The Melbourne Rebels are 2-1 in 2024 after seeing off a spirited Moana Pasifika outfit in Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific.
Lachie Anderson's double ensured a bonus point win in Hamilton while there were plenty of plaudits for Julian Savea, who finally broke the competition try-scoring record.
As of 7pm AEDT, Melbourne officially lead the Super Rugby ladder but that's likely to change over the course of the weekend.
Here's what we learnt:
Before we get into the game in full, hats off to a Super Rugby legend.
Julian Savea finally tired of sharing Super Rugby’s try-scoring board and bagged number 61 against the Rebels.
He almost had it in the first half after powering 15 metres from an attacking lineout carry and falling just short of the Rebels line.
But the moment itself was much easier with Pepesano Patafilo drawing two Rebels and sending Julian over untouched in the 49th minute.
He now stands alone above the try-scoring antics of Israel Folau, Doug Howlett and Joe Roff – congratulations Julian.
It should be no surprise given the quality (and size!) of the Melbourne pack but Friday saw a new side to that Rebels scrum.
With the game in the balance and 13 minutes to play, Melbourne’s big boys produced the scrum of the season so far to drive Moana back over their line and pave way for Lachie Anderson’s second try.
They produced another five metre drive forward on their own goal-line two minutes later to earn a penalty and get out of trouble, ultimately going on to score again and earn the bonus point win.
Admittedly Moana had 14 men on the park for both scrums after an Alan Craig yellow card but the hosts looked like they were on roller skates all night against the likes of Sam Talakai, Taniela Tupou and Jordan Uelese up front.
Two cards in the final 20 minutes overshadowed what was another strong showing from Moana Pasifika in 2024.
The hosts lead 20-19 before Alan Craig was sent to the naughty chair for collapsing a rolling maul and Anderson’s score came from the ensuing scrum.
They still had a chance to comeback from 24-20 with five to play until Jacob Norris copped the cheddar for his high shot on Isaac Kailea.
Both were avoidable and ultimately cost Moana Pasifika back-to-back wins for the first time in club history.
The Melbourne skipper saw very little game-time at FMG Stadium after yo-yoing on and off the field in the opening 10 minutes.
Leota first left after three minutes for what appeared to be a blood substitution and then left again after 14 minutes, not to return.
Post-match, Leota told Sky Sport it was due to a knee concern and said it was “just to be safe”.
However, the 21-test Wallaby’s injury history is already longer than Rebels fans would like.
Melbourne have already lost Brad Wilkin to a long-term hamstring issue and while the likes of Josh Kemeny and Vaiolini Ekuasi stood tall, two leaders are two too many to lose.
You wouldn't have thought it after their Round 1 debacle against the Brumbies.
But if the Rebels can maintain this form, they're a genuine shot of knocking off the Reds in Round 4 at AAMI Park.
Leota thinks as much, telling Sky Sport "I think we still feel like we’ve got so much growth in our squad."
"Coming into this season and getting more games together, we’re going to get a lot better as the season goes."
If they're able to block out the outside noise and hone in, there's no reason they can't replicate their efforts from last year and topple Queensland.
A huge month looms after that with the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Drua all waiting so we'll have a much better idea of where the Rebels really sit by early April.
