The Melbourne Rebels are determined to match the Brumbies’ firepower with force in their Super Rugby clash at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The Rebels came out pumped up against the Waratahs last round and used their physicality and aggression to try to get on top reigning champions.
Holding them to 28-28 in the final seven minutes, it almost worked until NSW skipped away with a late try.
Lock Lopeti Timani was the Rebels’ main hit-man, while big centre Mitch Inman also nailed some big tackles.
Melbourne coach Tony McGahan said he was looking for a repeat performance against the Canberra outfit which boasts an international forward pack – albeit with a different result.
“The good sides in this competition from a forward perspective and mentality … stand strong in the defence line,” McGahan said.
“Those key moments continue to build up as the game goes on … you get those little wins and then at the back end of the game, hopefully you’ve put in enough good work to continue to win.”
Melbourne co-captain Scott Higginbotham said a positive they could take out of their tight loss was their ability to score four tries against NSW.
“I think we can take a lot of confidence out of last week, scoring four tries and we defended well,” Higginbotham said.
“On those four tries I think we only had 35-40 per cent possession so we can do a lot when we have the ball.”
He said that lack of possession was costly with his team tiring late in the match.
Higginbotham said the Rebels needed to do their best to upset the Brumbies’ flow of ball to their Wallaby outside backs Henry Speight and Tevita Kurindrani.
“You’ve got to be on top of those guys,” he said.
“On the other side of that their forwards are very strong and physical and you need to get in front of them.
Both teams are a win apiece to open the season, with the Brumbies losing last round to the Chiefs thanks to a penalty kick after the final siren.
They haven’t lost consecutive matches since 2011. The teams split the results in their two clashes last season with the Rebels winning early.
