The Rebels will be looking to notch their sixth win for the season against a misfiring Blues outfit.
The Rebels enter Friday’s match as lukewarm favourites. Some pundits have had the cojones to suggest that us Mexicans might be smokeys to make the finals. Others, on an unnamed Australian general sports blog, have gone further and suggested “Rebels could win this year’s SuperRugby tournament”. While I like a joke and gag as much as the next bloke, experience has taught me that placing any sort of positive expectation on a hot/cold team like the Rebels is fraught with danger.
The Blues have a great team on paper, even with the notable absences of Jerome Kaino and Charles Piutau. All Black stalwarts Tony Woodcock and Kevin Mealamu are joined by up-and-comers Steven Luatua, Akira Ioane and Ihaia West. Irrespective of the strength of the paper team, the on-field group haven’t really clicked in 2015, registering only two victories – one of which was over fellow cellar-dwellers the Western Force.
The Rebels have equalled their most successful season and will be playing with their tails up in front of a passionate home crowd. Tamati Ellison and Sean McMahon are being rested and will be replaced by Dom Shipperley and Colby Fainga’a. Young Jordy Reid is again rewarded after playing the full 80 minutes last week, and after a series of barnstorming games.
Key matchups
Paul Alo-Emile v Tony Woodcock
Who doesn’t love the young buck squaring up against the old bull? Woodcock has been a fantastic servant of New Zealand rugby and brings some real starch and smarts to the scrum. Alo-Emile has more than matched most of his opponents in 2015, and in doing so has notched some serious credibility along the way. He’s still young for a prop – here’s hoping the trajectory continues upwards and that his sabbatical (if you can call it that) to France is just that, and that he returns well-versed in the dark arts.
Jack Debreczeni v Ihaia West
These two young and inexperienced flyhalves are both in their breakout season of senior rugby. Debreczeni is blessed with a pure boot and a deceptively effectively ball-in-hand game. I don’t know much about West, but he was getting great wraps in 2014 when the Rebels made a play for his services. It’s a bit cliched to nominate the battle at 10 as key, but much of the outcome will rely on the ability of the two young guns to control their more experienced comrades and outgun each other.
Sefanaia Naivalu – a good match for anybody
Sefanaia Naivalu v Anyone in front of him
Super Sefa is fast becoming a home town hero and cult favourite. He accelerates into contact and tackles like a bull – watch him closely and enjoy the pure power.
Prediction
The Rebels start favourites. They’ve taken some important scalps this season and their losses have been agonisingly close. Playing at home and against a patchy Blues, the Melbournians should win.
Rebels by 7+
Teams
[one_half last=”no”]Melbourne Rebels
1. Toby Smith
2. Pat Leafa
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Luke Jones
5. Lopeti Timani
6. Colby Fainga’a
7. Jordy Reid
8. Scott Higginbotham (Captain)
9. Nic Stirzaker
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Sefanaia Naivalu
12. Mitch Inman
13. Dom Shipperley
14. Tom English
15. Mike Harris
Reserves:
16. Tom Sexton
17. Cruze Ah-Nau
18. Tim Metcher
19. Cadeyrn Neville
20. Scott Fuglistaller
21. Luke Burgess
22. Bryce Hegarty
23. Telusa Veainu[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Auckland Blues
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Culum Retallick
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Akira Ioane
7. Brendon O’Connor
8. Steven Luatua (Captain)
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Ihaia West
11. Tevita Li
12. George Moala
13. Francis Saili
14. Melani Nanai
15. Lolagi Visinia
Reserves:
16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Sam Prattley
19. Josh Bekhuis
20. Joe Edwards
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Simon Hickey
23. Hamish Northcott[/one_half]
Details
19:40, Friday 8 May
AAMI Park Melbourne
Referee: Angus Gardiner; AR1: James Leckie; AR2: Graham Cooper; TMO: Ian Smith
