This season Melbourne introduced its first ever international rugby team, The Rebels, to the Super rugby franchise. We had high hopes and as the home games are all played at AAMI stadium - a mere 5 minute walk from our apartment, we were keen to jump aboard the Rebel bandwagon and get supporting. As was the rest of Melbourne.
For a generally non-rugby-supporting city, having 25,000 people show up for the Rebel's first game was testament to Melburnians' obsession with sport... and their staunch rivalry with Sydney - their first game was against the Waratahs. I don't know if it was the shock of 25,000 turning up to watch them or new kid on the block nerves, but they performed dismally. A 43-0 drubbing ensued and I was more than ready to renounce my support on the spot. I dubbed them the Te-rebels.
We decided to watch them play "one last time" against the Brumbies on Friday Crowd numbers were tellingly down 10,000 from the week before but those who didn't show up missed one hell of a game!
After drowning his sorrows and allegedly trying to steal a bottle of spirits from a Chapel Street bar after last week's disgraceful game, Danny Cipriani was on his best behaviour and kicked some stellar penalties. Stirling came through with a great try in the 72nd minute and another penalty kick by Cipriani just before the full time whistle secured the Rebels' victory 25-24. Pretty lucky as S bought a team shirt before the game!
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