The Southern Kings completed their Australian Tour with an emphatic 24-26 victory over the Waratahs. They are oozing with confidence and will fancy their chances against a Melbourne Rebels side that drew against the Sharks last weekend. Join us at The Roar for live scores and a blog at 3:30am AEST.
In the last encounter between these two in 2013, the Kings emerged as 30 – 27 victors.
The Southern Kings will be looking to build the momentum with back-to-back wins this Saturday. Martin Bezuidenhout is the only change in the starting XV, coming on for Michael Willemse who drops to the bench as a rotational change.
Stefaan Willemse makes his return on the bench for the injured Ruaan Lerm, who failed his fitness test.
Flanker Chris Cloete will definitely cause problems in the breakdown area. He leads the Super Rugby stats for most steals, totalling nine. Lionel Cronje will look to continue directing things on attack, while Banda, Mjekevu and Mapimpi will be looking to continue their try-scoring form.
The Melbourne Rebels have shown glimpses of form and some fighting spirit in the last two weeks, securing six points in total.
The Rebels welcome the return of Colby Fainga’a and Marika Koroibete at wing who withdrew last week as a result of injury. Nick Stirzaker and Ben Volavola will continue their halfback combination from last week.
The bench is boosted by international players, with Wallaby Toby Smith and Weslsh international Dominic Day making their return from injury. James Hanson and Laurie Weeks also provide the additional international experience.
Prediction
The Rebels have not gone three straight games without conceding a loss in Super Rugby. They have won against the Brumbies and drew against the Sharks. The last few games the Kings have proven to be quite potent on attack and it finally paid off last week against the Waratahs. They will be looking to carry that form into this encounter. The Kings are definitely favourites heading into this game and should win this game by eight points.
Join us at The Roar for live scores and a blog at 3:30am AEST.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Agree the skill levels have dropped considerably. NZ should have 6 teams and Oz only deserves 3 teams
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
The Kings scored 33 unanswered points in the second half to register their first back-to-back victories in Super Rugby. The Kings pulled off a scintillating performance, being very clinical on defense and attack. The Rebels had no answer to the Kings, lacking innovation and direction on attack in the absence of captain Nick Stirzacker.
Killaku
Guest
Aussie rugby skills have gone backwards,Shockingly bad.I watched a NZ high school that would put these guys to shame.I was all for Yous keeping your teams but after this weekends games you should be lucky to have 2 and been generous.If NZ was going through this,Tew and co would be lynched.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
80' Try!!!! The Kings put a final nail in the coffin, with Mampimpi dumming and crosses over for a try. Kings 42-3 Rebels
Pinetree
Guest
Kings showing that they are a much improved team this year and have been unfairly judged by many. Good on the Kings. Rebels knocked back by injuries though.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
74' The Kings have a lineout on their 10m
midnight_mangler
Guest
That wing for the Kings is awesome.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
70' Try!!! Off the scrum Ntsila carries well to draw 3 Rebels players and offloads to Louis who passes it down to Mampimpi who scores his 7th Super Rugby try this season. De Wet converts. Kings 37-3 Rebels
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
69' The kings have a scrum in the middle of the park.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
62' Try!!! What an incredible 100m try by the Kings. The Kings are unstoppable at the moment. Kings 30-3 Rebels
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Early days, but many regular AB's has been injured - or are still injured - this year. I guess Read, Smith and Kaino will be injury free before the first BIL Test, but will they be match ready?
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
58' TRY!!! The Kings pull off a great lineout move to set flanker Tyler Paul for his first Super Rugby try. Kings 23-3 Rebels
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
56' Rebels clear the ball to the halfway line. Lineout Kings.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
54' Scrum Kings.
Steven Marx
Guest
Game getting scrappy!
Targa
Guest
Especially with Ben Smith and Jerome Kaino (2nd and 3rd choices as captain) also injured.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
48' That was a thundering break by Ntsila using his pace to take that gap. This boy's running game is something to look at.
Pinetree
Guest
Ouch, not good news for us Crusaders fans as well. Thanks for that report TNVFS, hope he makes it in time for the BIL.
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
47' Rebels knock the ball on and Kings knock the ball on. Scrum Kings
Vusi Gubeni
Roar Guru
45' Kings get penalized for offside. Rebels have a lineout 5m away from the Kings tryline