The Melbourne Rebels have announced their first team of the season for their trial match against the Blues on Thursday.
With the new and revamped Super Rugby season just around the corner,
11 uncapped Rebels will take the field, including recruit James Hanson who will start the game at hooker.
Coach Tony McGahan has picked a strong backline, including flyhalf Jack Debreczeni, Mike Harris, Mitch Inman and Dom Shipperley.
“We want to test our extended squad members in a competitive environment, so this trial against the Blues will give these players a chance to put into practice our last eight weeks of pre-season training,” McGahan said.
“These players have all earned their opportunity through hard work during pre-season so I want them to back themselves and their decision making under pressure in a game situation.”
“At this stage of pre-season there’s bound to be a few bumps and bruises in our squad. We’re not prepared to take risk any with three weeks until the start of the season but we expect to have a near full strength team available for our trial against Samoa.”
Melbourne Rebels team to play the Blues
1. Toby Smith, 2. James Hanson, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Steve Cummins, 5. Luke Jones, 6. Jordy Reid, 7. Sione Taufa, 8. Ta Hosea, 9. Ben Meehan, 10. Jack Debreczeni, 11. Tom English, 12. Mike Harris, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Dom Shipperley, 15. Reece Hodge
Reserves:
16. Jordon Uelese, 17. Cruze Ah Nau, 18. Ryan Cocker, 19. Murray Douglas, 20. Pom Simona, 21. Angus Fowler, 22. Dan Hawkins, 23. Paul Asquith, 24. Tom Moloney
Browny
Roar Rookie
The Retallick-Timani-Thomson-McMahon/Fainga'a/Fuglistaller/Reid jigsaw puzzle will be an interesting one to watch McGahan try and solve. Unless it's Jones and Retallick starting locks and Timani off the bench (or Timani coming off for Retallick), in which case it's basically the same as last year with Thommo insead of Higgers...
Browny
Roar Rookie
Going to be interesting to see what the line up is for the Samoa game. Can't wait to get down to AAMI Park for that one! Notable absentees from that team are Hagan, Leafa, Retallick, McMahon, Thomson, Fainga'a, Fuglistaller, Timani, Stirzaker, Ellison, Naivalu, Crawford and Placid. It'll be interesting to see where/if/how McGahan plays all of his centres and loose forwards. (Rebels website has Asquith, Ellison, English, Harris, Hodge, Inman, Naivalu and Tuipulotu all listed as centres). Smith, Hanson and Weeks pick themselves as a front row, I can't see Jones losing the #5 and Stirzaker and Big Jack have a mortgage on the halves. If you assume the other lock with be Retallick, that probably means Timani moves to 8 with Thomson and McMahon as the flankers, although that means you've got Fainga'a, Fuglistaller and Reid to fight over a bench spot. Perhaps 2 bench spots at a squeeze. Harris has to be in there somewhere, either 12 or 15. If he's at 12 then Placid gets a run at fullback, otherwise you probably end up with the Inman-Ellison centre pairing. Will have to keep an eye on the Harris-Inman pairing goes this game to see if it works. Wingers should be Naivalu and probably Shipperly I guess. Again, so many centres and loose forwards to try and fit in... i still think of Jones as a blindside so thats 9 loosies and 8 centres on the list! Add your mandatory front rowers and you've got a match day 23!...
Sam
Guest
Had surgery during the SR post season and took no part in the NRC. Not sure about his return
BigtreeSmallaxe
Guest
Is Stirzaker still injured? Looking forward to seeing him back to his best.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Rebels have 14 full time squad players fit and available for this game.
Sam
Guest
They usually stream their home games and live tweet their away games in the pre season. The Blues might do a live stream though...
Sam
Guest
No but is a core player in the Rising NRC squad.
Cynical Play
Guest
Can anyone suggest how to watch this ?
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
A very good side, especially with about 5 of the backrowers capable of starting left out. Would have liked to see Retallick used just to gauge his impact as well as Tuipoluto and Placid linking up in the backline, but very excited to see how they fare against the Blues
lao hu
Guest
. Pom Simona is a NRC player out of the local club ranks, is he contracted to the rebels?
ethan
Guest
Still no clues as to their Timani plans then.