Wounded Rebels need back-up
The Rebels have been forced to turn to club rugby ranks in an attempt to fortify their squad which has been decimated by a spate of injuries.
The Melbourne side have managed some encouraging results this season – most notably their victory over the Crusaders – but they were blown away in Wellington on Saturday by a Hurricanes team that clicked to demolish them 66-24.
However, that is not where the misery ended for the Rebels as injuries to star utility back Kutley Beale, wing Mark Gerrard and centre Lachlan Mitchell have left their backline resources seriously thin.
Beale is set to undergo surgery on his shoulder which has put him out of action for the next month, and with Danny Cipriani back in England and James O'Connor still recovering from a lacerated liver James Hilgendorf will start at flyhalf this weekend.
Rebels coach Damien Hill said that while the loss of the on-form Beale will leave a huge hole, the situation can be seen as a great opportunity for Hilgendorf to show what he has to offer.
He told AAP: "Kurtley's one of the best players in world rugby and Jimmy [Hilgendorf] will never tell you that he's at that level but his strengths – his communication, his kicking game, he's got a great passing game and he's got a great tactical knowledge – we just need to make sure we play to those strengths.
"We're not expecting James to be like Kurtley, we need James to be like James and if our game needs to change accordingly we will," he added.
Gerrard fractured his sternum against the Hurricanes and played on bravely as there was no cover on the bench, and Hill faces an anxious wait for the results of a CT scan which will clarify his availability to face the Brumbies on Friday.
The possible loss of the experienced outside back along with Mitchell has forced Hill to turn to the club rugby system to find some short-term replacements.
"We're looking at a couple of young guys at the moment possibly for centre coverage and for the back three coverage, but we won't know too much about that until we see what happens with Mark [Gerrard]," he said.
