really proud.

“We want to live up to our potential – we’re saying it’s probably the strongest Rebels team that we’ve ever assembled and they’re fit and ready to go so lets focus on that.”

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T
TT 59 minutes ago
'No, it’s not, that’s the truth' - Andy Farrell rubbishes Ireland subplot

ABs by 4……


IF

The Razor gang has given the AB’s a game plan A, B, C & etc (unlike so many AB games since 2016). &


IF

AB’s play 80+ minutes. &


IF

ABs do their individual & team jobs error free (‘ish)  (unlike so many AB team since 2016). &


IF

All the ‘critical V Ireland’ AB form mobile forwards stay on field for the 80min S.Barrett, Sititi, Savea, and Vaa’i swap with Cane when he tires & Tuipulotu comes on. Finau back up. &


IF

The 10's get a better ‘cunning game plan’ than BB, ie his kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, ETC! (& MacK does have a better game plan). &


IF

Aumua can throw to lineouts . &


IF

The AB’s can remember their lineout calls (unlike too many V England games 1, 2 & 3). &


IF

Williams can be coached to stop being sucked into experienced tactics to drop him to the ground. &


IF

The AB coaches, teach all ABs some ‘soccer like’ drama queen fouling acting skills to make clear to the ref 1 of the most common Irish tactics ie obstruction by ‘stray’ decoy attackers around contact zone (tackle, ruck, maul). &


IF

The ABs have their arm out away if not tackling any, again, decoy attackers  (or defenders) that run into them to try milk penalties as England did (eg penalty  against  Cane the worst). &


IF

S.Barrett can change & captain with assertiveness & presence to even be noticed by the ref (way to passive). &


IF

There's no food poisoning.

7 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
How can Scott Robertson revive the All Blacks’ playmaking ‘triple threat’?

HAHA don't ask me that! You tell me, if McMillian was the AB coach would he be selecting Dmac over Mo'unga!?!


Look, Dmac is clearly first choice. Razor said BB was a selection "just for this game", Dmac was always leading the two big ones. They rotated BB and Mounga the same way in 22.


Firstly, I'm a fan of BB when he's not gun shy. Do I think he's a first five? Of course not, he can hardly pass the ball 5 meters. Do I think he's likely to play again after being concussed? No, end of discussion.


Do I hate Mo'unga? No, of course not. He was the only reason we got within cooee of SA, him finding his footing at International level was their main reason for success. Do I think that resulted in him being a game orchestra or having played well in black the years prior to that? Of course not. Maybe you were just on the end of the better AB performances fran, outside of those games I'd suggest he wasn't as influential as you think. He has a good kicking game for sure, but it's certainly not up there with Carter or even some current 10s, and it's certainly not much better than DMac's (understand you own opinion still won't say that) despite him having a lot more development and experience.


He would obviously get a great opportunity from Razor if he came back, and DMac would possibly find he can be a good fullback or bench player under Razors guidance, but if you're wrong and Dmac actually performed better than Richie running the show, then he'll having Damien as his 10 come RWC time.


TLDR, JWH is a Cantab, Richie is one of my favourite players, we just think you've got the wrong context in this article and I think you're way off the mark on Richies strengths.

44 Go to comments
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