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Rebels turn to a new halfback for battle of the bottom of the table
By Online Editors
Ryan Louwrens will get his chance to audition for the Melbourne Rebels starting halfback role in their crunch Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs on Friday night.
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Both teams head into the AAMI Park match on the back of two losses to open the 2020 season.
Louwrens will replace Fiji international Frank Lomani in the No.9 jersey as coach Dave Wessels searches for a permanent replacement for Wallabies veteran Will Genia, now playing in Japan.
Partnering Matt Toomua, who has been cleared after a head knock, Louwrens is one of three changes to the Melbourne starting side who are desperate to crack an elusive win against their “bogey” team.
The Rebels have also named former two-time Wallaby Richard Hardwick at openside flanker while Campbell Magnay will start at No.13, pushing Test back Reece Hodge to the wing.
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Former Western Force halfback Louwrens was playing in Japan prior to the Rebels and Wessels likes the physicality he will brin g to the role.
“Ryan made an impression when he came in at the back end of that game in Canberra so he gets an opportunity,” Wessels said on Wednesday.
“He’s a hell of a physical, confrontational No.9 and I think he’s one of those players who does more through actions than words.
“He’s incredibly fit, fast and has got a good pass on him.”
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"The model, as it exists now, is not working. Not for fans, not for clubs, not for players and surely not for NZR."
– Hamish Bidwell weighs in on New Zealand Rugby's predicament with the threat of South Africa leaving. https://t.co/EswSmgHtuI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2020
Wessels said Hardwick had earned his start lining up against Test captain Michael Hooper following a big pre-season.
His two Wallabies appearances came in 2017 but he’s been able to secure a regular starting jersey in Melbourne.
“We want someone in the backrow to probably play more directly to the ball and that’s why he’s come into the mix,” Wessels said.
“We’ve gone with him for his specialist skills on the ground and the impression he’s made at the back-end of games gets a reward.”
Melbourne’s slow starts have proved costly with Wessels saying discipline will also be a focus as they look to imp rove a woeful 2-15 win-loss record against the Waratahs.
“The Tahs have been a bit of our bogey team, they’re the one team that we haven’t consistently performed against so they always present a bit of a challenge for us,” Wessels said.
“But they’ve got a lot of new things happening there and potentially there’s some opportunities because of that.”
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Reece Hodge, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Ryan Louwrens, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Michael Wells, Matt Philip, Ross Haylett-Petty, Ruan Smith, Anaru Rangi, Matt Gibbon. Reserves: Steven Misa, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Gideon Koegelenberg, Rob Leota, Angus Cottrell, Frank Lomani, Andrew Kellaway.
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Ultimately it is the entire NZR board who should be sacked. Foster wants to be the ABs coach, you can't blame him for that. NZR appointed him in what was a terrible process for actually finding the right candidate, more of a coronation based on the false assumption of "continuity" - it was clear from the BIL tour in 2017 which direction the ABs were heading, continuing that seemed crazy by they decided to do it anyway. They then reappointed him before he had faced a true test before the NH tour of 2021 which was a disaster. They could have sacked him then. They could have sacked him after the Ireland series where it was clear the ABs were well of the pace. They could have done it after the tests in SA which despite being 1-1 were not in the least bit convincing. Basically they have backed the guy every year, but now in the lead up to the world cup they have decided he's definitely not the right guy, yet he remains the coach.
Go to comments"taking the land they felt had been stolen from them during the colonial era" the land had been stolen, and the requisitions were entirely justified. I'm very sorry that Negri's family were hurt but this article is basically just propaganda for apartheid.
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