Scott Higginbotham must lead by example © Getty Images

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Match Pack: Brumbies hold on in scrappy win in Melbourne

Matches: Rebels 15 - 20 Brumbies

Firebrand Melbourne Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham says he needs to look at his discipline following his team's second successive tight Super Rugby loss.

The Rebels fell 20-15 to the Brumbies at AAMI Park on Saturday night which followed a close second-round defeat - also at home - to the defending champions the Waratahs. The home side trailed by only four points, 13-9, when the Wallabies backrower was yellow-carded in the 57th minute for collapsing a Brumbies maul.

It proved a key moment as from the ensuing line-out the Brumbies drove the ball across the line with flanker Jarrad Butler touching down. Christian Lealiifano added the extras for a 20-9 buffer. Then, with the Rebels still a man down, they almost repeated the feat six minutes later but Butler dropped the ball as the maul crashed over the tryline.

Higginbotham has already fronted the Super Rugby judiciary this season for alleged stomping in the first round, although he was cleared. Last season he missed the Rebels' final game after accruing three yellow cards. While the Rebels love his physicality and ferocity in the contest, Higginbotham is aware he treads a fine line that can prove costly.

"I'm extremely disappointed in myself," Higginbotham said. "I don't want to play the game like that because I'm obviously probably better on the field than off so it's something that I've got to look at. It wasn't intentional but things happen."

All the game metrics, apart from the scoreboard, point to an improving Rebels outfit. They dominated possession and territory and had more than double the Brumbies' runs and run metres but couldn't nail their final execution to get across the tryline.

Brumbies captain Stephen Moore, who impressed in his first start of the season, said he thought the Rebels would trouble plenty of sides in the competition.

"They're were right in the game to the death and credit to them because they kept fighting," Moore said. "They're a much-improved side this year than what they were in previous years and I think they're going to certainly cause some trouble this year. If they can keep everyone fit and on the park they've got a terrific side."