Rebel Ellison up against Canes
All Black centre Tamati Ellison will make his Melbourne Rebels debut in the pre-season clash against the Hurricanes at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Saturday.
Ellison, who recently arrived in Melbourne from his Japanese club commitments, will not be the only player making his Rebels debut with former Sydney University lock Sam Jeffries has also been named to feature for his new side for the first time.
Hugh Pyle has been scheduled to feature in both halves after his successful return from injury in the Rebels victory over the Waratahs last weekend, while local Dewar Shield and Moorabbin Rams winger Joe Kamana will again play on the wing after impressing last weekend in Albury.
With temperatures again tipped to sore in Geelong, McGahan will rotate his squad against a Hurricanes side that could feature up to nine All Blacks representatives.
New Rebels Toby Smith, Tom Kingston and Ben Meehan will be looking to build on positive debuts against the Waratahs, while former Wellington NPC players Jason Woodward and Scott Fuglistaller will want to show their old region just what they are missing.
Rebels (first half): 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Tom English, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Lopeti Timani, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Max Lahiff.
Rebels (second half): 15 Alex Rokobaro, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Joe Kamana, 10 Angus Roberts, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Colby Fainga'a, 5 Sam Jeffries, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Steve Faulau, 1 Toby Smith.
Date: Saturday, February 8
Venue: Simonds Stadium, Geelong
Kick-off: 19.30 (08.30 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ed Martin (Australia), Matt Hall (Australia)
