Friday’s Rugby News sees the matches of the weekend, the club rugby corner, Debreczeni defying critics, and Con Foley captaining.
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Time to Dance
The rugby is upon us once again, and this time it’s the moment of truth… can we finally beat the Kiwis and end this god-awful Super Rugby streak?
Dave Wessels has made three changes to the Rebels, with Lopeti Timani, Matt Philip and Tom English coming in for Colby Fainga’a, Geoff Parling and Sefa Naivalu, respectively.
“I can honestly say this week has been the toughest selection I’ve ever had to make,” Wessels said.
“We are very fortunate to have so many players fit, it’s been incredibly hard and I’ve had a few sleepless nights.
“In our coaches discussion, I’ve never had less of a consensus than we had this week.
“It’s a great problem to have.”
Rebels Squad: Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Reece Hodge, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Jack Debreczeni, Will Genia, Amanaki Mafi, Angus Cottrell, Lopeti Timani, Adam Coleman (c), Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Ben Daley, Sam Talakai, Ross Haylett-Petty, Colby Fainga’a, Richard Hardwick, Michael Ruru, Sefa Naivalu
This is going to be a cracker of match, but with this Hurricanes side in this good form, I don’t see the Rebels being able to match it. I’ve never wanted to be more wrong. Hurricanes by 7.
The other big match sees arguably the biggest derby in Aussie Super Rugby, with the Brumbies hosting the Waratahs in Canberra.
The big news for the horses is that David Pocock is finally back! It’ll actually be his 100th Super Rugby performance this weekend too, who saw that coming?
Robbie Abel is also back in the squad on the bench, while Sam Carter unfortunately has missed out for a second week.
The Tahs meanwhile have made two changes, with part steam train/part human Taqele Naiyaravoro moving up to the starting lineup, while halfback Jake Gordon is also back.
Brumbies Squad: Andy Muirhead, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano (c), Lausii Taliauli, Wharenui Hawera, Joe Powell, Isi Naisarani, David Pocock, Lachlan McCaffrey, Blake Enever, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio. Reserves: Robbie Abel, Faalelei Sione, Mees Erasmus, Richie Arnold, Tom Cusack, Matt Lucas, Kyle Godwin, Tom Banks
Waratahs Squad: Bryce Hegarty, Israel Folau, Curtis Rona, Kurtley Beale, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper (c), Michael Wells, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Paddy Ryan, Tom Staniforth, Will Miller, Mitch Short, Lalakai Foketi, Alex Newsome
This is gonna be a good match. By I stand by my prediction in the podcast, and I think the Brumbies will win ugly in a close affair. Brums by 5.
The Reds meanwhile will enjoy the bye, so fans can relax and watch the Premier Grade instead. More on that in a second.
The other matches of the round will see the Chiefs host the Highlanders (picking the men from Dunedin there), the Blues will host an out-of-sorts Sharks outfit, the Bulls will host the Stormers (reckon the men from Cape Town will get up here) and, in probably the match of the round, the Lions will be hosting the Crusaders. Both sides have been out of sorts the last few weeks, but I’m going to back the hosts.
And finally, the Super W continues this weekend. First up, the Rebels Women will look for their first win when they host the Brumbies Women. I reckon the Fillies will be too much for the hosts, and will grab their first win of the season.
However, the match I’m really looking forward to is over in the West, where the Western Force Women will take on the Reds Women. Both sides are currently in a fight for runners up behind NSW (who have the bye). The Reds girls will probably by favourites to win, but I’m going with my heart on this one: the Force girls to bring it home.
For the latest on the rugby squads, head here to Fox Sports. Hope everyone enjoys their Easter weekend.
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Debreczeni the Defyer
Jack Debreczeni has surprised a lot of people this year. After such a disappointing 2017, this year under the new Rebels regime he has gone from strength to strength, and nowhere is that more clear than with him being named as flyhalf for tonight’s match.
For a lot of the time he played in Japan during the summer, he thought his Super Rugby days were behind him.
“There was definitely a time when I didn’t think I would come back to Australian rugby,” he said to rugby.com.au yesterday.
“When I left, I left knowing there was no real contract here.
“I was heading over to Japan and even in January I was coming back to Sydney to see the family and reassess what I would do next in my career.
“Now I’m happy to back and it’s exciting times.”
One thing he didn’t expect was to be partnering with Will Genia. Under Genia’s guidance and incredible form, it’s fair to say Debreczeni is putting his best foot forward.
“I used to overthink the game, analyse the game too much and I was thinking too much out there on the field,” Debreczeni admitted.
“When you’re losing, it’s also not a great environment to be a part of.
“Dave’s done a really good job to find the love for the game, with everyone.
“Finding that why – why you play the game.
“He has done well to connect us in that way and to connect us as a rugby team, rather than just being co-workers.
“Training has been really enjoyable and it’s a really good environment to be a part of.”
Many are expecting a lot from the Rebels this game, particularly coming up against an in-form Hurricanes side.
“I’m sure everyone will be watching this game with a lot of anticipation being the first (trans-Tasman) derby,” Debreczeni said.
“We just have to focus on ourselves – we can’t think too much about it.
“Otherwise we will be putting too much pressure on ourselves.
“We’re just excited for this weekend’s game – it should be fun.”
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Club Corner
Club rugby is back in full swing, with the Queensland Premier Grade in action last weekend.
However, the Saturday after Easter will see WA’s Pinden Premier Grade, ACT’s John I Dent Cup and of course, the Intrust Super Shute Shield kick off all around the country, with Dewar Shield in Victoria (above) kicking off on April 21.
For now, let’s stick to Queensland.
Heavyweights University of Queensland won a thriller against Easts to kick off the round, winning 29-27 at home. Brothers meanwhile were embarrassed at home, losing 0-29 to GPS. It’s the first time their first grade has been kept scoreless in a game in a long time.
Sunnybank meanwhile drew 27-27 with Norths, while Bond University had a pretty disappointing opening to their campaign, going down 25-32 to Wests.
While the Reds have the bye, Queensland fans should get out and check out round two this weekend, which will see Souths play their first match of the season:
GPS v Bond University
Wests v Sunnybank
Souths v Easts
Brothers v University of Queensland
Norths will have the bye.
After plenty of interesting results in round one, this should shape up to be an fascinating round of rugby.
For more information on the Queensland Premier Grade, click here.
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Captain Con (he’s our hero)
Con Foley will officially step up to skipper duties for the Hong Kong leg of the World Sevens Series next week, taking charge of a very young squad.
Foley has been keeping himself busy by playing for University of Queensland in the Queensland Premier Grade, but with the Commonwealth Games only a few weeks away, it’s time for him to step up as captain.
“The Comm Games is coming up so the main squad will be heading away to there and (coach Andy Friend) Friendy gave me a call and thought I’d be a good person to come in, seeing I’ve been in the program a while ago, so we’ll take a young team over to Hong Kong,” he said to rugby.com.au.
“I’ve been in all this week, into the new facility at Moore Park there, so a bit of a change moving into there, which is really good, bit of an upgrade in facilities and trying to catch up in all the advancements that they’ve made.”
Initially, Foley had finished up in the Sevens back in 2016-17, and hadn’t thought about returning to the system for a while.
“I’m not really sure, I’m just looking forward to Hong Kong now and looking to have a good tournament there,” he said.
The squad will be a young bunch, but Foley hopes they bring in the results, off the back of a good year for Mens sevens team so far.
“They’re still representing their country, they’ve still got a big job for us to do,” he said.
“We’re in fourth place at the moment and that’s where we want to stay. ”
Check out the squad for the Hong Kong Sevens here.
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