The Melbourne Rebels have named their team for Friday’s first away game of Super Rugby Pacific 2024.
Following on from their inspired performance at Super Round Melbourne in front of their home fans, the Rebels enter the crucial clash with momentum and a keenness to push further into the season with another win.
Taking to the field for the early Friday game in Hamilton the Rebels will face off against a Moana Pasifika Squad fresh off a tight victory against the Drua.
Rebels' fans will get their first opportunity to see the traveling team playing in the new 2024 Dynasty Sport pink away jersey.
Head Coach Kevin Foote has made some changes to his starting pack, with Sam Talakai and Jordan Uelese moving to the starting front row from the bench, combining with the dominant Matt Gibbon at loose head prop. With an unchanged engine room, Lukhan Salakai-Loto and Josh Canham make up the locks, complimented by flankers Josh Kemeny and Vaiolini Ekuasi who is earning his first start of the season.
Captain Rob Leota locks down the starting 8 position, with his third game leading the Rebels around the park and first on the road.
The second half combination from last week’s win against the Force, proves to be Foote’s go to choice for unlocking the backline, as Ryan Louwrens and Carter Gordon proved they can manage the tempo, take the ball to the line and pick apart their opposition‘s weaknesses.
Last round’s fan voted MVP, Andrew Kellaway moves to the left wing with Lachie Anderson on the right, as part of the back line that scored an unanswered 29 points against Simon Cron’s men from the west.
The partnership of David Feliuai and brace scoring Filipo Daugunu in the midfield will get the opportunity once again to demonstrate their connection in attack, with Jake Strachan to take the fullback mantle after impressing in last week’s extended stint as an impact player.
Speaking during the week, starting lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto wants to continue to bring the physicality to his opposition. “We understand the threat this week with Moana, so it’s going to be exciting and we know what they bring. Matching their physicality will be key in the contact area, which will be a critical strategy to providing go forward in attack.”
Salakaia-Loto dominated the contact stats in Round 2 with a match high 17 carries, and is looking to continue this form in Hamilton. “We understand the threats they pose across the park. Their physical threat is something we have got to combat, and we’ve got a physical threat to match them.”
Set to make his Super Rugby Debut off the bench, Ethan Dobbins will line up with the powerful front row pairing of Isaac Kailea and Taniela Tupou.
Tuaiana Taii Tualima will make up the forward reserves with the Victorian born and bred Daniel Maiava aiming to bring some punch against the Moana Pasifika defence late in the game.
James Tuttle, Glen Vaihu and Lukas Ripley round out the backline reserves, with the clear intent of bringing some pace and injecting themselves as finishers.
The Melbourne Rebels face Moana Pasifika in Round 3 of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, kicking off at 5:05 PM (AEDT) 7:05 PM (NZT), Friday, March 9 at FMG Stadium, Waikoto. The match will be shown ad-free, live and on-demand on Stan Sport.
1. MATT GIBBON
2. JORDAN UELESE
3. SAM TALAKAI
4. JOSH CANHAM
5. LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTO
6. JOSH KEMENY
7. VAIOLINI EKUASI
8. ROB LEOTA (c)
9. RYAN LOUWRENS
10. CARTER GORDON
11. ANDREW KELLAWAY
12. DAVID FELIUAI
13. FILIPO DAUGUNU
14. LACHIE ANDERSON
15. JAKE STRACHAN
16. ETHAN DOBBINS*
17. ISAAC KAILEA
18. TANIELA TUPOU
19. TUAIANA TAII TUALIMA
20. DANIEL MAIAVA
21. JAMES TUTTLE
22. LUKAS RIPLEY
23. GLEN VAIHU
*Denotes potential Super Rugby Debut
