Following the Blues’ 54-17 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific, Planet Rugby selects five takeaways from the action.
Game of two halves
This clash fitted the cliche to a tee. The first period was tight and cagey at times, with the wet weather seemingly affecting the quality of play. There was a back-and-forth on the scoreboard.
The Rebels showed some impressive grit to engineer a lead at half-time, but that was their last notable impact on the game. During the first half, the Blues attacked for most of it but were inaccurate at times which ultimately cost them the scoreline at the break.
However, it all changed in the second period as they ran in 41 unanswered points to completely blow the Rebels out of the water. Half-backs Finlay Christie and Beauden Barrett found such beautiful rhythm and left the Melbourne men chasing shadows.
Beauden Barrett masterclass
It initially looked as if it was not going to be the veteran’s night with some of the first half inaccuracies under his name. He was guilty of overplaying and kicking a bit too much.
That changed completely after the break as Barrett grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and ran riot. His kicks in behind started working, and he was at his free-flowing best. The try set up for Mark Telea with two kicks in the build-up is one only Barrett would be audacious enough to try.
He ended with three assists after one of the most venomous halves of rugby one can see from a fly-half.
🔵 Just Beauden Barrett doing Beauden Barrett things. #REBvBLU
👏 What a try this is! #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/060XWHTSuS
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 8, 2023
Mark Telea is the real deal
Every time Telea takes to the field he shines. The All Black is in an incredibly rich vein of form; beating defenders at will, breaking the line with ease and scoring tries on command.
The wing’s positioning is brilliant as he is always in the right place which is why he makes try scoring look so simple half the time whilst the rest of his game is him running through most of the opposing team.
Electric is an understatement and right now it would be ridiculous if Telea were to be left out of the All Blacks starting lineup.
Rebels are showing growth but still far off
Of course, the scoreline makes this takeaway seem ridiculous, but the first half was a good one from the Rebels. The hosts were gritty and brave in their defensive play whilst bold on attack.
Carter Gordon is a quality fly-half and after one or two early errors settled into a decent first half. Similarly, Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway, Lachie Anderson and Ryan Louwrens all had some good touches.
Crash and kick? Yeah, nah#REBvBLU pic.twitter.com/J2KaK4WhGB
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) April 8, 2023
If the Rebels played as they did in the first 40 throughout the game it would have made for an interesting result. However, this would all end up meaning nothing given how shocking the second half was.
No team can afford to give this Blues side the amount of time and space as the Rebels did. Once the run of points against them started there was no turning the tide for the Melbourne men who in honesty could have conceded more.
It will be frustrating for the hosts, who do have the potential to be one of the best Australian sides, at the very least.
Reece Hodge creates history
There was one silver lining on an otherwise dark day as the Wallaby became the first player in the history of the Rebels to reach 500 points and it is richly deserved.
Hodge joined the club in 2016 and has been a regular fixture in the XV across the backline, having played at fly-half, centre, wing and full-back.
His versatility has been key to the club and his long-range goal kicking has been a massive asset. It may have been a heavy loss, but the Australian star deserves a special mention for his achievement.
READ MORE: WATCH: Beauden Barrett brilliance sees Blues score 41 unanswered points in win over Rebels
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