Melbourne Rebels were willing but their execution wasn't up to scratch in an opening Super Rugby loss to Auckland Blues at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
Despite missing six starters plus centre Mitch Inman, who was withdrawn pre-game, the Rebels had two tries after 23 minutes only for their attack to stall as the Blues scored seven consecutive tries on the way to a 56-18 win.
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Blues stun Rebels in season opener
Blues run riot in Melbourne as they beat the Rebels 56-18 in the opening game of the Super Rugby season.
Perhaps the one positive was the surface looked a picture despite recent concerts at AAMI Park, while 10,265 supporters turned up to watch the game.
The Blues, who were missing several of their own first-choice players including Sonny Bill Williams, were not as clinical as they would have liked but when presented with turnovers or defensive holes they pounced and usually extracted full points.
Blues centre Rieko Ioane scored a hat-trick to lead the visitors, while Rebels' first-gamer Jackson Garden-Bachop scored a try and set-up another from five-eighth but had trouble with his penalty kicking, missing two first-half attempts.
Rebels coach Tony McGahan said his side were forced into errors by the hungry Blues' defence.
"Those New Zealand sides pounce at every opportunity," McGahan said.
"That intercept try on 38 minutes hurt us and three or four turnovers in that second half really blows out the score there but I thought we competed really well and showed some evidence of some positive things we can really build on."
The Blues were first to score when Ihaia West converted a penalty after four minutes but the Rebels' response was rousing as No.8 Amanaki Mafi broke free down the right side, found Garden-Bachop in support on the inside and he dished off to Stirzaker for a try to see the Rebels up 7-3.
The Blues kept up the pressure on the Rebels' try line before prop Pauliasi Manu wriggled his way over the line to make it 8-7.
Stirzaker didn't see out the half as he took a knock to the head and went off with concussion.
A missed penalty kick from Garden-Bachop looked to have cost the Rebels points after it cannoned off the left post and back into play but the Blues were slow to kick for touch and a diving Jordy Reid smothered West's kick and it fell into Garden-Bachop's path as he scored to the left of the goals, his kick missed but the Rebels still led 12-8 after 23 minutes.
The Blues weren't stunned for long and on 27 minutes regained the lead despite a hint of a dropped ball as a rapid shift from left to right caught the Rebels' out-numbered and allowed former Melbourne Storm winger Matt Duffie to score for the visitors who also converted to go up 15-12.
West made it 18-12 with another penalty but the Rebels' responded via the boot of Reece Hodge as his penalty made it 18-15 soon after.
But a poor passing decision from Reid saw the home side punished as he didn't see Rieko Ioane, who intercepted his pass at midfield and powered to the line to score under the post to put the visitors up 25-15 at half time.
Hodge's boot cut the lead to 25-18 but minutes later Blues halfback Augustine Pulu burst through a hole in the Rebels' line to score from 40-metres making it 32-18 on 44 minutes.
Ioane followed with his second try on 50 minutes dodging three tackles and out-running two chasers to score on the left side to boost the lead to 39-18 with West's conversion.
Winger Melani Nanai sprinted onto the score sheet chasing down a long kick and beating Ben Meehan by a finger tip to touch down the Blues' sixth try then Ioane completed his hat-trick on 63 minutes after another Rebels' lost ball and a generous pass from older brother and No 8 Akira Ioane.
Fijian international Ben Volovola made his Rebels debut off the bench as did Victorian prop Jordan Uelese and Tyrel Lomax.
Jonah Placid (knee) was substituted late adding yet another name to the Rebels' bulging injury list.
The Rebels visit Wellington Hurricanes in Wellington next Saturday night at 5.15pm (AEDT).
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