Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan addresses the press following his sides loss to the Sharks.
BY virtually all measures, the Melbourne Rebels’ makeover is nearing completion.
Rebuilt defence, impressive attacking flair, unswerving commitment and the absence of ego-driven off-field distraction are the hallmarks of Tony McGahan’s 2014 squad.
But the rewards from a striking revolution are slipping through the cracks, highlighted by Friday night’s 22-16 sapping loss to the Durban Sharks.
While McGahan was shattered post-match, Japanese international Male Sa’u and Wallaby Scott Higginbotham challenged their teammates to take the next step and convert opportunity to success.
Melbourne climbed to 11th - above 2011 champion Queensland - with the bonus point defeat to the top-ranked Sharks and it is obvious players, coaches and officials no longer elate in near misses.
The ones that got away. Source: HeraldSun
“We’ve definitely improved,” said Higginbotham, who captained the Rebels for the first time a week after the Sharks throttled Melbourne 64-7 in Durban last May.
“A lot has changed. we’re obviously playing some good football and we’re doing a lot of hard work to get into certain positions.
“It’s just experience in what to do in certain situations.
“It’s also about switching on and for these boys it’s about learning to step up and push themselves into that position.”
Sa’u, who had his best game since joining the club, said Melbourne’s failure to retain possession and punish the Sharks was its own fault.
“It was just ourselves, our own mistakes, that let us down,” he said.
“We had the strike power, mentally and physically we were up there with them but the errors let us down.
Melbourne Rebels’ Luke Burgess on the run. Pictures: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia
“We had some disappointing losses through Chiefs and Highlanders - all top teams - but going through the second half of the season, I think we can compete with the top teams.
“Our courage and mentally and physically, we felt we could have beaten them.
“One thing we’re gonna take away is that we feel we can compete with them. Now it’s time to move forward and do it.”
Melbourne held 62 per cent of possession and was superior in several metrics, but undermined much of those with turnovers and handling errors.
Its pack was extraordinary as Cruze Ah-Nau, Shota Horie, Laurie Weeks, Paul Alo-Emile, Max Lahiff, Pat Leafa, Luke Jones, Cadeyrn Neville, Scott Fuglistaller, Colby Fainga’a, Sean McMahon and Higginbotham held firm against monster Shark forwards.
There is no doubt it is another match Melbourne should have won, salting the wounds from similar encounters with the Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs.
The Rebels now sit 11th overall and fourth in the Australian conference.
The double-edged reality for McGahan and his underrated team is that it could have easily have six or seven wins from nine matches and be near the top of the log.
Instead, they are 3-6 with 17 points, including five bonus points - four of those from narrow losses.
The Rebels return to AAMI Park on Friday to face the mercurial Hurricanes with injury doubts over scrumhalf Nic Stirzaker.
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