We continue our overview of the Australian Super Rugby teams and their chances for 2013 with a look at the Melbourne Rebels.
Best team
1. Laurie Weeks
2. Ged Robinson
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Hugh Pyle
5. Cadeyrn Neville
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. Jarrod Saffy
8. Gareth Delve
9. Nick Phipps
10. Kurtley Beale
11. Cooper Vuna
12. Rory Sidey
13. Mitch Inman
14. Kimami Situati
15. James O’Connor
16. Shota Horie
17. Eddie Aholelei
18. Chris Thomson
19. Luke Jones
20. Richard Kingi
21. Bryce Hegarty
22. Angus Roberts
Other members
23. Nic Henderson
24. James King
25. Scott Fuglistaller
26. Tim Davidson
27. Nic Stirzaker
28. Lachlan Mitchell
29. Jason Woodward
30. Alex Rokobaro
Extended playing squad
31. Pat Leafa – hooker
32. Cruze Ah-Nau – prop
33. Trent Dyer – No 8
34. Jordy Reid – openside
35. Tom English – centre
In
S Higginbotham, R Sidey, K Situai, E Aholelei, C Thomson, J Woodward, A Roberts, L Fuglistaller, N Stirzaker, A Rokobaro, B Hegarty
Out
Rodney Blake, Jono Owen, Adam Frier, Heath Tessman, Alister Campbell, Adam Byrnes, Michael Lipman, Danny Cipriani, Stirling Mortlock, Mark Gerrard, Tom Chamberlain, Julian Huxley, James Hilgendorf, Lloyd Johannson
Season chances
The Rebels will be banking on their big names to perform if they want to make an impact on this competition. Unfortunately they seem to again be lacking up front, which will not give them a strong basis for their big money backline.
The Phipps/Beale combo has received some much needed game time together and they appear to be developing a strong understanding of each other’s game. If they can get some front foot ball, this team will upset a few big names this season.
Predicted finish – conference fourth – overall 11th
Key Player
The Rebels seem to be missing a range of fetchers for 2013 and will be heavily reliant on Jarrod Saffy, who has not been in the traditional fetcher role in his past two years. He has been a strong performer for the Rebels and has narrowly missed out on Wallabies selection in past years. I am predicting Saffy’s biggest year, as he will benefit greatly from being part of such a strong backrow.
Up and comer
Paul Alo-Emile has not had any Super Rugby game time, but he has proved his worth in the Junior Wallabies system. He will need to step straight into the big time, as the Rebels are without much fire power up front. At 20, Alo-Emile is only an apprentice prop at scrum time, but does appear to have a bright future ahead of him.
Also keep an eye out for Bryce Hegarty who has chosen to join the Rebels after spending some time in the Broncos development squad. Bryce was touted as a future star for the Broncos, however I think he has made the right choice and learning off O’Connor and Beale will be great for his overall game.
Best buy
Scott Higginbotham is a fantastic acquisition for the Rebels and will form one of the most unlikely but best backrows with Saffy and Delve. He is strong, skilful and a handful in attack and defence. How he performs in a pack with a much weaker platform than the Queensland Reds will really determine his worth.
Biggest loss
The Rebels have relied heavily on a core of senior players to set a platform for the team and culture since their induction. Unfortunately this is where the torch must now be passed and the team looks to be significantly lacking in experience. However, this may work in the Rebels’ favour, similar to the ACT Brumbies last year, as an unknown entity.
When it comes down to the biggest loss, I think that Mark Gerrard was one of the best backs last year and was highly underrated by the Wallabies selectors. His boot and ability to turn nothing into opportunity will be missed by both fans and the Rebels.
Terry
Guest
Hoping for a better year for the forward pack. Looking forward to Weeks being back on the field- consistent performer and Alo-Emile can learn a lot from him.
Dadiggle
Guest
What is a playmaker btw? Is that the guy who can throw a skip pass flat in the team or is the only guy in the team who can throw a 20 meter pass correctly? Also will it be that guy who likes to throw intercept passes every 2nd game?
Sam
Guest
O'Connor is a finisher, not a playmaker.
Crazy Horse
Guest
The Force have four specialist number 10s, all of them better than Beale at 10.
pogo
Guest
Yeah flugistaller is good, jsut unlucky to have some stiff competition for hurricanes spots.
