Rebels working on discipline ahead of opener
THE Melbourne Rebels have pinpointed poor discipline as an area for improvement as they look to get their Super Rugby season off to a winning start against the Brumbies in Canberra tonight.
The Rebels were last season’s most penalised team and had the equal most number of yellow cards.
Firebrand Japan international Amanaki Mafi was responsible for a large number of those, but left the Rebels post-season.
Skipper Dane Haylett-Petty said improved discipline was an off-season focus and admitted that last year the Rebels took “short cuts and were a bit lazy”.
“The discipline probably hurt us more than anything last year and ... throughout the trial games the boys have definitely improved that and against the Brumbies, more than anyone, we know that’s going to be very important,” Haylett-Petty said.
Mafi left the Rebels in disgrace after he allegedly assaulted a teammate.
After spending last season with the Brumbies, 23-year-old Isi Naisarani is the new Melbourne No.8 and has impressed Haylett-Petty.
“Isi is probably a more complete package,” he said. “He’s got a great work rate, is good in defence and attack and I think he’s going to be very good for us during the year, and obviously he’s got a point to prove playing against the Brumbies as well.”
Haylett-Petty is well aware the Brumbies’ pack have the edge in experience.
“They’ve got a very strong forward pack with a lot of Wallabies there and they often gain a lot of momentum through the scrum, maul and penalties, so for us the focus is probably aiming up up front and being disciplined,” he said.
It will be hard to escape the Quade Cooper factor.
But that’s what the ACT franchise are planning to do.
The former Wallabies star’s move south has dominated headlines after he spent his final year at the Queensland Reds exiled to club rugby by coach Brad Thorn.
But a rejuvenated Cooper will start at five-eighth in his Rebels debut, alongside former Reds teammate Will Genia.
Opposing No.10 Christian Leali’ifano says the Brumbies won’t place any extra attention on Cooper.
“Communication is key for us in having a strong system to be able to stop any threat at the line, not only Quade,” the Brumbies captain said.
“We have to be focused all around the field, in attack and defence, so there hasn’t been an extra focus on Quade himself.”
The Rebels believe Cooper could be the missing link as they aim to play finals for the first time since entering the competition in 2011.
Optimism has been building around Dave Wessels’ side and Leali’ifano thinks that belief is deserved.
“They’re a quality outfit and they’ve found their identity as well,” he said. “Adding in guys like Quade Cooper, who’s first class, is only going to add strength to their squad.”
Cooper won’t be the only exReds star to make his debut for a new club with prop James Slipper to start for the Brumbies.