Rebels
24
Match Complete
Highlanders
19
| 64 |  | M. Banks | ||
| 63 |  | J. Hemopo | ||
| B. Meakes | | 42 | ||
| T. English | | 29 | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 26 | ||
| J. Maddocks | | 25 | ||
| 17 | | B. Gatland | ||
| 16 | | S. Tokolahi | ||
| Q. Cooper | | 10 | ||
| T. English | | 8 | ||
| 2 | | S. Frizell |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Coming off a bye, the Rebels are looking for their second win when they play the Highlanders in Melbourne. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:45pm AEDT.
The Victorians began their season on a winning note against the Brumbies two weeks ago, but had a momentum-killing week off for round two. The Highlanders won their first two games; a narrow win in Hamilton and edging out the Reds last weekend.
These two sides played in the final round of 2018, when the men from Otago ended the Melbournians’ season with a 43-37 win. 2017’s clash had the Highlanders winning by 51-12, and in the previous year, the Rebels went tryless, 27-3.
The Highlanders didn’t look incredibly convincing against a Reds team that pushed them right to the end, but Aaron Smith was good across the park, and with his resting, Kayne Hammington will have big shoes to fill.
In team news: both Aaron and Ben Smith will be rested, Josh Ioane drops from 10 to 15, Bryn Gatland slots into flyhalf, Hammington takes over 9, bringing debutant Folau Fakatava onto the bench and Rob Thompson’s injury sees Thomas Umaga-Jensen into 13.
The Rebels minimise changes: Brad Wilkin comes in for Richard Hardwick and Sam Talakai replaces Jermaine Ainsley.
With the forced resting of their All Black players, the Rebels actually start favourites – a rare occurrence in trans-Tasman clashes that the Kiwi team aren’t underdogs.
Prediction
Highlanders to win, but it won’t be a thrashing. If Genia has a big say, ‘Landers could be vulnerable.
Highlanders by 8.
Time: 7:45pm AEDT.
Venue: AAMI Park.
Referee: AJ Jacobs.
Odds: Rebels $1.75, Highlanders $2.08.
Rebels
1. Tetra Faulkner, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Luke Jones, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tom English, 14. Jack Maddocks, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty.
Bench: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Jermain Ainsley, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Richard Hardwick, 21. Rob Leota, 22. Michael Ruru, 23. Reece Hodge.
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Ash Dixon (c), 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Jackson Hemopo, 5. Pari Pari Parkinson, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Jimmy Lentjes, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Bryn Gatland, 11. Josh McKay, 12. Teihorangi Walden, 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Josh Ioane.
Bench: 16. Ricky Jackson, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Tom Franklin, 20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Patelesio Tomkinson, 23. Marty Banks.
Highlander
Guest
Big Pari Pari doesn’t seem built for the anything above 30c Should have the decency to have a roof on the stadium and turn the aircon on
jeznez
Roar Guru
ps. Was keen to have a look at Parkinson on the weekend but didn't see a huge amount from him. Hemopo was very good though!
jeznez
Roar Guru
C’mon mate. We’ll take any win we can get in Oz and even more so over any NZ team. Would you prefer that we were having a sook for not winning by more?
rebel
Roar Guru
How is Frizelle a loss to Aus rugby? If anything he is a loss to Tonga.
Casho
Guest
Was a bit messy, but it was such as hot night out there.
Highlander
Guest
Gday jez A great result is a stretch is it not, they played a mitre cup team and very nearly got turned over, that would have been a major disaster result for the rebels. Away from home, 32c at kickoff thought our kids put up a good display. While the overriding reporting has been 3 all blacks rested Mauger started only 3 off his strongest XV, rebels were bringing wallabies off the bench while the Highlanders had debutants and a recent school kid Johnstone, Coltman, Lomax, Dickson, Hunt and Whitelock gone from the starting forwards ( and Squire injured) 2 Smiths, Li, Faddes, Thompson and Ioane moves out of the 10 slot in the backs. This was the weakest Highlander side I have seen for 10 years. Rebels played some very nice football in patches but hard to get too excited I would have thought. I get the resting of the ABs, the coaches decision to basically give his wider squad a run still astounds me.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yep and he seems to have soft, sticky hands for those passes too.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Very good point jeznez, the flat attack increases the potential for both reward and risk. Anyone can pass and catch well behind the gain line. Wessels has made it quite clear that a flat attack is his style so I doubt he’ll be dirty on Quade for that one. And his outside backs are going to be gobbling meat pies all season, don’t think they’ll be upset either.
Tahman
Guest
Well done Rebels. I support any team that's playing a Kiwi team.
CUW
Roar Rookie
sad news that Blues prop Mike Tamoaieta dies at 23 . RIP https://www.rugbypass.com/news/blues-prop-mike-tamoaieta-23-passes-away/
CUW
Roar Rookie
Elliot Dixson Highlanders were poor - only Frizzell carried the ball , others were just running around. No threat in the backs - again no go forwards. missing Thomson .... hindsight is 20:20 but got to wonder about that selection of Ioane at 15, and Banks coming off bench and MkCay on wing. Gatland failed to command the space and ioane was not that great from 15 and mkCay got few chances. Mkcay is a 15 generally - shud have played there with Ioane at 10 - gatland and banks off the bench. wondering if faddess is injured - Li is injured ? and why not tevita nambura - am sure he learnt a lesson rugger ground is not a place to practice his karate kicks :D
soapit
Guest
you saw only 2 plays over 80 mins and i'm the one who should open my eyes?
Gloria
Roar Rookie
No puzzle, two brilliant plays for two tries. Open your eyes.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think you have to take the dropped ball that comes with bedding in this aggressively flat attack but then you also get results like Maddock’s try by running at the hole off a flat Cooper. Elements of it in English’s first off Haylett-Petty as well. Apparently it hit 40 in Melbourne yesterday, would have been pretty greasy. I fully expect the skills to improve and more of those balls starting to stick if they keep persisting with the style of play. Some very positive signs and a great result for the Rebels.
soapit
Guest
yeah i would give him a pass for that on the adventure fornt if i had to choose, i do thjink he wasnt really playing with the advantage in mind personally. despite this tho there was a try on offer if he executed so even tho the advantage saved a 14 point turnaround there were was still a try on offer with a quality option taken well so not completely off the hook regardless for mine
Sam
Guest
Rebels didn't play consistently well, flashes of brilliance with some stand out individual performances but they still won. The Highlanders looked like they'd take another come-from-behind win but the Rebels held them out. Combination of Meakes and English seems sound. Agree Koroibete needs a bit of savvy out wide. Silly mistakes nearly cost. I could see what the commentators meant about playing so flat it really does reduce the margin of error. We weren't outfoxed by the quick tap near the end. Good outcome.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah the Brumbies were back to the future kinda brutal. And a week later not. Be interesting to see which Brumbies team turns up next week.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah that's always the open question, "advantage" is the time for the cross field kick or adventurous pass
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I think you mean Billy CFB? I’m guessing father and son?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Rarely have I seen a bloke so fearless when it comes to running onto the ball at speed.