Rebels 2016
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GoMelbRebels
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
What's with all the quad strains this season?
RebelYell
Arch Winning (36)
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach (Zane Leonard) and Rehabilitation Coordinator (Alex Rigby) both departed for Gold Coast Suns. Don't know much about their replacements, but both were highly regarded for injury prevention techniques.
Back to the injuries themselves, and according to Wayne Smith in The Australian today:
"McGahan will have five frontline players back from injury — prop Laurie Weeks, lock Lopeti Timani, fullback Mike Harris, centre Mitch Inman and winger Tom English — for the vital game against the Brumbies at AAMI Park on May 13."
I'd heard differently, but I would love to be proven wrong this time around.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Good news if true. It's our last genuine 8 point game this season, assuming NZs big 4 continue on their current trajectory.
Must win if we want to be a playoffs side.
Must win if we want to be a playoffs side.
Scooter
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
(Not Rebels 2016 related) I just ran into ex-Rebel James King and he told me he made his debut for the USA at the Americas Rugby Championship earlier this year. Something I didn't know (I may be a bit slow). But there is another country and player we can add to the list of ex-Rebel internationals.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
So it was that James King who played. Saw the team list and wondered.
So what have we got.
Byrnes (Russia), Phipps (Aus), Vuna (Aus), Weeksy (Aus), Jones (Aus), Rokobaro (Fiji), Veainu (Tonga), Betham (Aus), McMahon, (Aus), Toby (Aus) and King (USA) all making international debuts after playing for us. Have I missed anybody?
EDIT: Eddie played for Tonga too.
So what have we got.
Byrnes (Russia), Phipps (Aus), Vuna (Aus), Weeksy (Aus), Jones (Aus), Rokobaro (Fiji), Veainu (Tonga), Betham (Aus), McMahon, (Aus), Toby (Aus) and King (USA) all making international debuts after playing for us. Have I missed anybody?
EDIT: Eddie played for Tonga too.
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
He's playing Dewar Shield for Moorabbin this year. Playing pretty well as well.
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
Did anyone watch the U20s game last night? How did the Vic boys go in there? I caught about 10 minutes of it and Harley Fox seemed busy.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Harley was pretty good, but the pick of the forwards was Angus Scott-Young.
Ah-Mu made a couple of good runs, and another couple of high ball takes, but the NZ counterattack was very good and he was beaten a few times of defence, mostly because of team alignment, but a bit because of his own problems.
Sione came on in the 2nd half, couldn't create get over the gain line much, not really his fault though, lots of back foot ball.
Angus was a noticeable improvement over Sorovi, albeit that may not be saying much, Sorovi played one of the worst games I've ever seen from a halfback, slow to the breakdown, no sniping runs, lots and lots of passes going too low or too high.
Billy got about 5 or 6 minutes when Mason was pulled, didn't really do anything wrong, but didn't really have chance to do things well.
Don't think Uelese or Tupai got on. I think I saw Rob's 19 on the pitch, but I may be wrong, because I didn't see him.
I'd be hoping the three bench backs at least get a chance to start. If Billy is covering fullback, Maddocks performance suggests he might have to do that quite a bit, Fowler should get a chance after Sorovi's game and Sione will start in one of the centers jerseys, might as well play him now.
Ah-Mu made a couple of good runs, and another couple of high ball takes, but the NZ counterattack was very good and he was beaten a few times of defence, mostly because of team alignment, but a bit because of his own problems.
Sione came on in the 2nd half, couldn't create get over the gain line much, not really his fault though, lots of back foot ball.
Angus was a noticeable improvement over Sorovi, albeit that may not be saying much, Sorovi played one of the worst games I've ever seen from a halfback, slow to the breakdown, no sniping runs, lots and lots of passes going too low or too high.
Billy got about 5 or 6 minutes when Mason was pulled, didn't really do anything wrong, but didn't really have chance to do things well.
Don't think Uelese or Tupai got on. I think I saw Rob's 19 on the pitch, but I may be wrong, because I didn't see him.
I'd be hoping the three bench backs at least get a chance to start. If Billy is covering fullback, Maddocks performance suggests he might have to do that quite a bit, Fowler should get a chance after Sorovi's game and Sione will start in one of the centers jerseys, might as well play him now.
RebelYell
Arch Winning (36)
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
On the locks, my left field suggestion is Alex Toolis. He's been released by Edinburgh, he's supposedly homesick, and while he's not performed at the same level as his now Scottish capped twin, he's got a similar ceiling from the limited games I've seen him play. He's only 24 as well, plenty of time to continue developing.
RebelYell
Arch Winning (36)
I hadn't heard of him; seems to have good pedigree, good shout.
It appears as if LT will be back next week after all so perhaps the conversation is slightly redundant however with the lack of depth in Australian second row stocks he could well form a good option for an Australian team next season.
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