The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Rebels vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog

25th May, 2018
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Odds: Rebels $1.13, Sunwolves $6.50
Teams

Rebels
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga'a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman (c), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Fereti Sa'aga

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Pone Fa'amausili, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Tayler Adams, 23 Sefa Naivalu

Sunwolves
15 Jason Emery, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Michael Little, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Edward Quirk, 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki, 6 Grant Hattingh, 5 Shinya Makabe, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Craig Millar

Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Sam Wykes, 20 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Semisi Masirewa
The Rebels. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
25th May, 2018
78
2919 Reads

The Melbourne Rebels host the hot Sunwolves in Melbourne tonight in the third ever clash between these two Super Rugby sides. Join The Roar from 7:45pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.

The Melbourne Rebels, after starting the season so well, are spluttering their way around in second position in the Australian Conference, quickly losing touch with the Waratahs. Their attack, which looked so good through the first six rounds, has faltered without the enigmatic Will Genia at halfback.

That being said, when they fire, they do look the goods, and with Dane Haylett-Petty returning at fullback, there’s enough there to suggest that, should their passes stick, points will be scored.

In team news, as mentioned above, Haylett-Petty returns to team up with Jack Maddocks and Marika Koroibete in the back three, while Billy Meakes and Tom English resume their midfield partnership.

Sam Talakai starts in the front row, while 2017 Shute Shield player of the year Tayler Adams wins his first spot on the bench. Should he get on, it would be a richly deserved debut for the Southern Districts workhorse.

As for the Sunwolves, boy have they been good in the last two weeks.

They’ve got one of the in-form five-eighths in the tournament in Hayden Parker, whose deft feet at the line and vision have been the crux of a firing attack over the past month. He’s also the best goal-kicker in the competition and can throw them over from pretty much anywhere in opposition territory.

Michael Little is a beast and matches up extremely well against his opposite number at outside centre. Back rowers Ed Quirk, Grant Hattingh and Shunsuke Nunomaki give them good go forward, while their set piece has benefited greatly from tall timber Shinya Makabe and James Moore in recent weeks.

Advertisement

Prediction
We know both these sides like to throw the ball around, and, assuming they go into tonight’s fixture with that same attacking mindset, it will come down to counter-attack and whoever plays the best opportunistic rugby.

My gut says the Rebels, but I ate a dodgy curry at lunch, so it could just be that…

Rebels by 12.

Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the match, starting from 7:45pm (AEST).

close