RD 11: Rebels v Blues

[KevinO]

Ok, so this one for the Rebels to stand up, with only two home games left the Rebels really need to pull off a win.

Creditors meeting at 2pm Fri, so players should know the outcome.

Hopefully it's good news come through

 

[zer0]

Stern Vern and the boys watching the Rebels starting scrum from last week:

 

[KiwiM]

Creditors meeting at 2pm Fri, so players should know the outcome.

Seems like a rather huge distraction either way just hours before kickoff

 

[Scooter]

5th v 2nd. At the start of the season, if you had said the Rebels were 5th after Round 10, I would have taken it and ran. (Although, I don't run very fast)

In front of their home fans, can the Rebels rebound from the horror show v the Crusaders? Given our run home, there is a chance the Rebels don't win another game.

Given how bad the scrum was and the starting front row were yanked after 30 minutes, do Cabous and / or Pone get a game?

 

[Dctarget]

Seems like a rather huge distraction either way just hours before kickoff

yeah bizarre. Finding out if you have a job or not before a season defining performance, bleak.

 

[oztimmay]

yeah bizarre. Finding out if you have a job or not before a season defining performance, bleak.

But somehow, it is PERFECTLY on brand for RA.

I need to find a decent pub/parma combo down on Southbank from 2pm onwards. Come on down, Kev and I will be there

 

[KevinO]

But somehow, it is PERFECTLY on brand for RA.

I need to find a decent pub/parma combo down on Southbank from 2pm onwards. Come on down, Kev and I will be there

Belgium beer cafe, if I make it in time.

 

[oztimmay]

Belgium beer cafe, if I make it in time.

Done!

 

[RebelYell]

I wish! Enjoy lads

 

[Dctarget]

REBELS (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Jordan Uelese, Taniela Tupou, Angelo Smith, Josh Canham, Josh Kemeny, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Rob Leota (c), Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Darby Lancaster, David Feliuai, Matt Proctor, Filipo Daugunu, Andrew Kellaway

RESERVES: Ethan Dobbins, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Maciu Nabolakasi, Jack Maunder, Jake Strachan, Lachie Anderson

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, PJ Sheck, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Segner, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Cole Forbes

RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, Marcel Renata, Sam Darry, Cam Suafoa, Sam Nock, Corey Evans, Bryce Heem

 

[Dctarget]

Happy to have Proctor and Daugunu starting wiht Kellaway, close to our best backline. Not sure how we haven't found a better 12 than Feliuai hanging around.
Front row swapped around after last week's pasting. Good luck to Dobbins.

No matter, still going to get raaaaiiiiled.

 

[zer0]

RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, Marcel Renata, Sam Darry, Cam Suafoa, Sam Nock, Corey Evans, Bryce Heem

Well, was not expecting to see Suafoa for the rest of the season, given his cancer treatment. Hopefully he's back to something approaching his 2023 levels of physicality because I think the Blues really missed a big powerful blindside last week. Segner is great, but is more of a Papalii 2.0 and doesn't hit as hard/dominate tackles like Ioane or Suafoa do.

 

[KevinO]

Big ask, but just hoping the Rebels show up. Need a win, fans need something to cheer for right now.

 

[Scooter]

Big ask, but just hoping the Rebels show up. Need a win, fans need something to cheer for right now.

Need to be competitive at least. Can't have another effort like last week.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Can't have another effort like last week.

They will.

 

[KiwiM]

‘So much courage’: Blues blown away by teammate’s cancer comeback

Cameron Suafoa has been named on the bench to face the Rebels.

www.nzherald.co.nz

The Blues haven’t held back in their admiration for teammate Cameron Suafoa, who will make his return from receiving treatment for cancer against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night.

Last month, the 25-year-old lock took a break from Super Rugby, in order to focus completely on his treatment.

In 2023, a sarcoma tumour was found in Suafoa’s back, before it was promptly removed, followed by radiation therapy in March of this year.

But that didn’t stop Suafoa by any means. Already this year, he’s played two Super Rugby matches, starting against the Hurricanes and coming off the bench against the Waratahs, away in Sydney, both while undergoing treatment.

 

[Scooter]

I assume James Tuttle is injured given Jack Maunder is being picked.

 

[oztimmay]

I assume James Tuttle is injured given Jack Maunder is being picked.

Broken wrist. Few more weeks I think.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Official Melbourne Rebels Matchday Team GIF:

Official Auckland Blues Matchday Team GIF:

 

[LeCheese]

Daugunu out with a niggle