Endeavour Hill’s Lautolo-Molimau to make his run on debut in the NRC
The undefeated Melbourne Rising travel to Orange to play the Eagles on Saturday in the match of the round 5 of the national competition.
Sticking to his conservative tactic to inject carefully inexperienced players into a solid framework, Sean Hedger was forced to make changes in the back line due to injuries. Endeavour Hill’s winger Rennie Lautolo-Molimau has been chosen to start on the right side with impressive “dancing” Telusa Veainu moved to the fullback position for injured Jonah Placid (knee), who is forced to miss the trip to his hometown. Moorabbin’s Joe Kamana keep his place on the left wing with Tom English coming back to the starting squad for sidelined SuperSefa Naivalu (hand).
The movements make room on the bench for another local player, Footscray’s first receiver Martin Naufahu, who could see his NRC debut later on in the game.
Also in the run of a first cap from the bench Melbourne University’s prop Fereti Sa’aga, who comes into the travelling squad for Toby Smith, who has missed the trip to the country side due to a minor knee injury.
The coach had kind words for all the newcomers: “Rennie has worked exceptionally hard in training, and we certainly believe he is ready to step up,” Hedger said. “He also spent a couple of years with Randwick in Sydney, so he won’t be over-awed.”
“Martin really impressed when training with the Melbourne Rebels during their 2014 pre-season, and we love the way he takes the ball into contact.”
“Fereti’s been on our radar for quite some time. He was an Australian Schoolboy in 2013, and handled the step up to senior Rugby in the Dewar Shield this year very well.”
The rest of the staring team remains unchanged with the impressive package of forwards spearheaded by lock Cadeyrn Neville looking again to be the turnover machine that gained so many possessions for the Rising and the very solid scrum being the base to launch the quick backs.
Scrumhalf Ben Meehan will replace veteran Luke Burgess on the bench
In a push to provide more chances to shine to local talent, the Rising had add a further four Dewar Shield players to their touring squad: Angus Hamilton (Harlequin), Shane Imo (Footscray), Reuben Rolleston (Endeavour Hills) and Finbar Simpson (Melbourne). They all will feature in the curtain raiser match between the Australian Barbarians and the NSW Country Eagles development side.
Update (19/9): Foostcray’s Shane Imo has replaced his Dewar Shield teammate Martin Naufahu, who fell ill and will not be part of the travelling side
Melbourne Rising team:
15 Telusa Veainu (Melbourne/Melbourne Rebels)
14 Rennie Lautolo-Molimau (Endeavour Hills)
13 Tom English (Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
12 Mitch Inman (Southern Districts/Melbourne Rebels) (Vice Captain)
11 Joe Kamana (Moorabbin)
10 Jack Debreczeni (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
9 Nic Stirzaker (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels) (Captain)
8 Lopeti Timani (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
7 Sean McMahon (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
6 Luke Jones (Moorabbin/Melbourne Rebels)
5 Cadeyrn Neville (Foostcray/Melbourne Rebels)
4 Sam Jeffries (Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
3 Paul Alo-Emile (Power House/Melbourne Rebels)
2 Pat Leafa (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels) (Vice Captain)
1 Cruze Ah-Nau (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
Reserves: 16. Tom Sexton (Power House/Melbourne Rebels); 17. Tuiatua Tuia (Moorabbin); 18. Fereti Sa’aga (Melbourne Uni); 19. Pom Simona (Harlequin) (Vice Captain); 20. Sione Taufa (Harlequin); 21. Ben Meehan (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels); 22. Lloyd Johansson (Harlequin); 23. Martin Naufahu Shane Imo (Foostcray)
