The teams for Round 2 of Super Rugby AU have been announced, with the Waratahs making a host of changes for their meeting with the settled Brumbies, and the Rebels naming their first line-up of the year.
Coming off a demoralising Round 1 loss which resulted in a number of injuries to key players, Waratahs coach Rob Penney has made a number of changes to his side.
Alex Newsome is the team’s new captain after Jake Gordon’s first Super Rugby game as skipper ended with a syndesmosis injury which will keep him out for around two months.
Newsome has moved from the wing to outside centre following Izaia Perese’s suspension, while Tepai Moeroa comes into the 12 jersey for the injured Joey Walton. Jack Grant starts at halfback in place of Gordon, Mark Nawaqanitawase comes into the starting XV on the wing, and Henry Robertson joins the bench.
There is some good news for Tahs fans further up the teamsheet thanks to Lachie Swinton’s return. The big blindside flanker was suspended for Round 1 following his red card on Wallabies debut last year, but makes his return for Saturday night’s match, coming straight back into the side at number six. Jack Dempsey and Carlo Tizzano stay at number eight and openside respectively, while Will Harris misses out entirely.
The selection story couldn’t be more different for the Waratahs’ opponents on Saturday night. The Brumbies have made just one change to their side: Folau Fainga’a has been ruled out with a troublesome toe, pushing Connal McInerney into the number two jersey and Lachlan Lonergan onto the bench.
In the early game of the round, star signing Suliasi Vunivalu is the big inclusion for the Reds after missing the side’s season opener due to suspension. The league convert will make his Super Rugby debut on the bench in place of Ilaisa Droasese, while last year’s player of the season, Taniela Tupou, gets his first run-on start of the year. Feao Fotuaika moves to the reserves to make way for the Wallabies prop.
Substitute forwards Josh Nasser and Sam Wallis are the other two inclusions for Brad Thorn’s men, coming in for Richie Asiata and Tuaina Taii Tualima.
The Melbourne Rebels have opted for Reece Hodge at inside centre for their first game of the season in order to bolster a midfield missing the injured Cameron Magnay, on top of the off-season departure of Billy Meakes.
New signing Joe Powell partners captain Matt To’omua in the halves, with Marika Koroibete on the wing opposite Lachland Anderson and Tom Pincus slotting in at fullback. Stacey Ili partners Hodge in the centres.
Up front, Cabous Eloff and Pone Faamausili start at prop either side of hooker Jordan Uelese, and Steve Cummins joins last year’s boom rookie Trevor Hosea in the second row. Coach Dave Wessels has opted to go for dual opensides in a loose trio of Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick and Michael Wells.
Suncorp Stadium, Friday 7:45pm (AEDT)
Reds
1-15: Dane Zander, Alex Mafi, Taniela Tupou, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Angus Scott-Young, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor (c), Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Jock Campbell
Bench: Josh Nasser, Harry Hoopert, Feao Fotuaika, Ryan Smith, Sam Wallis, Moses Sorovi, Bryce Hegarty, Suliasi Vunivalu
In: Josh Nasser, Sam Wallis, Suliasi Vunivalu
Out: Richie Asiata, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ilaisa Droasese
Rebels
1-15: Cabous Eloff, Jordan Uelese, Pone Faamausili, Steve Cummins, Trevor Hosea, Brad Wilkin, Richard Hardwick, Michael Wells, Joe Powell, Matt To’omua (c), Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge, Stacey Ili, Lachlan Anderson, Tom Pincus
Bench: Ed Craig, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Rhys van Nek, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, James Tuttle, Glen Vaihu, Frank Lomani
GIO Stadium, Saturday 7:45pm
Brumbies
1-15: James Slipper, Connal McInerney, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Jahrome Brown, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Mack Hansen, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks
Bench: Lachlan Lonergan, Harry Lloyd, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Tom Cusack, Ryan Lonergan, Reesjan Pasitoa, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
In: Lachlan Lonergan
Out: Folau Fainga’a
Waratahs
1-15: Angus Bell, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Sam Caird, Jack Whetton, Lachlan Swinton, Carlo Tizzano, Jack Dempsey, Jack Grant, Will Harrison, James Ramm, Tepai Moeroa, Alex Newsome (c), Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jack Maddocks
Reserves: David Porecki, Tetera Faulkner, Sio Tatola, Jeremy Williams, Hugh Sinclair, Henry Robertson, Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly
In: Lachlan Swinton, Tepai Moeroa, Triston Reilly, Henry Robertson
Out: Will Harris, Jake Gordon, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Hope you're right potsie! Would love to see some new rebels guys go well this season, they look a bit lean otherwise
Fumbles
Roar Rookie
Thanks Hugh. I was really looking forward to Harris developing given his talent
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
That’s the thing mate. He does ok, however there are better options in every position
Markus
Roar Rookie
Quade's 2013 EOYT was the most dominant Aus flyhalf performance I have seen since at least Larkham. He was simply untouchable in attack and counter attack. Even his goalkicking was on point.
