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.
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).
Daveski
Guest
Agree on English and Naivalu's awesome tackle. And Ruru probably had his best game of the season. Timani good 15min cameo but I wouldn't be rushing to announce he's "back in form" just yet. The bloke runs hot and cold like a dodgy shower. Tayler Adams looked good in a brief debut. Really Wessels has sat on his hands all season with JDeb when he had at least four other viable options at 10 - Adams, Hodge, Maddocks and Horwitz.
Daveski
Guest
Disagree Kirky. Many of these players are also in Japan Top League.... they can't play all year round and need rest at some point. Plus Sunwolves are out of contention. It's a world rugby / players union responsibility not Jamie Joseph's.
killaku
Guest
Till they play a Kiwi side
Bing
Guest
His defence for the WBs last year I thought was outstanding.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
I have to say I thought DHP was poor tonight. He did a couple of good things and I know he's been out, but there was a string of clangers tonight.
ThugbyFan
Guest
The big winger with the lair hair, #11 Hosea Saumaki easily brushed DHP and would have got a try except that J.Maddocks came from nowhere in a beautiful cover tackle and took him into touch. Mind you DHP has only just returned from injury. Agree that either Tom Banks or Jack Maddocks could be a better bet as wing/fb than DHP for the WB. Banks wasn't much chop for the 1st 10 odd rounds of SR2018 but seems to be going all right now. Maddocks has been on fire all year but likely too green to throw into a fierce test match as a starter.
Fionn
Guest
Cheers, mate, I'll check it out in the morning :) . But now, time to sleep!
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Right now very few players have a contract directly with the Sunwolves. The players get paid by their clubs/companies even when playing for the Sunwolves. To my understanding, this will change over the next two years. Sunwolves are pretty optimistic they will be able to pay pretty good salaries soon. Hence they are operating on the Japanese market they have better potential to make more money than any other SR team. Here is a very interesting interview with the Sunwolves CEO that will help you to get a good understanding what their plans are: https://soundcloud.com/user-260271034/44-sunwolves-ceo-yuji-watase
Kirky
Roar Rookie
That sort of carry on, the resting of that amount of players needs to be knocked right on the head, ~ in fact I watched the game against the Sunnys' and the Melbourne Force and I was chuffed as hell when seeing them stuffing the Sunnys' the way they were, until I read on here of all the ring ins, not on at all, and Jamie Joseph if he was the perpetrator should be taken to task over it! Ridiculous! In an odd way the Melbourne team beat almost nobody of consequence???? Hayden Parker I would imagine will go to the Highlanders when he becomes available at a guess to replace Sopoaga ~ Didn't he play for the Highlanders prior to the Sunnys'? ~ He'd no doubt be contracted to the Japanese team for the World Cup, so it will be a while before that happens if it ever does!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yeah, second string Sunwolves. Nothing to be read out of that game
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Maddocks was in there a bit, plus DHP. But a lot of the first reciever was played through forwards. I reckon Ranji got more toiches than Hodge. For Hodges actual touches, it was either a shovel on, or he just ran it. One backline wrap around had no forward motion to it at all and it died with a DHP fwd pass. Hodge seemed to be doing alot of directing, hut not a lot of actual making of the play.
Fionn
Guest
Can the Sunwolves match their salaries? I guess it depends. They're guaranteed a lot of game time playing for the Sunwolves, and can also earn more money playing in the Japanese domestic comp, as well as look to become eligible for the Blossoms. Can New Zealand offer them the same salaries and opportunity of game time? Parker is a class act though, so could he be what the Blues, Highlanders or Chiefs are looking for (I might be in the minority here, but I still see DMac as a better fullback than flyhalf).
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Great to see the Melbourne Force play like that, good stuff boys ~ Hayden Parker I reckon will go to the Highlanders when able to replace Sopoaga at a guess!
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Give them a real pre-season to prepare and keep the players they got and they will be competitive. Parker and Little are great 10/12 combo (I know Little played 13 today). But surely some NZ SR teams will have a look at them again?
Fionn
Guest
I was very excited about the margin of the Rebels' win tonight until I heard about this. Now... less so :P The Sunwolves will be much better next year if they can keep Parker as well as getting Mafi. Their back-row will be scary good. Yeah, that's a fair point. But does that not perhaps reflect on the sad fact that New Zealand has such little respect for the rest of the teams as a result of being so dominant? Their dominance does seem less this year than last year or the year before though.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I did see that. Very interesting indeed with a possible draft.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
You have a fair point in that argument. Never questioned that. I disagreed with you about Sunwolves quality overall, you said you saw no improvement, I said I did. The Chiefs certainly suffered from the "glorified" trial view last week. So it is not an exclusive problem, for the Sunwolves.
Fionn
Guest
Did you hear South Africa might be bringing in a draft for players to equalise the talent? Good move if true.
Fionn
Guest
I'd be equally happy with Maddocks and Banks being in the Wallabies' back three. I think I would go for Banks, but I am definitely biased.
Cynical Play
Guest
Maddocks not Banks