Rebels change four as Fainga'a returns
The 25-year-old will make his return on the bench after an elbow injury sidelined since the Rebels’ opening round victory over the Western Force in Perth.
Head coach Tony McGahan has made four changes, two of which were injury-enforced, to the run-on side that lost to the Hurricanes last weekend with Toby Smith, returning from a concussion suffered against the Waratahs, starting at loosehead prop and Jonah Placid named at fullback for the first time since the Highlanders in Round Five.
Reece Hodge will make his first start at outside centre after all four of his Super Rugby appearances have come at fullback, while Sefa Naivalu, who got through his first full game since returning from a broken leg, and Cam Crawford swap wings.
Victorian home-grown centre Sione Tuipulotu, last week named in the Australian U20’s squad, and Japanese international Kotaro Matsushima have been recalled to the team with the pair to start on the bench.
Tuipulotu has been named in the team for the first time since he made his Super Rugby debut against the Reds in Round Three, while Matsushima’s only appearance for the Rebels came in Round Two against the Bulls.
“With Dom Shipperley and Mitch Inman unavailable for selection due to injury, we’ve been forced to make a few changes this weekend against the Cheetahs, which isn’t great for continuity, but I’m looking forward to the young backs playing well,” said McGahan.
“Our depth has been tested a few times already this year with various injuries but those players coming in have always stepped up and taken the challenge head on so I’m expecting nothing less again this weekend.”
Rebels: 15 Jonah Placid, 14 Cam Crawford, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Kotaro Matsushima, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.
Date: Friday, April 22
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.45 (11.45 SA time, 09.45 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
