Round 3: Moana Pasifika v Rebels - Friday 8 March 2024

[oztimmay]

Both teams are coming off wins in Melbourne, and looking for the nxt victory.

The Rebels scored a big win against Moana in 2023, but won't have it as easy this time around.

Even this early in the season, a must-win for both teams.

 

[KevinO]

5pm with Melbourne traffic, won't be watching this one live. Why can't two countries work out suitable times for games on a Friday night? 5pm AEST is a crap time for an Australian team to be playing, same as having a NZ team play in Perth at 10pm AEST. These things can be avoided yet it still happens every season.

 

[KiwiM]

This game will have bugger all atmosphere as it is being played in Hamilton as the field at Albany isn't ready

 

[Dan54]

This game will have bugger all atmosphere as it is being played in Hamilton as the field at Albany isn't ready

Which is a shame , as this has the makings of an interesting game!

 

[swingpass]

a few changes, injuries? form?
Gibbon
Uelese
Talakai
Canham
Solokai-Loto
Kemeny
Ekausi
Leota
Louwrens
Gordon
Kelleway
Feliuai
Daugunu
Anderson
Strachan

Dobbins
Kailea
Tupou
Tuilima
Maiava
Tuttle
G Vaihu
Ripley

 

[Wilson]

I wonder if Strachan starting is in part to take the tee off Gordon?

 

[KevinO]

I wonder if Strachan starting is in part to take the tee off Gordon?

That's my guess, he played well when he came on though. Proctor did not look good either

 

[KevinO]

Anderson needs to step up, felt his been quite the first 2 games

 

[Highlander35]

Uelese and Wilkin out too.

Not too surprising, but interesting after a win. Ekuasi deserves a start and Maiava deserves an opportunity.

 

[Wilson]

Uelese and Wilkin out too.

Not too surprising, but interesting after a win. Ekuasi deserves a start and Maiava deserves an opportunity.

Uelese is starting, Mafi is out.

 

[oztimmay]

The Bus is back....[gulp]

 

[Highlander35]

Uelese is starting, Mafi is out.

Oop, my brain just autofilled that.

 

[Crashy]

how good seeing Sekope running around. A great servant to the Tahs.

 

[Dctarget]

Interested to see Ekuasi at 7, gut feeling is it won't work. But That's some damaging runners with him, Kemeny and Leota.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This game will have bugger all atmosphere as it is being played in Hamilton as the field at Albany isn't ready

Big Tongan & Samoan communities here in the Tron plus Auckland's not much more than an hour away now so I think they'll go OK crowd-wise c.f. Albany.

 

[Hawko]

View attachment 18351


The Bus is back....[gulp]

Feluiai is in for an interesting night. If he can make all his tackles he should get 8/10 in the ratings.

Strachan on for the place kicks seems like the change the Rebels needed 12 months ago. Gordon is not a place kicker and its just doing his confidence huge damage to ask him to step into that role.

 

[Highlander35]

Feluiai is in for an interesting night. If he can make all his tackles he should get 8/10 in the ratings.

Strachan on for the place kicks seems like the change the Rebels needed 12 months ago. Gordon is not a place kicker and its just doing his confidence huge damage to ask him to step into that role.

12 months ago we had Hodge doing all that.

 

[Dctarget]

Don't love Kellaway shifting to the wing. I understand Strachan was valuable for kicking last week but rather Glen starts and Kellaway gets to keep playing at the back. He's been our best across the two games and just needs to cement himself. Especially in light of Schmidt's comments about picking players that demonstrate they're consistently reliable.

 

[upthereds#!]

Don't love Kellaway shifting to the wing. I understand Strachan was valuable for kicking last week but rather Glen starts and Kellaway gets to keep playing at the back. He's been our best across the two games and just needs to cement himself. Especially in light of Schmidt's comments about picking players that demonstrate they're consistently reliable.

Yes I would have gone Vaihu or Ripley straight into starting @ 13. Leaving Daugunu, Kellaway and Anderson alone. Oh well.

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah Strachan is average. Give Daugunu the kicking boots!