Highlanders
20
Match Complete
Melbourne Rebels
17
| S. Gilbert |  | 84 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 71 | ||
| 60 | | R. Hodge | ||
| 56 |  | R. Hodge | ||
| 55 |  | S. Ili | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 31 | ||
| E. D. Groot | | 30 | ||
| 22 | | R. Hodge | ||
| 21 | | R. Hardwick | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 14 | ||
| C. Garden-Bachop | | 13 |
| 2 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Matt Philip’s hopes of playing in this year’s Rugby World Cup have received a boost, with the Wallabies lock named for his first Super Rugby Pacific match of the season. Join The Roar for live scores from 2.35pm AEST.
Philip will start for the Melbourne Rebels in their must-win match against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
However, in a blow for the Rebels, in-form playmaker Carter Gordon will miss the crucial clash with a knee issue.
Philip hasn’t played since suffering a serious knee injury during Wallabies training last October, with the 29-year-old relegating Trevor Hosea to the bench.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
The lock’s inclusion is one of four changes to last week’s starting XV, with Stacey Ili and Lukas Ripley combining at centre, while Reece Hodge replaces Gordon at 10.
Hodge, 28, will become the most-capped player in club history when he plays his 98th Super Rugby match.
He has scored 547 points over eight seasons, and has represented the Wallabies 62 times.
The Rebels have won three of the past four Super meetings between the two sides and will be returning to Dunedin for the first time since 2020’s thrilling 28-22 win over the Highlanders.
Both teams are locked on 15 points, three points outside the top eight, with three games to play.
Game information
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 2.35pm (AEST)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Odds: Highlanders $1.25 Rebels $4.00 – odds via PlayUp
Highlanders (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Shannon Frizell, Max Hicks, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (c), Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith, Freddie Burns, Jona Nareki, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Jonah Lowe, Connor Garden-Bachop.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Rebels (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Josh Canham, Matt Philip, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Brad Wilkin (c), Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, Reece Hodge, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Lukas Ripley, Lachlan Anderson, Andrew Kellaway.
Replacements: Jordan Uelese, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Pone Fa’amausili, Trevor Hosea, Tamati Ioane, James Tuttle, Nick Jooste, Joe Pincus.
Referee: Paul Williams
Wig
Roar Rookie
grizzle grizzle
Wig
Roar Rookie
right, they should back themselves now trains gone and got all upset
Wig
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Wig
Roar Rookie
and didn't give the first one that was a try,keep it honest there train
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Hodge is notoriously slow at getting his kicks away. I guess it is his big wind-up, considering the distance he gets. Whatever the reason it's just too slow. Tonight he also showed little to no ability to organize the backline, although the Rebels did look good on occasion when they ran the ball, only to lose it just as the line beckoned. I just couldn't connect any of it with Hodge and no one should reasonably be expected to sit through that match again. I reckon Hodge is now out of contention for a spot in 23. Maybe Kellaway is back to 23, but he was also pretty bad tonight except for that tackle. The Rebels are so frustrating to watch. I genuinely want them to do well, and in a few games this season they have looked very good. Just not when it most counts. I can't imagine what being their coach is like. But moving from narrow losses to narrow wins is the hardest transition.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Fair play, didn’t watch it mate but take ya word
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
No national-level subsidies. NZ is the land of user-pays, not cross-subsidisation. Also, no Federal in NZ, it's National and Local Govt only. Good question.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I agree, they’re good to watch but perennial wooden spooners who look good don’t make for a sustainable professional franchise. Particularly in Melbourne where the competition for customers is already very tough. They need a hard edge from somewhere
Highlander
Roar Guru
We need a change in the attack staff - big time
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Yours may be the best news to come out of this match, Highlander.
Changers
Roar Rookie
Anyone else noticing that Hodge seems to be far less dominate and error prone in games these days? Been watching him over the last few weeks and doesn’t seem the same player he use to be. Neither team played well today but can someone please tell me about how the TMO’s access to all replay angles works? Understand all are supplied by the local broadcaster but how could there not have been better angles for all of the TMO decisions today. You play to the refs interpretation but it felt like any penalty would amount to a yellow card to the Rebels. How long does / should a possible yellow card warning last, felt like it was inevitable regardless.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Lol ????
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Something needs to change yesterday. Starting to think maybe we need to miss the finals to get the shame factor going for change.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Rebels are just as crap as s as Keats, really not seeing this “improvement” the experts are spouting.
Freddo
Roar Rookie
Williams awful but Rebels backs were poor in attack with CG out and Reece was plodding. Except Anderson, and glimpses of AK.
Freddo
Roar Rookie
Deserved to be a draw.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Our attack is woeful mate Looks clunky, slow - like they met in the carpal prior We won every stat tonight, but our execution, again, not up to standard Am hearing we have already added to our attackncoaching for next season - will get a name
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well the Rebels legitimately did. Highlanders didn’t score their 2nd try. Ref awarded a try that was never scored.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Do you honestly think you were hard done by from Williams? He handed you 2 tries that were never grounded. Just lucky the TMO pulled him up on the second one.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Something seriously has to be done by the level of officiating in SRP, it’s just laughably bad. Wow