Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan is expecting their Good Friday clash with the Queensland Reds to have Test match intensity as Wallabies jerseys and Super Rugby seasons go on the line.
The Rebels (2-4) host the Reds (1-5) at AAMI Park with the gap widening on them and the two Australian conference front-runners the Brumbies and NSW.
A number of players are going head-to-head after spending three days together in a Wallabies camp in Brisbane for World Cup hopefuls, with the Reds supplying 11 and the Rebels five.
With that kind of representation, McGahan is expecting the Reds to play better than their win-loss record suggests.
“The Reds and the team that they’ll put on the park is gearing it as a Test match,” McGahan said.
“Everyone is dangerous at this point and has different motivations to play well at this point.
“You’ve got two sides who are going to be slugging it out.”
The Rebels are coming off a heavy loss to the Hurricanes, despite leading the unbeaten competition pace-setters at halftime.
McGahan said despite the score-line blowing out in the final three minutes, there were some positives from the match.
“Our ball retention is a positive but again it was our transition from attack to defence that really hurt us,” he said.
“We went from hot on attack inside the 22 to seven points down the other end.
“The lack of experience is really hurting us in key moments.”
Melbourne halfback Nic Stirzaker said he was eager to measure himself against Will Genia, who he rated as one of the world’s best.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against someone of his quality,” Stirzaker said.
Melbourne haven’t cracked a win at home this season and Stirzaker said it was important for their fans as well as themselves.
Melbourne have lost prop Laurie Weeks for at least six weeks with a leg fracture while Queensland have rugby convert Karmichael Hunt and Wallaby Liam Gill returning from suspension.
Brian USA
Guest
It seems to me that he put on weight this season; maybe he thought he would be playing 13 all year? Regardless, CFS does seem slow, unfit, or just plain lazy. He has shown great flashes over the last 2-3 years, but that is all they were: flashes. Nothing consistent.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I would have put Taps in instead of Finger. Faingaa has no footwork and no pace. If you don't have pace, you need footwork, otherwise, what is the point? Pretty much when Taps came on against the Lions, the Reds attack straightened, and they got some go forward again. I agree, I would have dropped CFS out. It is odd that for a while Graham was saying he was trying to build combinations... Kuridrani has been there just about the longest, but now drops out after being one of the better players, over the longest period? Everyone here talking up Magnay... I just keep seeing him getting turned inside out as he tracks across field. He is tall and rangy, and very young, so I hope he gets better coaching, and improves to his potential.
Hoy
Roar Guru
CFS looks far too big... He needs to trim down. I don't know whose fault it is, but it looks like he ate a small elephant. His size has cost him a lot of mobility.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Good to see Saia getting benched again, has been really lacklustre this year.
Mike
Guest
Good to see that McGahan is trying to whip up a bit of rivalry between these two sides. And why not? Rebels are now an established team. No reason why they and the Reds shouldn't be looking forward to this match every year with some focus, some intent, and readiness for some biff.
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Agreed comradebear. He has a great natural ability to read the game and is a superb athlete. Should be good in years to come.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Still some poor selections. Dropping Talaki for Faagase is a bad call. Opting for Schatz at 8 still is a bad call. CFS over Kuridrani is a very bad call and persisting with Genia this season isn't the best call. On the bright side, good to see they have stuck with Ant at 12, JOC at 11 and Turner at 15 which actually was one of the better parts of last week's performance.
jameswm
Guest
Reds team is here by the way. Not a bad team at all. Missing Simmons and Tui. Browning and Schatz might be fighting for one spot when Tui's back. 1. James Slipper (C) 2. James Hanson 3. Greg Holmes 4. Dave McDuling 5. James Horwill 6. Adam Thomson 7. Liam Gill 8. Jake Schatz 9. Will Genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. James O’Connor 12. Anthony Fainga’a 13. Samu Kerevi 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia 15. Lachie Turner 16. Ben Daley 17. Saia Fainga’a 18. Sef Faagase 19. Marco Kotze 20. Curtis Browning 21. Nick Frisby 22. Chris Kuridrani 23. Karmichael Hunt
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Magnay is already my Rookie of the season - pretty much the lone highlight of the Reds thus far. Really looking forward to seeing him develop under another coach.
Garry
Guest
" Some good progress last week" – the most ridiculous thing RG has said – the REDS last week were disgraceful ( didn’t start playing till 10 minutes left) and just when I thought the forward pack could not get worse (I was wrong). Attacking forwards don’t exist at the reds. Doesn’t matter how good Genia and Coops play they will be nullified behind that pack..... Just my expert opinion.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
If we lose this one what excuses are left to keep RG as coach?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Daley is a better around the ground player but is nowhere near good enough as a scrummager.
MARTO
Guest
Well at least you agree on everything else i said...I know Slipper is a much better player overall than DALEY its a "NO BRAINER " but he is not playing that well for his standing in the game and i wish he could recapture that form . Im just a frustrated REDS supporter like others on here and i need to vent ... Talakai has been average the last 3 games and why has Fa’agese been rushed in?. What is the go there? Good to see Karmichael back..Maybe he can run those inside lines like Horan Suggested. .SCHATZ HORWILL MCDULING CFS need to pull their fingers out ...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Apparently rotation. Can you say Fa'agase has impressed at Super Rugby level this season.
ken
Guest
So TRAIN why did RG punt TALAKAI from the 23 if he is superior to Fa`agase ( TALAKAI not injured ) ?? The mind Boggles
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Little bit out of touch with the professional game now too. Has he even coached since 2007? Look how poor Jones was at the Reds and that was 4 years out of Super Rugby. Macqueen didn't do much for the Rebels either.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
At the ground he looks the same size as CFS. I actually saw him warming up on the bench and was trying to figure out who the reserve centre was. He was excellent at 3 for Brisbane City in the NRC though. Didn't get keep Talaki on the bench? City definitely had the most dominant scrum at the pointy end of the season.
Combesy
Roar Guru
I've been coached by knuckles, good bloke. But I think he has political motivations on his heart more so than rugby.
Combesy
Roar Guru
Does anyone else think Fa'agese should be an 8? He better around the field then he is in the scrum
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Daley is not a superior scrummager to anybody. And Talaki is not a "Complete dud". He was great in the first 3 games but then struggled against the Waratahs and Brumbies the second time round and was rightly immediately replaced with a fit homes. Talaki is clearly the superior scrummager to Fa'agese.