Rebels impress with 25-24 win over Highlanders

Well obviously because they rate him as a leader.... http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/news/article/rabodirect-rebels-name-co-captains-for-2015 Getting tougher and tougher for Reid to get a run.

Kingston's out for 6 weeks, and English is carrying some sort of soft tissue injury. Plus he's needed in the centres.

OK then I assume they'll go with Debre at 10 and Harris at 15. Might not need Hegarty on the bench. Placid, Kingston and Crawford can cover 15, and Harris can cover 10. I think they'll start Harris at 15 with Placid and English on the wings. Two of Kingston, Shipperley, Hegarty and Crawford on the bench.

Leafa

Yep, JD started in Cairns and looked good. He knocked his head badly (against another Reb player) in getting over the line (try was disallowed) and left the pitch straight away. Didn't return. Hegarty took his place. Harris played 15 all night. (He's fit - played 160 minutes of rugby in warm to bloody hot conditions within the space of 6 days. Looks better with us than he did with the Reds last year).

Can someone tell me if Debreczini started at 10 against the Reds the week before? If so maybe Harris will move to fullback next week and Hegarty to the bench.

If it's a long season, how did they let themselves have a shortage of locks? 7 is not the only positon someone might get injured.

Yup - as I said further up, don't know why they re-signed Kiwi Fluglistaller when they have locals at least as good.

RF, scrum did look pretty average but always hard to call from a distance and without seeing a few other games too. Will be keeping an eye on it over the first few rounds before I really make up my mind. I agree with your comment about taking it up the middle. If you ignore the 9, the starting backline will probably be averaging about 100kg each so there's a bit of mass and with a pretty mobile pack (all those bloody 6's and 7's!) I'd like to see them try a faster tempo up the guts before starting to move laterally too much.

Oops - Sexton is it? or Leafa?

SG, that's the combination I'd prefer to see. Some nice kicking options with JD at 10 and MH at 15. I didnt' notice Tamati but I missed pretty much all the first half after leaving work a bit late and trying to find a bloody car park! Pretty good turnout for a trial game (in Victoria) I've got to say. I was impressed by Reid. He certainly had a crack and was throwing himself balls-and-all into every opportunity for contact he had, with and without the ball. I kind of feel for the guy, it's going to be hard to get a game; McMahon is a Wallaby, Fainga'a is the 2014 Rebels "Player's Player" and Fuglistaller is in the leadership group...

Was very disappointed with the scrum after such a dominant display in the NRC and showing big improvement in last year's Super tournament. On a positive note Agree re Inman, he was the most damaging centre on the park. Defence was well organised and ball retention was very good. Looks like they've been working on mauls in the pre-season, I think it might take a couple of teams by surprise. Wish they'd take it up the middle a bit more, they were really getting the better of the highlanders keeping it in tight. Thought they went wide a couple phases too early.

Browny, agree with most of that, but I still think Harris will be slotted at fullback when Debreczini (out last night per concussion protocols) returns at 5/8, with Hegarty on the bench as a replacement for either position. Did you see Ellison at the game? - he and his flew in from Japan yesterday morning. He looks really fit and ready to roll. Reid was impressive again last night - I had him as 3rd string no.7 - may have to re-think that after his trial form. Wonder if he's ever considered the front row? Overall, the coherency missing last year (particularly in attack) seems to finally be here - attacking systems look bloody good, defence was composed and mindset not so scatty. Here's hoping.

That explains Big Jack's omission then. So does he play off the bench if Hegarty is at 15? What about Crawford? Still not convinced Hegarty's best suited as a fullback.

Debrezcini was knocked out in the reds trial so couldn't play in this one

I think what you've got there will be pretty close. With Shota gone I'd guess Leafa will start with Sexton on the bench, at least early. Alo-Emile appeared to be in a moon boot post game so we may see Weeks start and one of the other boys, maybe Metcher, go to 18. Timani was playing lock last night so I'd say Neville and Jones start and Timani off the bench. Would think McMahon has the 6 sewn up and then its out of fuglistaller and Fainga'a for 7 and 20 with Reid being unlucky. Jeez he's looking big now too, must be at least 110kg. Havent seen anything of Radike yet but my guess is he'll be a bench specialist, certainly nice to have a 2m tall 120kg guy who can play 4, 5, 6, 8 ,11 and 14... Really seems like McGahan doesnt like locks; there's multiple 7's playing 6 and 6s playing lock (plus big guy Neville). With that in mind you'd hope they do well at the breakdown. Guess we'll have to wait and see. I reckon Stirzaker to start and Burgess to finish and Harris looks like he's set as the 5/8. The only way anyone else is getting the 12 is by prying it out of Inmans cold, dead hands... he owns that number. Shipperly was in 13 last night but I can he being moved out to 14 and Ellison playing outside centre. 11 is out of Placid, Veainu and Naivalu, maybe Kingston. Not sold on Hegarty at fullback, he looks like a 12 year old surrounded by the rest of the backs. At least with him and Harris already on the field you dont need a specialist 5/8 on the bench, so maybe that goes to Crawford or one of the other outside backs mentioned before. Disappointed Debreczini didn't play.

Perhaps the Rebels have been seeking the win over testing different combinations and plays and blooding extended squad members. I know in the NRC they were fielding their very best team every game then eventually lost to Perth in the semi final, who had used only local Perthians in their away games all season. Pre-season wins rarely count for much. The Crusaders and the Brumbies for example are notorious for losing pre-season games, and for the Brumbies in particular winning their pre-season games tended to be a bad omen for their upcoming season. As an aside, it is interesting that they are listing Lopeti Timani as 'riches' in the lock position. I had no idea until I read that that he had ever played there before. Is he tall enough?

James its hard to say who Tony will start next week but the website http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/team lists 4 flankers (2 each side) and 3 no. 8's Higgers, Timani and Samo I like how you left open the hooker spot. :)

Higgers!! Doh

Huggers was penalised most of all SXV players last season, inluding yellow cards.