Now that all the hyperbole about the Rebels being this year’s finals smokey has been blasted into hyperspace, we can settle down and enjoy two middling teams go at each other, free from the encumbrances of performance expectations and prepared to play with risk.
Right?
Form and teams
First, the Bulls.
They’re at the end of a long month of touring New Zealand and Australia and the results haven’t been great. They’ve been beaten by the shambolic Blues, the Chiefs and the Brumbies. The boys from Pretoria must be missing home by now, and this final match in a frigid Melbourne (it’s bloody cold at the moment!) might just be a bridge too far.
They have some quality cattle in their match-day 23, with Springbok regulars Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Pierre ‘Jane’* Spies and the legend Victor Matfield providing a solid spine to the team.
The Rebels have just completed a fairly ignominious trip to South Africa, notching two winnable losses. The Stormers did a job on them in Cape Town, and while the Rebels dished up two tries on a silver platter, it’s a fair assessment that the home team were in cruise control for most of the match.
The effort against the Sharks in Durban was disappointing, particularly the behaviour of senior prop Laurie Weeks. Weeks dished out some street justice after receiving a ‘coward’s punch’ from perennial instigator Jannie Du Plessis. Weeks’ red card was bad, but the four point loss to a beatable team was the salt in the wound.
Tamati Ellison – back against the Bulls
The Rebels will be without Weeks, but regain defensive linchpin Tamati Ellison at outside centre. Nic Stirzaker returns to the starting team and will be supported by the young Ben Meehan on the bench. Weeks’ absence allows Paul Alo-Emile to gain his 50th Rebels cap, which is no mean feat. Congratulations to Paul.
Who will win?
The form is dismal for both teams, and one is arriving with the effects of the dreaded west-to-east jetlag to overcome, and the other probably wants to be anywhere but Melbourne. This may be light-on in the analysis and justification departments but the Rebels ought to come home with a wet sail and streak away from a tired Bulls in the final 30 minutes.
Rebels by 9.
For those who are in Melbourne and plan on attending on Saturday, have a think about upgrading your general admin ticket to a sideline platinum seat for a very affordable $25 (on top of the general admin).
Local Harlequins player Maciu Vosa was seriously injured earlier in the year while playing against Melbourne Uni. Marciu is the father of two young children, and is facing an extended period in rehabilitation as he manages paraplegia from his upper-chest down.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to support Marciu in his recovery.
Tickets to the platinum section can be purchased
*Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.
Rebels v Bulls
 |  | 
|
| Toby Smith | 1 | Dean Greyling |
| Pat Leafa | 2 | Callie Visagie |
| Paul Alo-Emile | 3 | Marcel van der Merwe |
| Luke Jones | 4 | Flip van der Merwe |
| Lopeti Timani | 5 | Victor Matfield |
| Sean McMahon | 6 | Lappies Labuschagne |
| Colby Fainga’a | 7 | Jacques du Plessis |
| Scott Higginbotham | 8 | Pierre Spies (c) |
| Nic Stirzaker | 9 | Rudy Paige |
| Jack Debreczeni | 10 | Jacques-Louis Potgieter |
| Cam Crawford | 11 | Travis Ismaiel |
| Mitch Inman | 12 | Burger Odendaal |
| Tamati Ellison | 13 | JJ Engelbrecht |
| Dom Shipperley | 14 | Francois Hougaard |
| Mike Harris | 15 | Jesse Kriel |
| Reserves | ||
| Tom Sexton | 16 | Jaco Visagie |
| Cruze Ah-Nau | 17 | Trevor Nyakane |
| Tim Metcher | 18 | Werner Kruger |
| Sam Jeffries | 19 | Grant Hattingh |
| Jordy Reid | 20 | Arno Botha |
| Ben Meehan | 21 | Tian Schoeman |
| Bryce Hegarty | 22 | Bjorn Basson |
| Tom English | 23 | Jurgen Visser |
| Location: | AAMI Park, Melbourne | |
| Kickoff: | Sat 6 Jun 15:30 | |
| Referee: | Nick Briant | |
| Assistant Ref 1: | James Leckie | |
| Assistant Ref 2: | Michael Hogan | |
| TMO : | Ian Smith |
