Rebels v Chiefs, Round 13, 21 May 2016

[KevinO]

Chiefs midfield back Charlie Ngatai is out of their match against the Rebels on Saturday after suffering a head knock against the Highlanders.

 

[oztimmay]

Boo for Charlie, heads knocks are terrible. Speedy recovery. He's a dangerous character with ball in hand, so wonder who will step up to replace him?

 

[KevinO]

The Melbourne Rebels injury update following Round 12 v Brumbies brought to you by Recover Sports Medicine:

Laurie Weeks (Hamstring): 6-8 weeks
Dan Hawkins (Back): Season Ending
Dom Shipperley (Knee): Season Ending
Cam Crawford (Broken Hand): Season Ending

 

[Brumby Runner]

Colby? Looked to have gone off injured last game.

 

[Highlander35]

Looked a leg knock, the kind that would need a bit of ice and a bit of rest, stopping him going at more than 80% or so for the game, but not something that would keep him out long term.

 

[Lindommer]

Bad luck for Colby, but it's not as if the Rebels are short of backrowers. An opportunity for Reid to shine.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Referee: Angus Gardiner
Assistant Referees: Brendon Pickerill, Angus Mabey
TMO: Ben Skeen

 

[Dan54]

That Angus Gardiner is s very good ref in my opinion.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

 

[RebelYell]

http://melbournerebels.com/2016/05/19/rebels-welcome-back-english-inman-and-jeffries/

Inman, Jeffries & English into starting lineup for Ellison (dropped? no mention? must be something...), Jones (back), Crawford (wrist).

Siliva to bench for Leafa (back).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Mitchell Graham. Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Tom Sanders, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Sam Vaka.

Lienert-Brown for Ngatai, no surprises there but Nathan Harris for Elliott certainly is, guy hasn't played in two years & Elliott has been going pretty well of late.

Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Tom English, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Sam Jeffries, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith. Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Culum Retallick, 20 Jordy Reid, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Jonah Placid, 23 Kotaro Matsushima

 

[Mr Wobbly]

The way the Team Announcement reads, it certainly sounds like Tamati has been dropped.

We'll miss Jones but it gives Jeffries a good chance. I'm keen to see how Siliva goes.

 

[oztimmay]

I find it hard to believe that Tamati was dropped. He's been the backbone of our midfield defence. Still, Mitch will fill that void nicely.

Looks like a lot of players have succumbed to injury. Perhaps niggles have just got worse as the season has gone on.

I'm always optimistic, but nervous too.


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[swingpass]

T

We'll miss Jones

i'm not certain they will.

 

[Scooter]

Luke Jones and Pat Leafa both have back injuries.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

i'm not certain they will.

Really? You don't rate him?

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[galumay]

The Chiefs should have fun!

 

[AFL_Converted]

I think we will get out pants pulled down in this one but in the spirit of blind GAGR optimism here we go.

Cruden to have a shocker and pass three incercept tries. Rebel front row to play out of their skins, locks out jump the chiefs locks and McMahon dominate Cane in the back row. Chiefs wide backs not to see the ball due to the forementioned intercepts.

Supa Sefa to go one better than the Blues game and score a full length try from behind the posts after picking up a stirzaker pass that missed the target.

Hmm, perhaps that last one is too close to reality for this post.

Anyway, I will be watching the game screaming at the ref to give is a fair go, cheering on the Rebels good plays, throwing up my arms at any chiefs break seeing the game through an increasing beer induced "clarity" as the game progresses. Bring it on.

 

[oztimmay]

No one is ever wrong, when they are under the influence of Beer induced clarity.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wet & thundery in HamNZ right now but by kickoff that should've passed through, forecast is ~12C, mostly cloudy & light winds. FMG holds up pretty well in the wet but you'd expect it to be a heavy track & fairly greasy, similar to AMI last night.

Really love to see the Rebs keep it close so Tribe don't get a try-scoring BP but suspect I'm gunna be disappointed.