Run-away win for rampant Blues over Rebels

SATURDAY WRAP: The Melbourne Rebel’s Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Blues has ended in misery with a crushing 54-17 defeat as well as losing three key players to injury.

The Rebels blew a halftime lead in their Saturday night match at AAMI Park and a chance to jump back up into the finals-bound top eight.

The Blues, last year’s losing grand finalists, piled on a stunning 41 unanswered second-half points to run away with the win.

“It was disappointing, I thought that we had a good first half – it wasn’t perfect but we showed character in our defence and scored some great tries as well,” said Melbourne coach Kevin Foote.

“But losing our two hookers set us back and our discipline, which has been really good this year, let us down.”

Melbourne lock Trevor Hosea and hooker Jordan Uelese, who last week was named in the Wallabies training squad, had to be assisted from the field after suffering first half knee injuries.

Uelese had replaced Alex Mafi, who was forced off just 14 minutes in with an ugly finger injury.

With no hookers left the Rebels were forced to play prop Sam Talakai at No.2, with his inexperience showing as he incurred a penalty on his first line-out throw.

Melbourne led 17-13 at the break, scoring their second try after the siren.

Injured in the previous play, Uelese bravely hobbled to a line-out after the Rebels turned down a penalty kick to hunt a try.

The home side were rewarded when their maul surged over the line with skipper Brad Wilkin the tryscorer.

The lead had changed hands several times in the first half, with lock Sam Darry first to touch down after a nine-phase build up from the Blues.

Melbourne hit back with a 95-metre raid before the Rebels showed their patience to pressure the Blues and Andrew Kellaway found a gap to stroll over.

A clever try by hooker Ricky Riccitelli again put the Auckland-based team back in front before Wilkin’s late first-half effort.

The Blues came out with all guns blazing and with star playmaker Beauden Barrett pulling the strings, ran in seven second half tries.

Winger Mark Telea and halfback Finlay Christie both collected doubles as they improved their win-loss record to 4-3.

Skipper Dalton Papali’i capped the win with the final try in the 80th minute.

All Blacks ace Barrett’s form had been a talking point with coach Leon MacDonald saying he’d answered his critics.

“Every player has moments where they’re not at their best in any sport but a sign of the champion that he is that he didn’t flinch the whole week,” MacDonald said.

“I thought his game was fantastic, the way he led our team along with Dalton and he just got on with his business.”

Due to front row injuries and a yellow card, the Rebels were forced into uncontested scrums at the back end but the game was already over, meaning they head into the bye with a 2-5 record.

All Saturday scores and scorers

Highlanders 14-29 Hurricanes

For the Highlanders
Tries: Renton, Harmon
Cons: Gilbert (2)

For the Hurricanes
Tries: Rayasi (2), Blackwell, Roigard
Cons: Barrett (3)
Pen: Barrett

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Mosese Dawai, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Billy Harmon (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Max Hicks, 20 Sean Withy, 21 James Arscott, 22 Scott Gregory, 23 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Owen Franks, 19 TK Howden, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Harry Godfrey, 23 Peter Umaga-Jensen

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Marcus Playle
TMO: Glenn Newman

Melbourne Rebels 17-54 Blues

For the Melbourne Rebels
Tries: Kellaway, Wilkin
Cons: Hodge (2)
Pen: Hodge

For the Blues
Tries: Darry, Riccitelli, Christie (2), Telea (2), Tu’ungafasi, Sullivan, Papalii
Cons: B Barrett (3)
Pen: B Barrett

Rebels: 15 Joe Pincus, 14 Lachlan Anderson, 13 Andrew Kellaway, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Brad Wilkin (c), 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Pone Fa’amausili, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Cabous Eloff
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Angelo Smith, 20 Tuaina Tuii Tualima, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Nick Jooste, 23 Lukas Ripley

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Harry Plummer, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9Finlay Christie, 8 Anton Segner, 7 Dalton Papalii (c), 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Jordan Lay
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 James Lay, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Tom Robinson, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Caleb Tangitau

Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Brett Cronan