potsie
Guest
Real shame that Ili has never been recognised or contracted at home. Class centre.
Antony Henrie
Guest
The best Wallaby 10 over the last 10 years has been Quade Cooper. Daylight next. Forget Foley Beale JOC Hodge Toomua Barnes. Quade was the man. Unfortunately for the rugby public the worst coach in Wallaby history Clown didn't pick him and thus the clown suffered horrendous results and as such his services were no longer required in 2020. DR should have given QC go in 2020.
The bald guy
Roar Rookie
fair call will be a great back up if one of them gets injured. On the plus side it is great to see they are just not throwing him in and giving him time to find his feet. He will get confidence from that so when he is a starter he will be electric. P.S As a lifelong tahs fan would love to see him in the sky blue but either way can't wait to see what he can bring.
numpty
Roar Rookie
I don't think the brumbies have 80 in them.
Springtime
Guest
jcmasher Agreed. Hodge is a jack of all trades but a master of none.He has a wonderful kicking boot, that's about it. He is too frail and has no rugby nous for the midfield and is too slow for a wing spot.15 maybe at a pinch but the time spent on him trying to fit him in as a starter has passed imo. He is a bench player only for me.
MO
Guest
Fines was lethal with a sniff of space playing in the NRC for the Force. Has elite level pace if nothing else. Kolbe is not big. Maybe Fines can make a late career conversion to being a small winger with a good pass. He must able to kick a little too.
MO
Guest
I thought Hodge showed promise when he played 12 on debut against the ABs. If he had a couple of seasons at 12 to lock the position specific thoughts he could be a test 12. He is pretty versatile and did okay playing 10 like a 12 so if he gets this season at 12 he may used to it. Rennie seems to like him. I'd have thought Hodge's best shot at Wallabies was 15 though. Has a big boot and a knack for finding the tryline. He can almost fake it as a test winger - not quite though but points for coming close.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Sorry not sure of the relevance. How does that prepare him for being a 12 at Super level or anywhere else for that matter
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah. Saw that from Hugh. Is a shame. He needs repeat matches in order to develop
jeznez
Roar Guru
I don’t know why Beale wasn’t given more of a chance to develop at 10. He nearly led the Tahs to a title in 2008, the side was in front when he went off injured.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Deleted. Repeated info above
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Numps, use him for everything except a grubber kick I reckon!
numpty
Roar Rookie
Yes, but I wouldn't use him for midfield up and unders, I'd use him for cross field kicks in the 22. This is already part of the reds repertoire with JOC kicking to daugunu and Paisami to Petaia last week with good effect.
Markus
Roar Rookie
It is a huge leap from between Colts to professional rugby, though. Beale was a schoolboy prodigy at flyhalf, and a far better player than Hodge, but still struggled to be any more than a stop-gap 10 at SR and Test level.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
I don't think we'll be talking about the closenss of the games on in the Wrap on Monday. Brumbies and Reds both by 30+ The Rebels "on paper" squad has not materialised into "on field" and they will get pumped unfortunately. The Tahs just don't have the cattle.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Numps, Vunivalu is killer in the air though, probably worth planning for that.