Naivalu takes centre stage
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Sefanaia Naivalu has been given a midfield role for the Rebels as he makes his return from a concussion to the starting XV to take on the Sharks on Friday.
Naivalu will play at No.13 alongside Mitch Inman, reprising the role he played for the Melbourne Rising in the 2014 National Rugby Championship (NRC) and allowing Dom Shipperley to return to the right wing.
Toby Smith has also returned to the starting line-up.
Naivalu and Smith both missed last week’s match against the Stormers, but are among five inclusions to the starting lineup which also include the injection of Wallabies Luke Burgess and Laurie Weeks, and flank Colby Fainga’a.
Weeks starts after coming off the bench in the past two matches upon his return from a knee injury.
Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Sefanaia Naivalu, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Nic Stirzaker, 22 Jordy Reid, 23 Bryce Hegarty.
Date: Friday, May 29
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT; 03.00, Saturday, May 30 AEST)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Rodney Boneparte, Ben Crouse
TMO: Marius Jonker
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