Jordan Petaia will make his latest comeback from injury off the bench for the Reds in their match against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
The young Wallaby dislocated his shoulder back in February and hasn’t played since, but after training strongly this week he’s been named amongst the reserves for this weekend’s trip to the nation’s capital. Surprisingly, he’s joined on the bench by halfback Tate McDermott, who has been moved out of his regular starting role for the top-of-the-table clash.
The Rebels also welcome back a Wallaby into their side with Isi Naisarani to start at number 8, but it’s not all good news for their international contingent with captain Dane Haylett-Petty ruled out. Reece Hodge has been shifted to fullback to cover the skipper’s absence, Andrew Kellaway will start at outside centre and Tom Pincus will make his debut out wide.
Those aren’t the only changes made by Dave Wessels, with Matt Philip and Pone Fa’amausili sent to the bench for Esei Ha’angana and Jermaine Ainsley respectively, while Brad Wilkin is set to play his first Super Rugby game in over a year from the pine.
The Rebels’ Round 5 opponents, the Western Force, have rejigged their backline for Friday night’s encounter. Regular captain Ian Prior is back at halfback, forcing Nick Frisby onto the bench, and Tim Sampson has opted for a new midfield pairing, naming Kyle Godwin at 13 and Richard Kahui at 12.
Prop Pek Cowan, who was playing for the Force when they were axed in 2017, will make his first Super Rugby AU appearance after being named in the reserves.
While the Reds have welcomed back Petaia for their meeting with the Brumbies, starting prop Harry Hoopert has been ruled out with an injury expected to sideline him for a month.
There’s better news for lock Angus Blyth, who’s overcome a shoulder injury to line up in the second row in a move that pushes Angus Scott-Young back to the back row and Fraser McReight to the bench.
The Brumbies are the most stable of the four sides in action this weekend, making just one change to their starting XV: Darcy Swain returns to the run-one second row, while Tom Cusack and Tom Ross have been added to the bench.
Friday, 7:05pm, Leichhardt Oval
Force
1. Chris Heiberg, 2. Feleti Kaitu’u, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Fergus Lee-Warner, 6. Henry Stowers, 7. Tevin Ferris, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Ian Prior (c), 10. Jono Lance, 11. Marcel Brache, 12. Richard Kahui, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jack McGregor
Bench: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Pek Cowan, 18. Tom Sheminant, 19. Johan Bardoul, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Henry Taefu, 23. Brad Lacey
Rebels
1. Cameron Orr, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Esei Ha’angana, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Michael Wells, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Ryan Louwrens, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Andrew Kellaway, 14. Tom Pincus, 15. Reece Hodge
Bench: 16. Efi Ma’afu, 17. Cabous Elouff, 18. Pone Fa’amausili, 19. Matt Philip, 20. Rob Leota, 21. Brad Wilkin, 22. Frank Lomani, 23. Andrew Deegan
Saturday, 7:15pm, GIO Stadium
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Cusack, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Issak Fines, 22. Mack Hansen, 23. Andy Muirhead
Reds
1. Dane Zander, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 7. Liam Wright, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Scott Malolua, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Jock Campbell
Bench: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Feao Fotuaika, 18. Jack Straker, 19. Ryan Smith, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Jordan Petaia
jeznez
Roar Guru
As I said, he’s one of the first people I’d pick in the side.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Your right, he is slow. I guess we should just put Hooper on the wing..
jeznez
Roar Guru
Olly. We don’t know from that article what the average time of wingers at training is. What we do have is him 14th out of 16 listed. The other thing we know is many of the fastest guys like Kolbe, Dyantyi, Fassi, Fukuoka, etc. haven’t had their training times listed. He’s one of the first names on the Wallabies team sheet (if I’m selecting) let’s just not kid our selves that his top pace compares to the seriously quick guys.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yes Jeznez Wade is one of the exceptionals and using that logic no other team has pace unless they have Wade in there team.... having players considerable faster then the average which is always higher then the real number due to players like Wade is having pace.
jeznez
Roar Guru
The 9.1 is average top speed in matches which is lower than the top speeds being achieved at training. Compare his 9.8 figure to Wade’s, as you say, try catching someone who is 1.3 m further away every second.
Olly
Roar Rookie
.7m/s is considerably faster then the average and does classify someone as fast. You try chasing someone doing 70cm further then you every second and you will realise how much faster that person is.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think you are looking at the same Rugby Pass article I did. Yes he's 14th on that list at the bottom of the article but it doesn't include all the fastest players in the game. The article talks about Kolbe maintaining 33.66 km/h for one of his runs at the WC and states his peak speed in that run would have been higher. That km/hr equates to 9.35 m/s. That is just one run at the world cup and is an in game measurement which the article indicates are not as high as the pure speed trials the players are doing at training. A guy like Sbu Nkosi has a 100 time of 10.59s, his top speed would definitely have him on that list. Same for guys like Aphiwe Dyantyi and likely Kenki Fukuoka as well. Koroibete's 9.8 m/s training speed is not much higher than the average in game speed for wings at the WC of 9.1 m/s. He's got a lot of great attributes but his top end speed is not in the upper echelons.
Olly
Roar Rookie
He seems to be just one of those players who can read the D line infront of him. When you take the JWC try scoring record from Savea then I am happy to give him a go.
Olly
Roar Rookie
ahhh Staker, never heard of him. Shame to see that both packs are not at full strength for this game
Olly
Roar Rookie
Koroibete is clocked as the 14th highest top end speed in world rugby so he is fairly quick.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I reckon he'll be at the tahs next season. Lucas, Hockings were out of their minds going off like this. I wonder if they'll come crawling back to Aus if they can't get a gig elsewhere
jeznez
Roar Guru
I agree with all that but wasn't looking at those factors because the comment I replied to wasn't talking about ability to beat a man. The comment I replied to was was talking about Koroibete's and Kellaway's "express pace"
jeznez
Roar Guru
Fotuaika and Straker. I don’t know Straker but have liked the look of Fotuaika, he really just needs fitness.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Was more just commenting that top end speed isn't necessarily the only comparison for speed when looking at a player. If less than half their run is at top end speed, acceleration will play a factor in ability to beat defenders with pace.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Was only responding to Numpty’s express pace comment. Absolutely acceleration, ability to change direction, strength through contact, etc. Many more attributes than just top end speed needed for effectiveness on the wing. Before we get to anything like game sense, lines, handling etc.
Ex force fan
Guest
Who would have thought that the Force, with a team made up of players that couldn't make the squads of the other 4 franchises, would be only 3 IFs away from the Brumbies? They have done remarkably well and is very well coached.
Ex force fan
Guest
McDonald would have got more opportunities if he stayed at the Force. Frisbee will get better as he get used to playing with the other Force players.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Jez you probably have to consider acceleration as well. You are rarely running at full pace for the entire run, you have to take off from a jog, step and speed up, etc. Interesting Wade is up there considering he is so short. It's normally decent stride length that helps top end pace, but shorter legs are great for acceleration. Marika vs Reiko for example you'd expect Marika to take off quicker, but unsurprising at full stretch, Reika can move faster.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Kellaway is average speed for a wing IMO. Not close to Koroibete, would not be any quicker than Ramm, CFS, Campbell. Slower than Wright, Banks, even Muirhead.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I found the article. Very interesting. I agree Koroibete is quick i.e a bit faster than the average wing who is 9.2 m/s however he is not express. Interesting than Simon Zebo who people also rate as express is about the same as Koroibete. I new Mogg was quick but would not have thought quicker than Reike Ioanne. Too bad Wallabies couldn't make more use of Mogg especially on the wing. Jonny May is seriously quick, express.