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Rebels win but the Highlanders' season is still alive

(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Melbourne have edged the Highlanders 31-30 in their final round clash but the Kiwi team grabbed a bonus point to leapfrog the Western Force into the Super Rugby Pacific finals.

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The Force did all they could to clinch the eighth spot in the play-offs with a upset win over the finals-bound Hurricanes on Saturday night in Perth.

But they were relying on the Rebels to beat the Highlanders in their Sunday afternoon clash at AAMI Park while stopping the visitors collecting a losing bonus point for finishing within seven points.

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Watching on as a team from Perth, the Force rode every moment but ultimately had nothing to celebrate, with the Highlanders moving through to take on the Blues in the quarter-finals.

Former Melbourne Storm flyer Young Tonumaipea secured the one-point lead when he scored in the 75th minute, pouncing on a Joe Powell grubberkick into the in-goal area.

The Rebels hunted another try, which would have seen the Force go through but couldn’t deliver and after earning a fulltime penalty opted to kick the ball dead rather than risk losing the match.

Melbourne trailed 18-14 at halftime but hit the front through an impressive individual effort by young fullback Nick Jooste, who replaced injured Wallaby Reece Hodge (cork).

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That went out to 26-18 when winger Lukas Ripley juggled a Matt Toomua pass over the line.

But they saw that lead evaporate in the 66th minute when the Highlanders scored their fourth try to go ahead 30-26.

Folau Fakatava continued his super sub role, turning the game on his head after replacing starting halfback Aaron Smith in the 59th minute.

He scored a try two minutes after his arrival after a break by No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, and then made a break to set up one for winger Fetuli Paea which put the Highlanders ahead.

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But the Rebels stormed back to ensure they at least finished their rollercoaster season on a high.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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