Rebels vs Highlanders highlights: Highlanders hold Rebels try-less

Roar Guru

26th March, 2016

4828 Reads

Kickoff: 7:45pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Betting: Rebels $3.10 v Highlanders 1.37
Referee: Andrew Lees
Last Four Meetings: Highlanders 3-1

Rebels
15 Jonah Placid, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon (c), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timpani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Nic Stirzaker, 22 Dan Hawkins, 23 Reece Hodge

Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Jack Wilson, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Shane Christie (cc), 6 Luke Whitelock, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Mark Reddish, 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Brendon Edmonds
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Dan Pryor, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Jason Emery

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The Rebels will put the week's uncertainty behind them on the weekend. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Will Sinclair

Roar Guru

26th March, 2016

230

4828 Reads

Match result:

The Rebels were unable to score a try against last year’s Super Rugby Champs, with the Highlanders eventually claiming a 24-point win.

REPORT: HIGHLANDERS TOO HOT FOR REBELS

Final score
Rebels 3
Highlanders 27

Match preview:

The Rebels welcome the reigning Super Rugby champions, the Highlanders, to Melbourne in a crucial Round 5 Super Rugby clash. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting at 7:30pm on Saturday night (AEDT).

This is a very interesting game. The Rebels have won their last two games against Kiwi teams, although they have lost three of their last four against the Highlanders.

They were very good against the Sunwolves in Tokyo, but that represented the latest in a horror travel schedule for the team – this season they have already been to Perth, Pretoria, Melbourne and Japan. Surely that travel schedule has to catch up with them at some point.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders hit their stride last week, executing their game plan perfectly to beat the Waratahs in Sydney.

These two teams look closely matched in all the key statistics – although the Highlanders do beat more players per match, and pass more often – and it should be a good game.

The Highlanders injury problems have eased somewhat. Lock Joe Wheeler returns to the starting lineup, while loosie Dan Pryor is back on the bench.

The Rebels have won three games already this season, but none of the teams they’ve beaten – the Force, Reds and Sunwolves – are as strong as the Highlanders appear to be.

Prediction
Gee, I’d like to be able to tip the Rebels here. I think they are going really well and are every chance of making the finals. But the Highlanders seemed to be finding their groove last week in Sydney, and I suspect they will be too strong. Highlanders 1-12.

Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game, starting at 7:30pm on Saturday night (AEDT).

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