Rebels boosted by return of Wallabies star ahead of Crusaders clash
The first of Melbourne’s “Big Three” will make a timely return to AAMI Park on Sunday as the Rebels take on perennial rugby champions the Crusaders.
While Melbourne’s recent Super Rugby Pacific form has been on the up, reinforcements the size of Wallabies back rower Rob Leota will give the team a boost as they prepare to host the inaugural Super Round.
Teams from Australia, New Zealand as well as newcomers Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua will play off in seven-game schedule over three days starting Friday.
The Super W final between NSW and Fijiana Drua will also be played on Saturday afternoon.
Leota as well as injured Wallabies squad members lock Trevor Hosea (foot) and prop Pone Fa’amausili (calf) are yet to play this season and have been sorely missed.
Together, the Melbourne-raised trio bring around 360kg to the pack.
While the latter two are still a week or two off, Leota has finally overcome a troublesome hamstring to return.
“I was going to come back for round five and the week before I redid it and my time got pushed out to this round,” Leota told AAP.
“Watching the struggle we had at the start was definitely tough to see because I think it has taken us a bit to get our game plan running but we’ve got two wins on the board now and we’re showing the real rugby that we want to play.”
After making his Test debut against South Africa last September, the 25-year-old racked up four caps which was another reason why his delayed start to the Super Rugby Pacific season was so frustrating.
“I was definitely keen to get back – it was a really great year for myself and mostly unexpected,” Leota said.
“I just had pure excitement in the growth I had playing for Australia so coming back and getting injured wasn’t ideal.
“I’m just so keen to get out there and play some footy.”
With COVID-19 impacting the early draw, the Crusaders are the first of the Kiwi contingent for the Rebels.
After 10 titles to their name the Christchurch-based outfit have won their last five matches against Melbourne by an average margin of 44 points.
The Rebels aren’t alone with the Crusaders winning 24 of their last 25 clashes with Australian teams.
Leota said Melbourne, as hosts of Super Round, would be eager to put on a good show.
“The Crusaders are always a big challenge but it’s pretty easy to get up for,” he said.
“We’ve got a bit of an underdog mentality but we’re also excited and we’ve got we got a lot of confidence in ourselves and what we’ve been building.
“Super Round is a massive thing for rugby in Victoria as we try to grow the game and getting a good result against a well-respected Kiwi team will do a lot.”
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar 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.
11 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.
54 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.
3 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 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.
18 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.
54 Go to comments