The Melbourne Rebels have been handed a big boost ahead of their do-or-die clash with the Western Force, with fullback Dane Haylett-Petty rejoining the side after more than a month off with a knee injury.
It’s not the only change the Victorians have made in search of their first ever finals appearance, with Billy Meakes rejoining the XV at inside centre and Reece Hodge shifting to the outside. Matt To’omua and James Tuttle will form a new-look halves pair, while Tom Pincus has ousted Andrew Kellaway on the wing.
The Force have made six changes, headlined by the return of Byron Ralston on the wing.
Saturday night’s top of the table clash sees the Reds welcome Chris Feauai-Sautia back on the wing and promote Harry Hoopert to the run-on XV, while the Brumbies have promoted Wallabies trio Nic White, Folau Fainga’a and Tevita Kuridrani to the starting linepu.
Saturday, 5:05pm (AEST), McDonald Jones Stadium
Rebels
1. Cameron Orr, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Michael Wells, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. James Tuttle, 10. Matt To’omua (c), 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Bill Meakes, 13. Reece Hodge, 14. Tom Pincus, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Bench: 16. Efitusi Maafu, 17. Cabous Eloff, 18. Matt Gibbon, 19. Michael Stolberg, 20. Esei Haangana, 21. Frank Lomani, 22. Andrew Deegan, 23. Lachlan Anderson
Force
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Andrew Ready, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Ollie Atkins, 6. Fergus Lee-Warner, 7. Brynard Stander, 8. Henry Stowers, 9. Ian Prior (c), 10. Jono Lance, 11. Marcel Brache, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jack McGregor
Bench: 16. Heath Tessman, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Dom Hardman, 19. Johan Bardoul, 20. Kane Koteka, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Nick Jooste, 23. Jake Strachan
Saturday, 7:15pm (AEST), Suncorp Stadium
Reds
1. Harry Hoopert, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Jock Campbell
Bench: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. JP Smith, 18. Ruan Smuith, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Hunter Paisami
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Len Ikitau, 23. Solomone Kata
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Put the money towards a ticket to the final. :-)
Fil
Roar Rookie
Yes... yes I do. Unless you live in Canberra, I’ll have to post it to you.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
You owe me that beer. Tupou clearly dominant in the scrums with Sio giving away 3 penalties and should have been more. Tupou much better in general play. The Smith bros were better than Sio when they came on. He really needs to find some form.
bigtree.smallaxe
Roar Rookie
I've sort of wondered myself what's happened to Kellaway since SRAU started. He seems to really have slowed down. Doesn't seem to bother chasing those constant high balls that Deegan or Toomua keep kicking back to the opposition. He got stood up by Ramm's pace last week which surprised me as I thought he was originally he was quite quick, a good defender with a decent accurate boot. I wish Pincus all the best as he seems to have some pace. i can't but think of Kramer everytime I hear his name: "Poor pincus, poor little pincus".
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Rightio, let's see who gives away the most penalties at scrum, who makes the most metres over the gain line and who makes the most tackles. Bet on. :-)
Double Agent
Guest
FFS Bobby.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Haha so you are saying he was born with no nuts.:)
Fil
Roar Rookie
Bet you a dollar... But for me the most gratifying thing about the team this week is Nic White in the starting side. I rate Joe Powell and enjoy his play but Nic White has been a stand-out in a team noted for outstanding (see what I did there?) halves such as George Gregan (of course) and Thomas Cubelli. White deserves his place among them and I’m looking forward to watching his performance this Saturday. As for Sio, I’m confident enough in his ability to perform at the level that made him a deserved Wallaby that I’m willing to put a beer on it... a middy...of light... during happy hour.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Yeah the strengthening of the reserve prop stocks for the Reds makes the side instantly better.
Double Agent
Guest
Alarm didn't go off. Useless mobiles... :unhappy:
Double Agent
Guest
They don't cut your balls off AFTER you win the Melbourne Cup!! :laughing:
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Yep, but who had a good game when your team gets smashed by 30 points. The Petaia switch won’t happen but I would like to see it in the next few years.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
I thought Campbell did not have a good game on the wing v Tahs and looked lost in defence. His best position is 15, I would not shift him to see how another untested player handles fullback.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
You mean ended up !
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Only good for a sprint I afraid. Not a Stayer
Double Agent
Guest
Aussie Rugby Baaaaaaaad :angry: Kiwi Rugby Gooooood! :happy: We get it Waxhead!!
Double Agent
Guest
Phar Lap was a gelding.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I don’t know about Valentini or Cusack , but Samu, Miller and McCaffrey are hard to beat.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Brumbies v Reds might be a decent game ???? But the big game this weekend is Nth v Sth island. Then Mitre 10 Cup starts in NZ the following week :thumbup:
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
What happened to the Pone Express?