An already difficult start of the season gets even harder for the Rebels.
The globetrotters of Super Rugby have travelled a combined distance just short of circumnavigating the planet and sits comfortable with three wins in four games.
They will host the red-hot reigning champions on Saturday night at AAMI-Park in a match that could define their season. Both teams arrive at the match after a win: the Rebels won the first ever match played by an Australian Super Rugby team in Japan, the Highlanders held off a late Waratahs’ comeback to mark their third win in a row.
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Rebels
The Rebels will face one of the toughest opponents after coming back from Japan. The Melbournians have suffered many injuries in the start to the season and welcome back several players. Coach Tony McGahan was keen to tell the press today:
“It has been the first week where I had 30 plus players fit on the field. Trying combinations with warm bodies, instead of in the air, is much better.”
Their starting line-up is not changed much from the Tokyo win; only hooker James Hanson comes into the run-on team, replacing Pat Leafa.
The only other change is the return to the bench of Reece Hodge, who impressed in his debut against the Western Force with 20 points on his own. The return of the versatile back means that home-grown talent, Sione Tuipolotu, will sit in the stands for this match.
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[one_half last=”yes”]Highlanders
Last week’s game against the Waratahs left the Highlanders bruised and cost them a couple more injuries; but for this game coach Joseph will welcome back five key players who were unavailable in Sydney.
Joe Wheeler and Luke Whitelock return to the starting XV to add strength and experience to an already impressive pack. Wheeler will form a new locking combination with Mark Reddish, while the youngest of the Whitelock dynasty will combine with Shane Christie and Liam Squire in the back row.
Fijian Patrick Osborne has recovered from his hip injury and will return to the left wing for Ryan Tongia. Forwards Dan Pryor and Josh Hohneck return to the side on the bench.
The other two changes in the side are hooker Ash Dixon in for cult figure Liam Coltman, and right winger Jack Wilson for Matt Faddes.[/one_half]
Stand-in skipper Sean McMahon – part of the slick back row of the Rebels
Key Match Ups
Reid – McMahon – Thompson v Whitelock – Christie – Squire
The third row has been the slickest weapon for the Rebels so far. The backrowers have gained penalties, stolen balls, beaten opponents and created space in all the three wins for the Melbournians. They come face to face with one of the best-oiled machines of the competition.
The two sets of players are similar—hard workers, hard tacklers, no-frills, no-nonsense. The encounter will be brutal and will shape the match.
Most likely the game will be played in the wet; so the slippery pitch and ball will empahsise, even more, the importance of the battle of the forwards.
Stand-in captain Sean McMahon explained to the press:
“It’s going to be a big match tomorrow night, nothing changes for us, we are going to do what we are doing all season, but hopefully taking it to another level.”
As for the fatigue from the long trip they have been on:
“We are recovering very well from the travel: our high performance team is doing a very good job”.
Jack Bebreczeni – has a big boot
Debreczeni v Sopoaga
The Rebels flyhalf has expectations to wear the green & gold jersey, and he will face a player who last year already tasted international rugby, Lima Sopoaga.
Both players have a big boot, Sopoaga is more precise than Debreczeni from the tee, but the latter has a longer kick. This shapes also the way the two halves interpret their role, more flamboyant the first, more traditional the second.
Sopoaga has also a physical approach to the game and combines very well with newcomer Rob Thompson and speedster Malakai Fekitoa to produce a quick attacking game plan but at the same time to brutally defend the line.
Debreczeni tends, on the contrary, to be more conservative in his approach, using more the short passes and his massive boot to create space and deploy his backs. Mitch Inman and Tamati Ellison are forced to increase their workload especially in defence, where Debreczeni, being very tall, lacks agility to respond.
Teams
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Rebels
1. Toby Smith
2. James Hanson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Luke Jones
5. Lopeti Timani
6. Jordy Reid
7. Sean McMahon (c)
8. Adam Thomson
9. Ben Meehan
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Tom English
12. Mitch Inman
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Dom Shipperley
15. Jonah Placid
Reserves:
16. Pat Leafa
17. Cruze Ah Nau
18. Jamie Hagan
19. Sam Jeffries
20. Scott Fuglistaller
21. Nic Stirzaker
22. Dan Hawkins
23. Reece Hodge
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Highlanders
1. Brendon Edmonds
2. Ash Dixon
3. Siosuia Halanukonuka
4. Mark Reddish
5. Joe Wheeler
6. Luke Whitelock
7. Shane Christie (cc)
8. Liam Squire
9. Aaron Smith
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Patrick Osborne
12. Rob Thompson
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Jack Wilson
15. Ben Smith (cc)
Reserves:
16. Liam Coltman
17. Craig Millar
18. Josh Hohneck
19. Dan Pryor
20. Elliot Dixon
21. Josh Renton
22. Hayden Parker
23. Jason Emery
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Prediction
The Highlanders are the better package.
The Rebels can contain the Highlanders only if they keep their concentration for the entire 80 minutes, otherwise, the Highlanders will exploit the blackouts their defence suffers from, as they did against the Waratahs last week.
The match-up between the Rebels 9-10 combination and the Highlanders is clearly in favour of the visitors, and a good platform will be essential to launch the backs: another area where the Highlanders look superior.
Highlanders by 12 points
Rebel v Highlanders – Highlanders by 12
MATCH DETAILS
Date: Saturday 26 March 2016
Venue: AAMI-Park
Kick Off: 7:40pm (AEDT)
Referee: Andrew Lees (Aus)
AR1 Angus Gardner
AR2 Jordan Way
TMO Peter Marshall
Weather Forecast: 16º, 50% chance of rain
