VIDEO: Rebels hold on against hard-charging Highlanders
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Rebels were forced into a desperate scramble, but managed to hold out the Highlanders for a vital 24-19 win.
The Rebels held a 19-12 lead at half-time and went ahead 24-12 early in the second half, as the game turned into an arm wrestle in Melbourne.
A Jackson Hemopo try just past the hour mark saw the visitors close the gap to 19-24.
However, the Rebels' defence held firm in the face of a fierce final quarter onslaught from the Highlanders.
Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper worked his magic to help the Rebels maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
In a heart-stopping finish, the Highlanders looked for a match winner in the 78th minute as flank Shannon Frizell tried to plant the ball down over the line, but the Television Match Official ruled he had dropped it.
The Rebels set up Friday's victory with four classy tries, all scored by their backline stars.
* Continue reading below ...
Cooper showed off his array of skills to set up two of those as he settled into his new home.
Earlier in the day, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika talked up Cooper's chances of a recall to the Australian fold and said he'd been impressed by the efforts of the Reds' discard.
"He played a smart game in the first game out, he played nice and flat and he was very active in organising the play. But also looking to attack himself a little bit, always with the flair that he brings to the game," Cheika said in a video released on Friday by Rugby Australia.
"There is great opportunity tonight for him, and just keep banging it. And with that, I have no doubt he will come into strong contention for selection."
Cooper only enhanced his case by popping a no-look flat pass for wing Jack Maddocks to score in the 26th minute.
And, early in the second half, he put a stabbing kick through into the in-goal which wrong-footed Highlanders five-eighth Bryn Gatland and bounced into the arms of centre Billy Meakes for Melbourne's fourth try of the night.
The Highlanders, who had three All Blacks rested, drew first blood in the third minute through Frizell after a perfect cross-field kick from Gatland.
However, Rebels centre Tom English hit back soon after scoring the first of two opening-half tries.
The visitors closed the gap to five points in the 64th minute through hard-working lock Jackson Hemopo and continued to hammer the Rebels until Frizell's late effort came up short.
Man of the match: Shannon Frizell and Jackson Hemopo put in big shifts for the Highlanders. Marika Koroibete and Dane Haylett-Petty made the most metres on attack, but our award goes to the Rebels' halfback combination of flyhalf Quade Cooper and scrumhalf Will Genia - who were pulling the strings for the host.
The scorers:
For the Rebels:
Tries: English 2, Maddocks, Meakes
Cons: Cooper 2
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Frizell, Tokolahi, Hemopo
Cons: Gatland, Banks
*Did you miss anything? Recap all the action right here!
Teams:
Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 Rob Leota, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Reece Hodge
Highlanders: 15 Josh Ioane, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Josh McKay, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (Captain), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Patelesio Tomkinson, 23 Marty Banks