The Rebels' Scott Higginbotham fends off some Crusaders defenders
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Matches: Crusaders 10 - 20 Rebels

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

Melbourne Rebels have kicked off the Super Rugby season in style, recording their first win on foreign soil with a gutsy victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The visitors outplayed the seven-time champions at the breakdown and in defence, with back-rowers Scott Higginbotham, Sean McMahon and Colby Faingaa, and locks Luke Jones and Lopeti Timani, doing much of the damage.

"I thought our forward pack were outstanding, and did a lot of really good work both in the set piece and around the field," Rebels coach Tony McGahan said. "People might have been surprised that we started Lopeti Timani in the second row, but he was great tonight.

"We came here expecting a really tough challenge but also knowing what we are capable of, and while it's great to get our first win on foreign soil under the belt it's important that we focus on next week. We'll come up against a Waratahs side full of internationals, and that's another exciting challenge."

A patchy first 15 minutes was dominated by handling errors and the whistle of referee Nick Briant as both sides took time to settle into the first regular-season game of 2015. The game was just three minutes old too when the TMO was called into action; Rebels halfback Nic Stirzaker given a yellow card for a stomp on Richie McCaw. The Crusaders managed just three points in his absence.

The Rebels finally burst into life just after the opening quarter as a series of short bursts from their hungry pack edged them closer to the Crusaders' line. The pressure eventually told on the defence when Lopeti Timani barged over for five points that really belonged to the entire Rebels pack.

But the visitors' joy was short-lived as the Crusaders executed a perfect lineout drive from short range to quickly wrestle back the lead. Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham had already stopped one drive illegally and received a warning for his effort; but there would be no stopping prop Ben Funnell a few moments later.

The Crusaders gave up their likely half-time advantage lead however as Mike Harris added two late penalties; the second of which came after Mitchell Drummond became the second player to see yellow. The Crusaders halfback was ruled not to have rolled away at the tackle as the Rebels mounted a promising move.

The hosts dominated the early stages of the second half despite being down a player but they couldn't find a way through the Rebels' defence. And the visitors' impressive back-row trio continued to exert pressure, winning turnovers through their robust breakdown work.

Fifteen minutes into the second half the Rebels went within a few metres of scoring as Pat Leafa sprinted down the sideline following a cheeky lineout move, only to be pulled down with try-line in sight.

Dan Carter may have suffered yet another injury © Getty Images

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The game hadn't exactly been short on controversy when the referee again called the TMO into action, this time to inspect a lifting tackle from Rebels back-rower Sean McMahon. After consultation with the man upstairs, McMahon was shown a yellow card much to the delight of the home fans.

But there was a determination about the Rebels on Friday night and although it came via a stroke of luck, their second try was a reward for a defensive line that frustrated the Crusaders throughout. Struggling to break through, Crusaders fly-half Dan Carter tried a grubber kick in behind the Rebels but it hit the defence and was scooped up by Stirzaker, who sprinted 60 metres to score untouched and give the Rebels a 20-10 lead.

The Crusaders had two excellent opportunities to respond but twice dropped the ball with the line begging; first Robbie Fruean was unable to handle on the touchline before, moments later, Owen Franks coughed the ball up as he burrowed over from close range.

Adding insult to injury, Crusaders fly-half Carter left the field late in the match with what looked like a worrying leg injury.