In the shift from the oldest Super Rugby squad to one of the youngest, the blossoming combination between Wallabies halves Kurtley Beale and Nick Phipps will prove even more valuable for the Melbourne Rebels in the 2013 season.
Following the retirement and departure of veterans including Stirling Mortlock, Adam Freier, Al Campbell and Michael Lipman the average age of the Rebels has dropped from 28 to 23.5 years, with 15 new faces in the squad.
Beale is living up to his long-heralded potential as the Wallabies No.10 while Phipps has been building since given his opportunity following injury to regular starter Will Genia.
Rebels coach Damien Hill said he was excited about the prospect of having the Wallabies halves steering his side around the park.
“It’s no surprise to me that Kurtley is the starting No.10 whatsoever,” Hill said.
“He’s an exceptional player and he played some of his best football with us there at 10 and I do think he’s the best 10 in Australia on his form and he will only get better.
“Nick’s been nipping at the heels of Will Genia for a while now and he’s got a real opportunity to make that spot his own.
“The more time he gets the better for his development for sure.”
Rebels’ recruit Scott Higginbotham was left out of Wallabies’ European tour after he was suspended for two games and will make his first appearance in Melbourne next week for a two-day session.
Cadeyrn Neville also didn’t make the final cut for the national squad but Hill didn’t feel his first cap was far off.
“Cadeyrn has come a long way in a short time and he’s knocking on the door of Wallabies selection that’s for sure.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to in the Wallabies’ camp, they’ve been extremely impressed by his work ethic and willingness to learn.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of if, it’s a matter of when he gets his opportunity.”
The Rebels’ other Test star James O’Connor will be given a holiday after working furiously on his injured hamstring to make the tour only to fall desperately short.
“He’s been working extremely hard to get his leg right and it’s 99 per cent there,” Hill said.
“I know he was very disappointed he wouldn’t go on the tour but the bonus for us is that we get him for a couple of weeks longer in our pre-season.”
Roscoe
Guest
One important difference is Victoria has produced/developed top rugby players for years. Heard of Weary Dunlop? Ewen McKenzie? Digby Ioane (yes, born in NZ but played juniors in Melb), Lloyd Johannssen? Christian L. at Brumbies? Ed Maka now at Toulouse. Tamati Horua went alright. Three Aust U18s in 2012- Siotma Kavapalu, Moli Soomalagi, Kemu Valentini.\ League has always been a very minor game in Vic compared to rugby. Give us time.
Lats
Guest
Mate.. Southport are still a very cashed up club.. i met a few gold coast AFL fans recently and they were both old school southport fans.. .i played a couple of games in the QAFL back in the late 1980's... before the Brisbane bears turned up, it was a joke..overnight, 200 victorians and south aussies turned up, and it was a f&^ng tough comp to get a kick in. Im sure same can happen to Aus rugby . U
hog
Guest
Look i'm not trying bag the Storm, but if we follow there model we will end up with the same results, the storm started in i think 98/99 they have had 15 years and Rugby League is still a non excitant sport in Melbourne, How will the rebels be any different.
Minz
Guest
I've just been reading a footy history, and apparently the the Brissy footy clubs had depth and cash back in the day! Or perhaps that's just what they said :P
Lats
Guest
Mate... you will get a heap of top players dropping down into the Vic Ru... local boys get a shot at a s15 player.. to me its win win all round.. you'd be suprised.. a heap of imports will really help the local Vic rugby scene... have a look at local Brisbnane AFL clubs.. they used to be a joke.. phuck. some of those club sides now will give VFL, SANFL or WAFL clubs a run for their money............. it breeds depth IMO
hog
Guest
And exactly what will that achieve lats, it will be exactly like the Storm champion team, but is Rugby league played in the Melbourne suburbs simple answer no.
RebelRanger
Guest
We were going great with Beale at 10 and Kingi 15 but when JOC returned. They reshuffled everyone instead of just putting him on the wing. Bad coaching as well. And yeah that a leaguie is our backup 10 is pathetic.
Lats
Guest
Well, its like this.. you have 1 of the top 15 provincial francishes in the world based in Melbourne.. in that side are the Aussie test fly half and halfback.. so if the coach has half a brain,, he will recruit a dozen under 21 year old All Blacks and Springboks and let them strut their stuff.. the ones that dont make their national side can opt to play for the Wallabies, and the Melbourne public will adopt them as one of their own............. crikey.. its not rocket science...
hog
Guest
This highlight's the problem of having a rugby team of super level in a non rugby state, as well intentioned as the Rebels are and i applaud their work with local players, you only have to look at the recruitment list of the Rebels and Force to realize that aus simply does not have the depth to support 5 super teams. I have made it clear before in posts before that i support teams in Melb, Perth but it is the structure that is not correct.
Markus
Guest
The same reason that Richard Kingi started in the back three for nearly all of last season - poor backline recruitment. Their backup 10 for next season looks to be an uncapped Leaguie, so not much seems to have improved in that regard.
Geoff Brisbane now California
Guest
Super halves? now thats stretching it
RebelRanger
Guest
STFU Hill, if Beale was so good at 10 (which he was) then why did you push him out and put JOC there as soon as he returned from injury..
Chris
Guest
They could have the best halves and backline in the comp, but if they let in the most tries for a third straight season it won't mean much. Having lost Gerrard and Mortlock I expect their defence will be even worse this season, I will be stunned if they finish higher than 13th (the Force and Kings are going to be almost impossible to lose to).
Shungmao
Guest
I just don't see Hill as a super 15 standard coach. I'm surprised he doesn't come under more scrutiny. I could be way off the mark but you hear neither the positives or negatives from the players about him, it just a ghostly silence when his name is mentioned. Outside of the Shute shield faithful mentioning his club coaching credentials what else has he done or is his a puppet of McQueen and the other back of house staff?