Wallabies flanker Scott Higginbotham has recovered from a shoulder injury in time to make his Melbourne Rebels debut in a new-look back row for Friday night’s Super Rugby season opener against the Western Force.
Higginbotham – a veteran of 23 internationals and 63 Super Rugby games for the Queensland Reds – has not played since injuring his shoulder in the victory over Wales at the end of last year on Australia’s European tour.
But despite Higginbotham missing the recent trial matches against the Waratahs and the Hurricanes, coach Damien Hill named him on Tuesday to start as the blindside flanker against the Force alongside fellow back rowers Scott Fuglistaller and captain Gareth Delve.
Fuglistaller will also be playing his first Super Rugby game in Rebels’ colours, having impressed Hill since crossing from the Highlanders.
The other new member of the starting 15 for the clash at AAMI Park is former Force centre Rory Sidey.
There are also several new faces on the Melbourne bench, most notably hooker Shota Horie, who is set to become the first Japanese player to compete in the Super Rugby competition.
The other debutants among the reserves are former Stade de France outside back Alex Rokobaro and Sydney University centre Tom English.
Wallabies star James O’Connor will start at fullback despite suffering a nasty facial injury in Saturday’s final trial match against the Hurricanes in Geelong which required 18 stitches.
Richard Kingi was impressive filling in for O’Connor in the second half of the 47-45 loss to the Hurricanes and has forced his way into the starting line-up on the wing against the Force.
Rebels: James O’Connor, Lachlan Mitchell, Mitch Inman, Rory Sidey, Richard Kingi, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (capt), Scott Fuglistaller, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Cadeyrn Neville, Jarrod Saffy, Nic Stirzaker, Alex Rokobaro, Tom English.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
MMM injured. Well I never...
Jutsie
Guest
FOrce team: Will Tupou, Patrick Dellit, Winston Stanley, Kyle Godwin, Alfie Mafi, Sam Christie, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Chris Alcock, Angus Cottrell, Toby Lynn, Sam Wykes, Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan (capt) Res: Heath Tessmann, Kieran Longbottom, Phoenix Battye, Richard Brown, Mick Snowden, Sias Ebersohn, Junior Rasolea MMM withdrew injured. Ebershon is on the bench with christie preferred as starting 10
Malo
Guest
100% agree that will be the deciding factor. Pack about even.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
i could give it a go. having been outside of the motherland for most of the last 12 years i sometimes struggle to understand whats going on there tbh. but i still follow it as much as i can, thanks to all media we have now. i know you are a big fan of imports. i do like that too although i think it does affect local rugby to some extent, in a good and bad way. the fact they are now limiting the number of foreigners per team shows it has to be regulated. ultimately, i think a few foreigners per team is good (i would like 3-5 in SR, i know you want more). especialy in a multicultural country like oz: some of our minorities would feel more involved/part of the team seeing there are players with the same cultural background in the team they support. If i were and Asian-aussie guy, loving my rugby and living in melbourne, i would welcome the arrival of Horie (well I do and am not, so even more!)
Johnno
Guest
nickololdschool I agree imports are great. They offer a lot when done int he right balance per team. You learn about different rugby cultures. France are allowed 40% per squad to be imports, and it hasn't hurt there rugby culture, they did make the world cup final in 2011 and only lost by 1 miserable point. Do you reckon you could write an article about where french rugby is right now, the Top 14, National team, division 2, just a general article on French rugby, you re french so we will get a real local feel to your article. Imports also offer so much intellectual property and rugby cultures from around the world , if you have imports in your league, I love top 14, it's growing more and more on me each year.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
It makes sense hardcore. I know quite a few Japanese ppl who started supporting WSW when they saw Shinji Ono had signed for the team. Japan being more a football nation than a rugby one, am not sure there could be a similar impact though. In any case, I hope he does well and gets quickly adopted by the public.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
I'd imagine that Shota Horie will get the nod to play at least a few minutes of this Friday's match, the Rebels will probably want to claim to have the first Japanese Super Rugby player. It might sound trite, but I'm a great believer in the marketing power of overseas players, especially in a city with a high percentage of ex-pats like Melbourne. Witness the appeal of Gareth Delve, (and latterly, Danny Cipriani) on British rugby fans in Melbourne, I've seen Cooper Vuna regularly get singled out by a group of Tongan lads who show their support for him in the most vocal manner, and on it goes. I'd imagine that the Rebels will look to appeal to Japanese fans, and get a few more bums on seats, by trying to play Shota Horie as much as possible. Provided he's up to the job of course!
rl
Guest
even without "Who?" Hodgson, the Force will have a decent backrow - Alcock (who should be a man on a mission), McCalman, McCaffery, Cotterell and Richard Brown (and possibly MMM). I reckon it all comes down to how well the new inside back combos go for the Force.
jutsie
Guest
Woodward and vuna are both out injured for 6 weeks.
jameswm
Guest
Interesting team the Rebels have named Luke Joned starting at lock ahead of Cadeyrn Neville Wingers are Kingi and Lachlan Mitchell. Tom English (??) on the bench, and the young Kiwi import (forgotten his name, is it Woodward?) nowhere to be seen. Kiwi recuit Fuglistaller starting at 7 ahead of Saffy. Saffy is a really tireless worker. front row of Nick Henderson, Ged Robinson and Lurie Weeks, with two guys I've barely heard of on the bench - Palo Alo-Emile and Shota Horie. That's the Japanese hooker. Looking forward to this game to start the season. I think the Force will struggle without both Pocock and Hodgo in the back row. Those two topped almost every stat over there and were the real engine room.