Round 2: Hurricanes V Rebels, Venue TBC, March 4 @ 3:15 AEST

[oztimmay]

So, Rebels fans, how do you think we will go?

Shorter turnaround for the 'Canes, yes. But, look what they did to the Sunwolves...

The Rebels expect a number of players back from injury, boosting depth in key positions. Looks like Jonah will be out for some time with that ankle injury.

Rebels still advertising the venue as TBC. Any updates? Palmerston North?

 

[Marcelo]

Canes by 275

 

[Simon.]

Canes say the venue is the Cake Tin. Can probably take them as the authority on the subject!

Could be a long afternoon for the Rebels. If they can get Hanson, Naivalu and Koroibete on the field it will help a lot, but there are just too many injuries there to see them really threatening this Canes team in Wellington.

 

[KevinO]

So, Rebels fans, how do you think we will go?

Shorter turnaround for the 'Canes, yes. But, look what they did to the Sunwolves.

The Rebels expect a number of players back from injury, boosting depth in key positions. Looks like Jonah will be out for some time with that ankle injury.

Rebels still advertising the venue as TBC. Any updates? Palmerston North?

Hopefully they had some bad Saki celebrating, Canes by 30

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Rebels still advertising the venue as TBC. Any updates? Palmerston North?

Rebels must be hoping the 'canes bus driver thinks so. Everyone else will be rocking up to Westpac Stadium (@Simon please note), Wellington

 

[oztimmay]

A "stating the fucking obvious" piece up on Rugby.com.au

http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/03/01/06/36/rebels-given-rev-up-before-hurricanes-test

On a brighter note, looks like little Red and Koroibete will be ready for this weekend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Marcelo]

Hurricanes starting XV:

1 C. Eves
2 D. Coles (c)
3 To'omaga Allen
4 J. Blackwell
5 M. Fatialofa
6 Shields
7 A. Savea
8 R. Prinsep
9 TJ Perenara
10 B. Barrett
11 J. Savea
12 N. Laumape
13 M. Proctor
14 V. Aso
15 NM Skudder

Canes by 390

 

[Simon.]

Bookies are giving the Rebels around a 24 point head start.

Depends on the Canes choose to play, I think. They may treat it a bit like the Sunwolves game where they took the foot off the gas in the last 20 to conserve themselves for the tougher rounds against Kiwi opposition, or they may see the Rebels as another opportunity to maximise their for/against.

 

[Twoilms]

Hurricanes starting XV:

1 C. Eves
2 D. Coles (c)
3 To'omaga Allen
4 J. Blackwell
5 M. Fatialofa
6 Shields
7 A. Savea
8 R. Prinsep
9 TJ Perenara
10 B. Barrett
11 J. Savea
12 N. Laumape
13 M. Proctor
14 V. Aso
15 NM Skudder

Canes by 390

awwww yiss gunna win me some fantasy rugby points.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Rebels in an upset.

Canes will be too confident and Rebels will muscle up and ambush them.

For all you doubters, the Rebels by 12

 

[Simon.]

You could be right Scrubber.

Beauden Barrett and the Bus both red carded in the first 10 for high tackles, NMS goes off after re-injuring himself shortly after. Koroibete with a maiden game hat-trick and the scrum battle tips the Rebels' way because of Weeks' extra kilo after eating the entire cake they made him for re-signing.

Anything's possible, especially with these inconsistently-applied high tackle laws.

 

[swingpass]

Rebels team Hanson, Inman and Koroibete in. i think Maddox is unlucky, he offers much more than Volavola IMO.

1. Cruze Ah-Nau
2. James Hanson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Steve Cummins
5. Lopeti Timani
6. Jordy Reid
7. Colby Fainga’a
8. Amanaki Mafi
9. Nic Stirzaker (Captain)
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
11. Tom English
12. Reece Hodge
13. Mitch Inman
14. Marika Koroibete*^
15. Jack Debreczeni
Reserves
16. Pat Leafa
17. Tom Moloney
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Culum Retallick
20. Jake Schatz
21. Ben Meehan
22. Sione Tuipulotu
23. Ben Volavola
^Super Rugby debut
*Rebels debut

 

[Highlander35]

Still playing 1 jumper in the lineout and one forward with any ability out wide?

 

[GoMelbRebels]

No Sefa. Damn.

 

[Micheal]

Maddocks was one of your best last game! Not happy with that - he offers way more than Debreczeni. What does Volavola offer? A cover for 10 and 15?

Maddocks covers 15. He's a bigger body and a better strike runner.

Hodge, Debreczeni and Garden-Bachop cover 10 and 15.

 

[Tex]

Rebels team Hanson, Inman and Koroibete in. i think Maddox is unlucky, he offers much more than Volavola IMO.

1. Cruze Ah-Nau
2. James Hanson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Steve Cummins
5. Lopeti Timani
6. Jordy Reid
7. Colby Fainga’a
8. Amanaki Mafi
9. Nic Stirzaker (Captain)
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
11. Tom English
12. Reece Hodge
13. Mitch Inman
14. Marika Koroibete*^
15. Jack Debreczeni
Reserves
16. Pat Leafa
17. Tom Moloney
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Culum Retallick
20. Jake Schatz
21. Ben Meehan
22. Sione Tuipulotu
23. Ben Volavola
^Super Rugby debut
*Rebels debut

I thought he looked fairly assured last week, even considering it was his debut at a young age.

 

[RebelYell]

Surely must be injured - there's no way Volavola is picked ahead of him.

I'm glad that Jack gets another crack at FB.

Also noticed on IG that Fereti Sa'aga has travelled as front row cover.

 

[Clyde]

Maddocks was one of your best last game! Not happy with that - he offers way more than Debreczeni. What does Volavola offer? A cover for 10 and 15?

Maddocks covers 15. He's a bigger body and a better strike runner.

McGahan mentioned after last game that he took a shoulder injury into the match and toughed out the 80 mins. I suspect with Koroibete and Inman back they have a chance to rest him now.

 

[Rebels3]

Meh.....

Its a better team than last week, but not good enough.

Hanson will help the most as we seriously lack at hooker in terms of depth.

Marika will run hard and Inman assured at 13. I just hope his body holds up.

Back row deserved another chance, all 3 are good players.

Will be happy not to concede 50, keep within 20 and ecstatic to pick up a bonus point. I'm not even going to talk about getting a win.

 

[KevinO]

I don't give us a chance, but the one thing I would love to see is Koroibete with a huge hit on Julian Savea.

Something like this.