Rebels on a roll - Winners and Losers Week Three

The Rebels are rewriting their record books, the Hurricanes are all about small victories and the Blues fail to deliver in this week’s ‘Winners and Losers’.

Winner: The Rebels

The Rebels have been the early season surprise of 2018.

Under David Wessels’ guidance the men from Melbourne are off to their best start ever and have the chance to win a franchise record three games in a row next week against the lacklustre Brumbies.

The team are already rewriting their record books after picking up full points across their first two matches. Winger Jack Maddocks also scored the first hat-trick in Rebels history, getting it done in just under 52 minutes against the Sunwolves.

After a 45-19 win against the Reds and a 37-17 victory over the Sunwolves, the Rebels have the best points difference in the competition at +46 and have already doubled their win total from last season.

Loser: The Blues

The Blues suffered another heart-breaking loss in week three.

The Auckland franchise were presented with a golden opportunity against an injury ravaged Chiefs side who had a total of 17 players unavailable and were forced to start players that weren’t even in their initial squad.

Unfortunately, it was another opportunity gone to waste as the Blues squandered their chance to snap a two-year losing streak against New Zealand opposition and a seven-year losing streak against the Chiefs.

The Blues now carve their names into the Super Rugby history books as they own the record for most consecutive losses against one opponent. They haven’t beaten the Chiefs in their last 13 meetings.

To put things in perspective, the last time the Blues beat the Chiefs Rieko Ioane was just 14 years old, Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” was number one and Tana Umaga was lined up against the side he now coaches.

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The real problem with the Blues

Winner: “Small wins”

Sunday morning’s fixture between the Hurricanes and Jaguares gave us a little insight into Chris Boyd’s coaching philosophy.

With things getting chippy late in the second half, referee Nick Briant asked TJ Perenara and the Hurricanes to politely “stop yahooing” following a Jaguares knock on, to which captain Brad Shields responded “one of our things is small wins, if we get a small win we’re going to celebrate with each other”.

It’s safe to say their opponents didn’t appreciate the celebrations, maybe because they didn’t have many small wins of their own to cheer about. I say keep celebrating, Hurricanes.

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Hurricanes overcome slow start to top Jaguares

Loser: Injury

Week three saw teams across the league lose a lot of talent through injury.

Crusaders flanker Matt Todd broke his thumb earlier in the week, while five eighth Richie Mo’unga suffered a broken jaw against the Stormers and faces extended time on the sidelines.

Blues captain Augustine Pulu is set to miss his team’s trip to South Africa due to a foot injury suffered against the Chiefs, who have some big injury issues of their own. Brodie Retallick and Shaun Stevenson were both late scratches against the Blues because of leg and eye injuries respectively.

And it’s not just the New Zealand teams suffering, Waratahs centre Kurtley Beale was taken out at half time against the Sharks with a rib injury, potentially ruling him out of a trip to Argentina.

But it’s the Sunwolves who may have had the worst luck of the lot. They lost starting centre Tim Lafaele to a head knock just eight minutes into their match against the Rebels. Flyhalf Hayden Parker was next to go after suffering a knee injury, and winger Aki Yamada and lock Sam Wykes both had to leave early due to concussion.

The Japanese side were so short on numbers they had to play reserve loose forward Yoshitaka Tokunaga on the wing for the remainder of the match.

Winner: Lions tight five

The Lions tight five put on a show against the Bulls in week three.

All three starting front rowers dotted down for tries, as did lock Marvin Orie who scored from a beautiful Elton Jantjies grubber kick. Props Ruan Dreyer and Jacques van Rooyen scored signature Lions tries from lineout mauls just five minutes apart.

In total, the tight five were responsible for five of the Lions’ seven tries after forcing a penalty try from a collapsed maul close to the try line. One might say they scored the Lion’s share of points in their 49-35 victory over the Bulls.

Loser: Watchability

Super Rugby’s watchability took a big hit this weekend.

I’m sure anyone who caught the slugfest between the Brumbies and Reds would agree.

All credit to Brad Thorn and the Reds for toughing it out and getting their first win, but the six penalties to two unconverted tries spectacle wasn’t exactly eye candy and won’t encourage many to tune in the next time either of these teams are on the pitch.