1
Form Rebels winger to sit out match with Stormers
Injured Wallabies back Jack Maddocks will miss Melbourne’s Super Rugby clash with the Stormers on Friday night as the Rebels look to extend their lead at the top of the Australian conference.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maddocks is among four changes to their starting XV for the AAMI Park match as they look to bank their first win this season over a South African opponent, which Rebels coach Dave Wessels described as a “mini milestone”.
The Melbourne winger is out with a minor knee injury, with his place taken by Australian under 20s flyer Semisi Tupou.
“Jack’s got tendonitis in his patella but he will be right to go next week,” Wessels said.
“He’s also played seven games in a row and a lot of minutes so we thought it was appropriate for him to have a rest.
“The decision is made a lot easier when a guy like Semisi trains as well as he does and played well in the minutes he had against the Sunwolves.”
Lock Matt Philip has a bruised heel and hooker Anaru Rangi has an ankle issue, while prop Sam Talakai has been rotated into the starting side in place of Jermaine Ainsley.
Wessels said the injured trio could have played if pushed, but thought it was a chance to show faith in the wider squad.
The Rebels are gunning for a third successive victory to push out their seven-point conference lead over the second-placed NSW Waratahs, who have a bye.
Melbourne face NSW in Sydney the following round but Wessels said they couldn’t afford to look ahead, with the Stormers more of a danger than their run of three losses suggested.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I don’t think the Stormers played particularly well against the Reds last week and I think they will be frustrated by that, which is dangerous for us,” he said.
“They very nearly beat the Hurricanes and played well in large parts against the Blues so they’re a good side.
“We haven’t given much thought to the Waratahs as we’ve got a huge game this week.”
Rebels: Reece Hodge, Semisi Tupou, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Angus Cottrell (capt), Luke Jones, Adam Coleman, Ross Haylett-Petty, Sam Talakai, Robbie Abel, Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Matt Gibbon, Jermaine Ainsley, Esei Ha’angana, Rob Leota, Richard Hardwick, Michael Ruru, Campbell Magnay.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments