Ouch I knew the team had been hit hard with some disruptions (injuries, etc.) but not to this level. On the positive is another Melbourne guy is going to get a Super Rugby debut (Kailea) and also van Nek and Vaihu get exposed to Super RugbyRebels 1-15: Cabous Eloff, Jordan Uelese, Pone Faamausili, Steve Cummins, Trevor Hosea, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Michael Wells, Joe Powell, Matt To'omua (c), Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge, Stacey Ili, Lachlan Anderson, Tom Pincus
Reserves: Ed Craig, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Rhys van Nek, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, James Tuttle, Glen Vaihu, Frank Lomani
No Carter Gordon surprises me. Looking forward to watching Van Nek and Vaihu.Rebels 1-15: Cabous Eloff, Jordan Uelese, Pone Faamausili, Steve Cummins, Trevor Hosea, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Michael Wells, Joe Powell, Matt To'omua (c), Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge, Stacey Ili, Lachlan Anderson, Tom Pincus
Reserves: Ed Craig, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Rhys van Nek, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, James Tuttle, Glen Vaihu, Frank Lomani
Rebels 1-15: Cabous Eloff, Jordan Uelese, Pone Faamausili, Steve Cummins, Trevor Hosea, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Michael Wells, Joe Powell, Matt To'omua (c), Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge, Stacey Ili, Lachlan Anderson, Tom Pincus
Reserves: Ed Craig, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Rhys van Nek, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, James Tuttle, Glen Vaihu, Frank Lomani
The bench is very a consequence of player availability. Some of the players you expect to be in the side will be there in the coming weeks, some players have just recovered from long term injuries, the Argentine’s have been given another week (only been with the squad for a matter of weeks), Hanson just got out of quarantine and some small injuries to wider squad members. Given the fly in on the day situation, some players they have thought it’d be better to wait another week or so to get it right. More likely to see a better squad next week
Surprised Lewis Holland isn't in there
Has he even been training? A few days ago on the socials he was wining and dining in Sydney with his misso.
To be honest wouldn't you be doing the same?
Or is it that the Reds will be the easy beats and save their best guys for the hard games?