Rebels take positives from heavy loss

Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill believes his club will receive plenty of benefits from playing against the British and Irish Lions.

The Rebels took on the best of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Tuesday night and took it right up to their more fancied opposition for the majority of the 80 minutes.

The fact that the Rebels failed to score any points in the midweek clash doesn’t give a true indication of how well Hill’s side performed, with the Lions needing to play close to their best to put them away 35-0.

It was also the first time the Rebels have played at home in front of a sold out crowd and Hill thinks the club will continue to reap the benefits of the match well into the future.

“To have a full stadium for the first time in our three years is a great achievement for the club and a good sign that Melbourne is behind the club,” Hill said.

“The experience of having a Lions’ touring party coming to Melbourne is going to leave some really great memories for local rugby followers.

“It’s a fantastic experience for everybody involved.”

The Rebels entered the match without any of their international players, with Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Nick Phipps in the Wallabies squad to play the Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night and inspirational skipper Scott Higginbotham out injured with a shoulder problem.

That gave chances to plenty of the Rebels squad members that don’t always feature during the Super Rugby season and Hill said that will prove to be a positive for the club.

“To play at that level and to really get a taste of what it is going to take to aspire to play for the Wallabies later in their career,” he said.

“A few of them I spoke to said ‘that was nothing like what they had ever experienced’.

“And that’s what we expected … we never gave up.

“The defence at times was outstanding and when we got in behind them the continuity of attack was good.

“They supported each other and it was just a shame we couldn’t finish a couple of things off.”

Acting Rebels skipper Gareth Delve said he had been looking forward to the Lions match ever since it was announced and not just because of his Welsh heritage.

Delve, who grew up in Wales and once dreamed about playing for the Lions, said the match will prove to be a stepping stone for the Rebels as they attempt to make a name for themselves in Super Rugby.

“Certainly AFL (Australian football) is king in this town, but the passion for rugby here and to have so many people is going to increase the interest,” Delve said.

“Hopefully as a club we will kick on, on the back of that and keep coming.”

Article source: http://asia.eurosport.com/rugby-league/lowes-leaves-england-role_sto3816452/story.shtml

Rebels take positives from heavy loss