Roar Guru
The Melbourne Rebels will host the two time champion Chiefs at AAMI Park. Join The Roar from 7:35pm AESTfor live scores and updates.
The Rebels have been unlucky of late, failing to close out a close game against the Waratahs in Round 11. That game however did announce Jack Debreczeni as a player of real class.
The side has shown how dangerous they can be at home this year, will look to exploit the Chiefs who were disappointing against the Western Force last week.
The Chiefs will field their strongest team, injuries permitting, as they continue on their Australasian tour.
Dave Rennie has signalled his side’s championship intentions starting Andrew Horrell, James Lowe, Pauiasi Manu, Ben Tameifuna and Michael Fitzgerald as well as All Black incumbent Liam Messam.
While a number of Rennie’s changes affect the forward pack it is the Chief’s mid-field that will likely inflict the most damage if the Waikato franchise fires. While the loss of Aaron Cruden is undoubtedly a loss the return of Sonny Bill and Tim Nanai-Williams is enough to have any defence shaking.
Include in form centre Charlie Ngatai and the Rebels centre combination of Mitch Inman and Tamati Ellison could have their work cut out for them.
For the Rebels, the deadlocked assassin Jordy Reid will start his first game for the season with Scott Fuglistaller rested due to concussion. Tom English and Tony McGahan have also returned to the run-on XV.
With the exclusion of All Blacks lock and 2014 World Player of the Year Brodie Retallick out due to injury, the imposing Rebels second row of Timani and Jones will look to dominate, and if they do the Chiefs will have a hard time containing them. The duo have been immense this year, and have destroyed oppositions on offense with a mixture of powerful running and deft skills not normally seen in the second-row engine room.
The Rebels currently sit third in the Australian conference, and while it is unlikely that the will progress to the competition finals sitting 10 points behind the second place Waratahs in the Australian conference and 11th overall, this season has been positive for the franchise.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, will be looking to solidify their finals hopes, currently sitting one point behind the New Zealand conference and competition topping Hurricanes. A big win tonight will signal to the rest of the competition that the Chiefs mean business.
Join The Roar from 7:35pm for all of the action in what should be a great game of rugby.