Rugby: O'Connor thrives with Cipriani

James O’Connor of the Rebels. Photo / Getty Images

Star Melbourne Rebels trio James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale and Danny Cipriani gave a tantalising demonstration of the threat they can pose together as they combined for the first time in Super rugby.

The three have become great friends off the field and their brilliance and cohesiveness was on show as the Rebels secured a 34-23 upset win over the Blues at AAMI Park in Melbourne with a great team performance on Thursday night.

Due to injury and illness, it was the first time the three amigos had made it on to the park together in a Super rugby match since the off-season arrival of Wallabies stars Beale and O'Connor.

Man of the match O'Connor was confident the best was still to come from the combination.

While he has strong claims to be the Wallabies' playmaker in the first tests of 2012, he enjoyed the opportunities provided playing at inside centre beside accomplished English first five-eighths Cipriani.

O'Connor made several elusive runs and scored in the second half while fullback Beale was also in great touch and intercepted a Blues pass to notch his first try for the Rebels in the opening stanza.

"I think I just got given a lot more time and space as Danny created a lot of opportunity out there for me," O'Connor said.

"Having Danny inside me I can play the role that I want because he controls the game really well so I can have more of a run and get into that second receiver a little bit more and obviously I've got a world class player outside me in Kurtley Beale as well as Mitch Inman, who's really stepped up."

O'Connor said the Rebels finally played out a full 80 minute performance and stuck to their game plan.

"We know what our game's about and we know what our strengths are," he said.

Melbourne coach Damien Hill said it was a great team effort across the park but singled out lock Luke Jones and flanker Jarrod Saffy as well as his classy and tireless skipper Gareth Delve, who was almost ruled out with a back injury but was one of his side's best, scoring their final try.

Delve had two hours of physio on game day before he was cleared to play.

"It was touch and go but to his credit he's played probably one of the best 80 minutes he's done for the club," Hill said.

The coach was reluctant to say their second win could be a turning point in the season.

"The confidence is definitely there and while we've still got a lot to work on, I think it was a big game for this club.

"If we can start to put together two 40 minute performances like we know we can do, we'll stick with most teams."

- AAP