Rebels loss compounded by injury

[travelling_gerry]

AAP
February 19, 2011, 2:24 am

The Melbourne Rebels' disappointing start to the Super Rugby season is set to continue with fears their five-eighth James Hilgendorf could be ruled out for the season.

Hilgendorf suffered a shoulder injury two minutes into their opening 43-0 loss to NSW at AAMI Park on Friday night and left the field, replaced by Danny Cipriani.

He will undergo scans in Melbourne on Saturday, and it's believed the injury could be season-ending.

Centre Cooper Vuna also injured his shoulder in the seven try romp by NSW, while flanker Hoani McDonald is believed to have broken his right hand.

Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell scored two tries apiece for the Waratahs.

The Rebels next face the Brumbies in Melbourne on Friday night.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ded-by-injury/

[palitu]

yes was watfching amateurs be torn apart by the tahs, will be better in the latter half of the season though. there was no defensive structure, too many people in rucks,

just no time playing together against a worthy opposition. They should have had more pre season matches against Super teams...

[TOCC]

the longer season is a double edged sword, it allows teams like this to find there groove towards the season end(sort of like the NRL and AFL where teams find there form int he back half of the season), but it could also highlight the lack of depth if too many injuries strike.

[tic]

Maybe we need a mercy rule, like in baseball.

[Rex Messup]

I thought the opening exchanges between the Rebs and tahs were pretty physical........and I'm worried that there won't be a man standing come RWC

[GIGS20]

I was devastated to see Jimmy sitting on the bench in a sling, he was my bargain basement inside back reserve in the fantasy footy. I'll never find anyone as cheap as him who'll play any actual minutes, dammit

[andrewM]

The Rebel army website is pretty cool http://www.rebel-army.com

[shasta]

The Rebel army website is pretty cool http://www.rebel-army.com

Yeah. Cool would be the word or cold even.

Just followed your link and it looks like they've had about half a dozen posts to their forums all year so far.

The owners of the website are someone called "Southern Cross Rugby Group trading as Rebel Army". They seem to be running commercial rugby travel services and an on line shop. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose. Maybe they are part of the Rebels franchise. But they don't make it obvious at first glance if they are.

Maybe the Rebels (and the Tahs, Reds & Ponies) need a real supporters site like Coach's fantastic venture here. We even seem to have a very efficient, voluntary tour organiser.