RECAP: Melbourne Rebels v Waratahs

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Nine encounter between the Melbourne Rebels and Waratahs in Sydney.

The Rebels have won their last two Super Rugby games against the Waratahs on the bounce, after having won only two of their first 17 encounters in the competition.

The Rebels have not conceded more than 20 points in any of their last five Super Rugby games; it’s their longest ever streak of restricting their opponents to 20 points or fewer and more times than they had done so in their 16 games prior.

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Teams:

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Matt Toomua (captain), 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Andrew Deegan, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Michael Wells, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Cameron Orr.

Replacements: 16 Efitusi Ma’afu, 17 Cabous Eloff, 18 Pone Fa’amaluli, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Billy Meakes. 23 Tom Pincus.

Waratahs: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Angus Bell, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Harris, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Nick Malouf.

Referee: Graham Cooper

Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Amy Perrett

TMO: James Leckie