Melbourne Rebels
27
Match Complete
Crusaders
43
| 82 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 81 |  | D. McLeod | ||
| 76 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 70 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 69 | | |||
| R. Hodge | | 67 | ||
| 62 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 61 | | C. Grace | ||
| 55 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 54 | | D. Havili | ||
| R. Hodge | | 29 | ||
| R. Hodge | | 26 | ||
| R. Louwrens | | 25 | ||
| 20 | | D. Havili | ||
| R. Hodge | | 18 | ||
| V. Ekuasi | | 17 | ||
| R. Hodge | | 15 | ||
| B. Wilkin | | 14 | ||
| 13 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 11 | | M. Springer |
| 3 | Tries | 6 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 5 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Rebels were the walking-wounded at half time on the Easter weekend, but Kevin Foote has been able to name his big guns for their tough match-up against the Crusaders. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 7:35pm (AEST)
Alex Mafi, who suffered a fractured hand, has been named to start at hooker and the return of his No.1 lineout target Trevor Hosea (concussion) will help the Rebels’ set-piece immensely.
Test utility back Andrew Kellaway has been named on the right-wing while Lachie Anderson shifts to fullback, with Joe Pincus named on the bench.
The Rebels have some heavy hitters to bring on too, with hooker Jordan Uelese and tight-head prop Pone Fa’amausili named as replacements.
Having slipped outside the top eight, the Rebels can ill-afford to drop another home match, but they’ll be tested by the Crusaders, who are bolstered by the return of Sam Whitelock for the first time since round three.
The veteran All Blacks lock headlines the Crusaders’ changes, which also see Test back David Havili return to the midfield to partner the exciting Braydon Ennor.
Codie Taylor starts up front in the No.2 jersey alongside his All Blacks front-row partner Joe Moody. Tamaiti Williams is the tighthead prop.
Game information
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Rebels $6.75, Crusaders $1.11 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Rebels (1-15): Cabous Eloff, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Josh Canham, Trevor Hosea, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin (c), Vaiolini Ekuasi, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway, Lachlan Anderson
Replacements: Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr, Pone Fa’amausili, Angelo Smith, Daniel Maiava, James Tuttle, Lukas Ripley, Joe Pincus
Crusaders (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Whitelock, Dom Gardner, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo’unga, Macca Springer, David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Pepesana Patafilo, Fergus Burke
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Cullen Grace, Willi Heinz, Jack Goodhue, Dallas McLeod
Faith
Roar Rookie
Oh dear. That's even worse. And so much narrative around them!
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
He's the best 10 we have now. Why shouldn't he be in the test team? You think we should put our third or 4th in the test team?
cs
Roar Guru
Actually I imagine that even if Quade makes it to the starting line, he is unlikely to last throughout. The 10 backup is no light matter.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
With your clear view of things Ash, specifically which knocks ons and breakdowns? More often than not these are judgement calls from the ref, so expecting consistency is a little bit of pie in the sky. Errors of judgement, when such fine margins are involved are bound to occur. Personally I would hate to referee Rugby at any level.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
The way many are singing his praises and saying that he should be straight into the test team would suggest otherwise. Even your comment above 'Carter Gordon had another great game. He is the 10 we are looking for. Get him in the green and yellow now!' is certainly gung ho, don't you think?
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Agree that the Rebels have delivered some good attack and defence, and I would add displays of strong ruck presence, but that last 20 minutes in games is where the Tahs excel over the Rebs. . Not sure if it is fitness, or poor conservation of energy via an overly demanding gameplan with rush defence, or maybe a bit of both, but it is concerning enough to place the Rebs currently in 10th place, 5th in Aus conference (counting Drua). . This final quarter problem has been an ongoing one over the years, and until the Rebels can fix that, they will struggle. . I predict the Tahs to be in a better state of results in 2 years time, and the Rebels to remain static in that same time, but only over time will we really know :silly:
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Sometimes you are :happy: no-ones biting today. I have thrown enough bait about too.. I responded to one post complaining about the ref on a different thread implying only plonkers would consider the rebels unlucky in the loss to the crusaders... that should get a reaction right :happy:
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Sometimes you are :happy:
TC
Roar Rookie
Ken imagine it was like Boxing..3 Refs have to Whistle at the same time for it to count :stoked:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Senior players sometimes overplay because they feel responsible.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I am one of his fans Chivas. And I need to correct this assumption you’ve made. I am not merely precious. I am Very precious.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Agreed Piners. Still, I feel good about the Rebels current trajectory. Unlike the Tahs, Reds and the Force, they have some bold attack, and some nasty defence. Breakdown obviously took a break last night. But a bad season in Australia looks like the massive catchment that is Queensland on a downward trend, losing Wallabies by the year, and sinking till the Commandant disembarks in a month or two.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Tahs have had coaching and board instability in recent years, which led to 2021, but it feels like the Tahs are currently leading a path to a stable future where players can shine, and hopefully that continues!
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Mate of you dont think Quade and his fans are precious we are talking about a different Quade. Ask his nanna to be sure.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
He did put on 1 or two last night but I don't remember many others in the 4 years I've watched him play. Both great players nontheless.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Tantalising to imagine him with Kerevs outside and our top flyers in reach.” And Quade on the bench.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
If it’s any help Harry, I think you’re wrong. :stoked:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ leaving the precious Quade / pop gun Foley and JOC days behind and moving into a new era.” Has only one word too many. It starts with Q.
Highlander
Roar Guru
They still started 3 kids in that backline Ken Be interesting once they are back to full noise
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ If that is a “good season”, what does a bad one look like? “ Tahs 2021.