Rebels looking forward to test against Highlanders
The Rebels are currently 3-1 and sit second in the Australian Conference after the first four rounds. Their three wins this season have come against teams that sit near the bottom of the competition ladder.
The game against the Highlanders will be the first time this season the Rebels face a team that made the playoffs last year.
“We’re really looking forward to it. To be able to play against [them] and see where we’re at against a quality opposition,” said Rebels coach Tony McGahan.
Rebels captain Sean McMahon also said that his side was looking forward to testing themselves against the reigning premiers, who beat the Waratahs in Sydney last weekend.
“Coming up against teams like the Highlanders you’re always excited. They’re the elite of the elite of the game and you look forward to getting up and playing those games. The boys certainly get excited more than anything for those type of games,” McMahon said.
After their best start to a season in the franchises history, McGahan is confident that his side will continue to improve week after week.
“Obviously they’re defending champions but they’ve also played great rugby this year. We really feel that they’ve probably gone up another level, with their combinations and their confidence in what they do, so we’re really looking forward to getting out there.
“The competition asks different demands of you and this week we get one of the highest ones we can get.”
The Rebels have managed just one victory against the Highlanders – a one point win the last time the sides met in Melbourne in 2013 – but only lost by three points the last time the teams met.
“They’re always tight games against the Highlanders. I think it comes down to us; we haven’t finished those games where we probably could have in the past,” said McMahon.
“That’s something we’re working on this year and hopefully we can get the job done tomorrow night.”
The Melbourne Rebels have made just two changes to their side to face the Highlanders.
Reece Hodge returns to the bench after recovering from a quad injury replacing Sione Tuipulotu in the squad. James Hanson will return to the starting line-up at hooker in place of Pat Leafa.
Ben Meehan continues to start at halfback with Nic Stirzaker named on the bench. Stirzaker saw his first action of the season last weekend; coming on in the 71st minute against the Sunwolves.
“Ben’s been doing a really good job and Nic’s only just come back into it. He’s had a disrupted run through preseason and also the fact that we travelled for the first couple of weeks denied him a bit of time to train with the side,” said McGahan.
“We really wanted to make sure that when he came back in he was given every opportunity to make sure that he played well. And to be fair, Ben’s been doing a really good job so we’ll have some tough decisions going forward.”
Sitting second in the Australian Conference, a Rebels win and a Brumbies loss could see the Rebels move to the top – some extra motivation according to McMahon.
“You think like that, that’s a bit of a dream. You’ve got to work every week for that opportunity to be on top of that ladder at the end of the year.”
“This year the feeling around the boys the whole way through preseason to now after the first four rounds is great. It’s the first feeling I’ve had that there’s a great opportunity for us to hopefully take out a finals spot.
The match will see three Rebels facing their old team. Tamati Ellison, Adam Thomson and Scott Fuglistaller have all played for the Highlanders under coach Jamie Joseph.
“We’re pretty lucky with Scotty Fuglistaller, Tamati and Adam that they bring an intensity to what we do every week. It’s always nice to go up against an old side so I’m sure that inside they’re really chomping at the bit to make sure they play well,” said McGahan.
Melbourne Rebels team to play Highlanders
Toby Smith, James Hanson, Laurie Weeks, Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Jordy Reid, Sean McMahon (captain), Adam Thomson, Ben Meehan, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Mitch Inman, Tamati Ellison, Dom Shipperley, Jonah Placid. Reserves: Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah Nau, Jamie Hagan, Sam Jeffries, Scott Fuglistaller, Nic Stirzaker, Dan Hawkins, Reece Hodge.