This weekend Rebels travel north to face their border rivals, the Waratahs, in a game in which both teams have a point to prove. The Waratahs, having lost both their star winger and their first game to Queensland in seven years, will be looking for blood against a Rebels outfit who want vengeance for the 43-0 drubbing the Tahs gave them in Round 1.
Since then the Rebels have since racked up three wins, and looked close in a few other games. Though still missing the Hoff, they look a more-better side and quite different to that debut lineup. Back then, Cooper Vuna was playing at inside centre, with fellow ex-Leaguie and defensive blunderer Luke Rooney on the wing. The whole backline is a different proposition these days, reflecting coach Rod Macqueen’s determination to make defence a priority.
With a near-full roster to pick from, Peter Betham comes in for his first start on the wing, pushing Vuna to the pine. Stirling Mortlock, who is still on his first hip (quite an achievement for someone of his age), will control the defence from 12, with the returning Mark Gerrard joining him in the centres and Julian Huxley going to fullback. The big news is the number 22 next to Danny Cipriani’s name, a change that makes way for James Hilgendorf to start opposite Barnes. While this change will boost the midfield defence, it costs the Rebels the only player who’s consistently looked threatening on attack. Hilgendorf’s kicking was solid in the pre-season trial games (from memory he missed only one from 10) so don’t expect him to shy from a penalty. Richard Kingi, a victim of Nick Phipps’s success at halfback, moves to the bench after never looking home in the back three; Luke Rooney (who just looks lost in a game with no 40/20s) drops out of the squad altogether.
The Waratahs, after a solid performance last week that didn’t see them cross the try line, have to find a way to break through the Rebels’ defence. Injuries have forced a few changes: with pack leaders Waugh and Palu unavailable, back rowers Dave Dennis and Ben Mowen have the opportunity to cement their spots and stake a claim for Wallaby squad selection. The loss of Drewster the Rooster Mitchell sees Sosene Anesi come onto one wing and Lachie Turner returning to the other, while Kurtley Beale takes up his preferred spot at fullback (and designated kicker) for his last match against the Rebels. Berrick “Sookface” Barnes, who got knocked down, then got up again, and then got knocked down and stayed down for a few weeks, makes his return to fly-half, sending Halangahu back to the bench yet again.
The match-up in the halves will be interesting, with Luke Burgess, a great runner of the ball, facing off against Phipps, who’s been second on form to Will Genia for a while now. Jersey 20 in the Green and Gold may well be at stake, with no other competitors within sight of them. Hilgendorf and Barnes should be solid but unexciting.
Depth is going to count for a lot. The Tahs have youngster Tom Kingston on the bench, who could well be bowled over again if he comes on, this time by Gareth Delve or a rampaging Gerrard. The Tahs have only Chris Alcock as back-up for the depleted back row, while the Rebels’ first choice Saffy-Lipman-Delve combo can be reinforced with Hoani MacDonald and Tim Davidson.
Whom to watch:
Gareth Delve – He has been channelling his inner winger these last few games, rarely misses a tackle, and busts tackles like grannies bust hips, but through pure enthusiasm he sometimes breaks the defensive line early, drawing a penalty. Gareth is out to prove that he is the real deal, not a New South Welshman but the only real Welshman in Super Rugby, fighting for a World Cup spot.
Tatafu Polota-Nau – This human cannonball no longer has his inbuilt shock absorber hair, so for the Wallabies’ sake lets hope the cornrows provide some support, and he has a fate better than Samson….
The real battle is over the fence, in Bays 22 and 23. I have journeyed to Sydney along with the other Rebel Army faithful and will be sitting next to a group of Tahs supporters who apparently don’t boo. So if you are in town come on down and say hi, and feel free to bring your correspondent a drink (nothing with the words “light” or “non-alcoholic” in it). There is also a game of touch in the lead-up out the front of SFS (look for the grass surface with a lot of overweight people running) between the Rebel Army and the GAGR-Tahs (check in the forum for more info).
With the injuries to the Tahs, and the Rebels reforming in defence, I predict a relatively low scoring affair, with most of the damage to come off the boots of Beale and Hilgendorf. As a Rebels faithful, deep in Tah territory, I will test my luck once more and tip the Rebels, by 6.
Waratahs: 15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Sosene Anesi, 10. Berrick Barnes, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Ben Mowen, 7. Pat McCutcheon, 6. Dave Dennis, 5. Sitaleki Timani, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. Reserves: 16. John Ulugia, 17. Al Baxter, 18. Kane Douglas, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Brendan McKibbin, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Tom Kingston.
Rebels: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mark Gerrard, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Peter Betham, 10James Hilgendorf, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (vc), 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Alister Campbell, 4Hugh Pyle, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Rodney Blake. Reserves: 16 Heath Tessman, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Hoani MacDonald, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Cooper Vuna, 22 Danny Cipriani.
