Rebels v Hurricanes
Friday, 8.10pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has made three changes to the starting team which pumped the Reds 47-13 in Townsville last weekend.
All Blacks tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax is promoted to the run-on side, swapping roles with former All Black Owen Franks, who will play from the bench.
In the loose forwards, Brayden Iose (blindside) and Du’Plessis Kirifi (openside) have been promoted to start alongside skipper Ardie Savea, with Devan Flanders out with concussion and talented teen Peter Lakai, who got an hour of action on debut, dropping to the reserves.
The only change to the 23 sees Riley Higgins, the 20-year-old midfielder who earned one cap late last season, come onto the bench, seeing the Canes revert to a traditional 5-3 forwards-backs split.
Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, Cameron Roigard, Ardie Savea (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Tevita Mafileo, Owen Franks, Caleb Delany, Peter Lakai, Jamie Booth, Riley Higgins, Harry Godfrey.
The Hurricanes were good last week in the heat and humid conditions in Townsville, and I think they can get better. They would like two wins from two games in Australia. This would be the perfect start to Super Rugby .2023
REBELS welcome back Matt Gibbon,
The 24-year-old is looking to recapture the form that saw him selected in the Wallabies’ 2020 Tri-Nations squad, making his return from a foot injury last week against the Western Force.
“We can’t wait to play our first game at home, during a special week for Melbourne,”
“We’ve selected a side balanced with exciting young talent and international experience. Having guys like Trevor Hosea and Josh Kemeny return, guys who are young and just going to grow, is huge.”
This shifts Tuaina Taii Tualima to blindside flanker, with Josh Kemeny returning to the bench as he continues his own recovery.
Coach, Kevin Foote has also handed Joe Pincus his Rebels debut, selected at fullback in a back three after starring in their final trial against the Brumbies, crossing for a first-half double.
Towering lock Angelo Smith is also in line for his debut, one of several Rebels who played an influential role in Wests’ Hospital Cup-winning campaign.
Matt Gibbon hoping to mark his 50th Super Rugby appearance with a victory, confident they will be better off for ‘blowing out the cobwebs’ against the Western Force last week.
“That first game is always tough, you’re always going to have to blow out the cobwebs because it’s unlike any trial,” he adds.
“There were a few things that we were happy with how they worked but at the end of the game, we really started to fall off our tackles and structure.
“There were a few times in that second half where you could see our attack and defence lighting up which brings us a lot of confidence. We just have to nail it this week.”
REBELS (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Josh Canham, Trevor Hosea, Tuiana Taii Tualima, Brad Wilkin (c), Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Joe Pincus
RESERVES: Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr, Pone Fa’amausili, Angelo Smith, Josh Kemeny, James Tuttle, Lukas Ripley, Nick Jooste
My prediction is, Hurricanes by 12 points.
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