Cooper and Genia reunited for Brumbies clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels have named an experienced side to face the Brumbies in their Super Rugby opener in Canberra on Friday.
It will be the first opportunity for fans to get to see duo Will Genia and Quade Cooper link up together in Melbourne colours, with both players named to start at No.9 and 10 respectively.
Cooper leads a list of five new faces for the Rebels, with former Brumbies players Isi Naisarani and Robbie Abel named to face their old side, with Naisarani to start at No,8, while Abel will begin on the bench as the reserve hooker.
Who else is pumped to see these two together in action again?
Quade is one of five new faces in our match day 23 to face the Brumbies. Plus, find out why Adam Coleman and Reece Hodge were unavailable for selection.
Read all about it here! | https://t.co/7Pb4F3KUml pic.twitter.com/DmUReXstlj
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) February 13, 2019
Rounding out the list of potential debutants is Shute Shield player Matt Gibbon and former Reds and Waratahs player Brad Wilkin, with both forwards earning a spot in the reserves.
After three years abroad at French Club Bordeaux, returning Rebel Luke Jones, who played 72 games for the team between 2011-2016, will slot straight back into the starting XV, after being named at lock.
Promising forward Richard Hardwick will have the tough task of going head to head with David Pocock, after the Wallabies flank was named to start despite concerns a strained calf could keep the Brumbies vice-captain out of the season opener.
Lock Adam Coleman was unable to overcome an injury sustained from the recent 10-day Wallabies Camp, while Reece Hodge has been given further time to come back from his ankle injury.
Rebels Head Coach Dave Wessels says he is excited by the arrival of Round One, with the squad raring to go after putting in the hard work required over the preseason.
“It’s obviously exciting to get underway but going up to Canberra, it’s not an easy challenge,” Wessels said.
“We’ve got to turn up. We’ve done a great job of keeping everything simple and how we compete every day and get a little bit better, all of the players have really bought into that.”
While it may be the start of the new season, the Rebels and Brumbies have already acquainted themselves in 2019 when the two sides played a trial match in Canberra in January, with the Brumbies side coming out 52-38 winners.
However, Wessels has not read into the result too much for Friday’s game, saying the two sides will look vastly different when they face off at GIO Stadium.
“A couple of our players didn’t play in it and a couple of their players didn’t play in it too,” he said.
“Everyone holds everything back during the trials, so you don’t get much of a read, but we are ready for the challenge.”
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (captain), 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Rob Leota, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Semisi Tupou.
Date: Friday, February 15
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (08.45 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
