With a couple of Super Rugby hoodoos busted, Dane Haylett-Petty reckons his Melbourne Rebels are playing as well as he’s seen with a favourable schedule of matches to come.
The vastly-improved Rebels were standouts among the Australian teams in week five, outclassing the Highlanders 28-22 to register their maiden win in Dunedin.
NSW Waratahs also produced a season-best display with their 29-17 defeat of the Lions earning them their first competition points.
Queensland Reds were also at home to South African opponents but faded late in a 33-23 loss to the Sharks.
It nevertheless left Australian teams with a 2-1 win-loss record for the second-straight round and some cause for more optimism.
Rebels skipper Haylett-Petty marvelled at how far they had come since their opening round loss to the Sunwolves, the Japanese outfit who have gone on to suffer a series of fearful hammerings.
Led by lock Matt Philip and hooker Anaru Rangi, Melbourne blitzed the Highlanders pack from the opening whistle as they raced to a 21-0 lead in 21 minutes.
“We know we are a strong finishing team so we’ve been focusing on our start,” Haylett-Petty said.
“It was one of the most complete performances as a group.
“Our set piece was awesome, everyone really stayed on task and turned up.
“We feel like we’re improving each week.”
Melbourne maintained their intensity to the end and their win was sealed by winger Andrew Kellaway’s second long-range intercept try.
It mirrored their fight against the Waratahs last month, when notching their first home win over NSW since 2013.
“So now we’ve beaten the Waratahs and won in Dunedin. Next it’s beating South African sides,” Wallabies fullback Haylett-Petty said.
Winnable home matches against the struggling Lions and Sunwolves await the ninth-placed Rebels, who sit second in the Australian Conference behind the rested Brumbies.
Meanwhile, the battle to wear No.10 for the Wallabies intensified with Matt Toomua thriving in the armchair ride gifted by his pack.
Waratahs rookie Will Harrison won praise for both his game management and flair as the Waratahs forwards went up a gear while James O’Connor had a second successive game of authority for the Reds.
It was O’Connor’s departure with injury on 50 minutes that marked a turning point as the impressive Sharks took control in Brisbane to notch a fourth win.
South Africa’s Stormers suffered their first loss, beaten surprisingly easily 33-14 by the Blues in Cape Town, but they retain the overall competition lead.
The Bulls are the only team without a win after going down 39-24 at home to the Jaguares while the Hurricanes thumped the hapless Sunwolves 62-15.