Rebels get key players back for Reds
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Melbourne Rebels are set to welcome back a host of key players for their massive Australian Conference match against the Queensland Reds on Saturday.
Wing Marika Koroibete, lock Adam Coleman, centre Isi Naisarani and scrumhalf Will Genia have all been named to return to the starting XV after spending a week on the sidelines resting under the Wallabies’ rotation policy.
Victorian Sione Tuipulotu will return to the bench after starting against the Sharks last week, while forward Ross Haylett-Petty, flank Richard Hardwick and prop Pone Fa’amausili have been omitted from the side.
One other change has been slated for the starting side, with Tetera Faulkner returning to prop, in place of front rower Matt Gibbon.
Young lock Esei Ha’angana and prop Jermaine Ainsley have been brought into the replacements at the expense of the injured Brad Wilkin and debutant flyhalf Stu Dunbar.
Within the starting XV, the Rebels have flagged changes to their back half, with a reshuffle to the backline seeing Reece Hodge switch with wing Jack Maddocks to fullback.
Melbourne head coach David Wessels says shifting Maddocks back to the wing came down to getting Hodge around the ball more.
“He’s [Hodge] a great player and we want to get his hands on the ball as much as we can,” Wessels said.
“He’ll be more comfortable coming in…and working at first receiver this weekend.”
Ahead of their first Australian Conference match since Round Four, the Rebels will look to rectify the two losses they suffered to the Lions and the Sharks on their South African tour.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Angus Cottrell (captain), 6 Luke Jones, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.
Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 18.45 (19.45 Melbourne time; 08.45 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nicholas Berry (Australia), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
