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Cooper recovers in time for key clash with Bulls while Toomua rides the pine
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT:
Melbourne Rebels playmaker Quade Cooper has been cleared to face the Bulls on Friday night while star recruit Matt Toomua has been named on the bench for the Super Rugby clash.
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Cooper suffered concussion last round but has passed a fitness test to take his place in the AAMI Park match.
Wallabies No.10 Toomua only arrived in Melbourne on Monday morning from his stint in England with Leicester Tigers but the Rebels were keen to get him straight into the action.
Wessels said Toomua would take some pressure off Cooper as they hunt a maiden finals berth.
Having coached Toomua when he was an assistant at the Brumbies back in 2012, Wessels said he knew the 29-year-old’s game well.
“Matt’s got the opportunity to come off the bench and make an impression and we will take it from there,” coach Dave Wessels said
“He’s played a fair bit of 12 and played 15 as well at Leicester … he’s a pretty intelligent guy and he’s across some of the lingo that he needs but one of the benefits of our game is that it’s pretty simple.”
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While the Rebels backline that rolled the Reds was unchanged, they have lost hard-working backrowers Isi Naisarani (toe) and Luke Jones (eye socket).
The World Cup hopefuls are likely to also miss next round’s match in Tokyo against the Sunwolves before returning to take on the Waratahs in Melbourne.
“It may be a blessing in disguise as Isi (Naisarani) probably needs a little break although he’s ben playing well for us,” Wessels said.
“We’re lucky we’ve got some depth in the back five of the scrum.”
That includes Richard Hardwick, who has been named at openside flanker.
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“Dickie has been a bit unlucky with injury this year but off the bench last week he got a crucial turnover in the Reds’ 22 and we’ve missed a specialist flanker who plays to the ball so that’s a part of the game he will help with,” Wessels said.
After a three-from-three start, it took the Rebels until Round 13 to earn their sixth win of the competition. They lost their top spot in the Australian conference to the Brumbies last weekend and will be looking to secure a win against an out of sorts Bulls side to keep their chances of taking out their conference alive.
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Jack Maddocks, , Reece Hodge, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Rob Leota, Richard Hardwick, Angus Cottrell, Matt Philip, Ross Haylett-Petty, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Sam Jeffries, Pone Fa’amausili, Michael Ruru, Campbell Magnay, Matt Toomua.
Comments on RugbyPass
You ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
32 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
5 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
32 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
5 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
5 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
5 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
32 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
32 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
19 Go to comments