Rebels' star duo return
The Melbourne Rebels will welcome back their star signings James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale for the tough trip to play the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Injury forced the Wallaby duo to miss the Rebels’ victory over the western Force last weekend to end their lengthy losing streak.
“They definitely bring that [fresh legs] to the team but our reserves have done really well coming off the bench and really added something,” Rebels coach Damien Hill told AAP.
“Particularly in a high contact game against a team like the Highlanders you can’t underestimate fresh legs and our reserves will definitely get a run this week as well.”
Hill knows his team are up against a tough task, with the Highlanders looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to the Brumbies, and eager to return to the form that has seen them unbeaten against Kiwi opposition this season.
“Their five matches have all been close wins and I thought the Brumbies showed a lot of ticker, particularly at the tackle contest and they were able to capitalise on the attacking opportunities that they made,” Hill said.
“Against a team like the Highlanders it’s always 80 minutes; they’re a team that loves to attack and hold on the ball for long period of time and whether that’s in the first or 80th minute that’s what they try to do.”
The Rebels will be without flyhalf Danny Cipriani, who injured his hamstring in the victory over the Force, making O’Connor the likely candidate to pull on the No.10 jersey.