Handles
Guest
Also echoing comments above, the video on GGR says in 8 minutes what I have been syaing on The Roar for 12 months. Much better.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Saffy was running good lines to the breakdown for a 7 when he first came across - I've been waiting since then for him to get a go there. Will be very interested to see how he goes this season.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Henderson is likely to be the starting loosehead. Weeks at tight, haven't seen either of the other two prop
Handles
Guest
Can't agree with Beale at 10, for allo the reasons above. He has to play 15, and seek to regain the form that saw him as a match winner there a few years ago. O'Connor could play 10 ultimately. However he has shown that he is a fantastic scoring threat, so if in doubt play him on the wing. The ability to position yourself to take the last pass is not easy, it separates the willing-tryers (sorry, Honey Badger) from the genius (e.g. Gear)
sittingbison
Guest
No problem with Inman, but not partnered with Sidey at 12. The wings will never get the ball, especially with Beale at 10 who cant throw longer passes like Cooper and prefers a little pay off after a jink.
sittingbison
Guest
playing out of position is my major bugbear (cricket batting order included)
Gav
Roar Pro
All depends on where JOC ends up. Placing him at fullback was mentioned a few times last year. I believe Woodward has played every outside back position, we could see him on the wing, instead of Sitauti. Otherwise he'll surely be the reserve outside back.
blues recovery
Guest
Jason Woodward wil be the 15 and will be the surprise packet player of the year. He is rated significantly higher in NZ than Mike Harris . Team has terrific depth imo other than in the front row. If they can hold their own in the scrums, they have a much improved line out with Higgers, and they develop a decent fetcher, they should get their fair share of possesion. The backline if Beale and OConnor stay fit is as good as anyones. Top 3 inOz Conference minimum.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Cooper has haters who focus on the poor and ignore the brilliant. Cooper did not have poor form. He did have one half which was poor but a brilliant 2nd half which is ignored. Only Cooper and CL are genuine playmakers and only they should be considered for 10 injuries allowing.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Melon, I disagree about Beale not being desirable on the grounds he can might be exposed at test level at 10, but he can get away with it at super level. Obviously it works better for the Rebels with Beale at 10 & 'Boy Brand' at 15.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Good articles and analysis Selector! Looking forward to seeing your one on the Reds. Completely agree with your biggest loss for the Rebels. Gerrard isn’t just a loss to Melbourne but (yet again) for Australian Rugby. I was flabbergasted that he didn’t get a look in for the Wallabies this year and was very disappointed to see him take off again. This backline would have benefitted greatly by having someone of his experience and ability in the back 3. It would also make it a lot easier for the Rebs to push JOC up into the thick of the action (10/12... preferably 12) where he belongs. With the current playing stock I’d still have JOC at 12 for the sake of the national side but the balance of the Rebels backline would probably suffer a little.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Of the international centres you’ve run off there, McCabe is the only Australian and seems to be Deans’ preferred option at 12 when fit (unfortunately). Yes he’s a hard hitting defender but he’s only 5kgs heavier than JOC (PMC- 94kg, JOC-89kg), hardly the gorilla mould which the international 12 seems to be taking on in more recent times. JOC’s still a solid defender and offers so much more in attack than McCabe. We just don’t have a hulk type midfielder in our (Australia’s) ranks at the moment but that’s not the end of the world and I believe we can still get by (and excel) with a smaller ball player at 12 eg. JOC. You’ve mentioned Fofana who was the 6N player of the tournament last year while playing the majority of his games at 12. There are plenty of other examples of smaller inside centres occupying the 12 jersey on the international stage such as Owen Farrell, Gordon D’Arcy, Maxime Mermoz (90kgs and played the majority of games at 12 in 2012 that Fofana didn’t) and Santiago Fernandez (only 83kg and has played the majority of games at 12 for Argentina in 2012). A backline can still operate effectively in both attack and defence with a smaller 12 and as Australia doesn’t have a Nonu/SBW/Roberts/JdV type 12, we should stop trying to create one out of a 1 dimensional, light weight hard hitter and put in a guy who’s played much of his rugby in the position before and done a bloody good job of it- despite not being 100 plus kegs. Agree SR franchises should be playing guys in their best positions for the benefit of the national team. However, part of that involves having a national coach who doesn’t play musical chairs with the backline.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
You have been Peter and I agree with the argument for JOC at 10 and Beale at 15 for the rebs. On cooper, I don't know where the poor form argument comes from. He was easing into the reds 2012 season nicely. In auckland he was completely ignored by Deans' tactics and got Australia the win on the GC. He wasnt his best but he wasnt poor.
rl
Guest
I can at least agree with you that having players play in their intended position would be more than useful.
rl
Guest
Go to G&GR's website to see a very good 2-part video analysis (by a current coach) of why Beale is not the answer for the Wallabies at 10. Beale's crabbing is a major problem, and he was doing it 5 years ago at the Tahs (and also was being hidden on the blindside wing in defence - sound familiar?? Not that I get too caught up in defence discussions at 10 - who wants your backline general caught on the bottom of a ruck anyway, other that opposition forwards needing a light snack). Throw in Beale's terrible kicking game and inability to link with his outside backs and... no, just no. I'll grant you this - given injuries/poor form to Cooper, Barnes, JOC & CL, Beale was our only option at the time. But if (and its a big if!!) he can get his head straight, Cooper is by far the better option at 10, and JOC would seem to be the next best option, but needs to get time there in S15. CL was cruelly denied a Wallaby jersey in 2012, and I'm hoping that is rectified.