Kellaway to make season debut as Rebels travel to Suva
The first Australian side to play a Super Rugby Pacific game in Fiji, Melbourne have welcomed back Wallabies pair Reece Hodge and Andrew Kellaway from injury.
Reece Hodge has been rushed back into the Melbourne line-up to tackle Fijian Drua in Suva, while fellow Wallabies back Andrew Kellaway will make his first appearance of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Hodge was expected to miss up to four games with a gruesome finger injury but only sat out last round's win over Queensland, while Kellaway hasn't played since fracturing his foot on Australia's European tour last spring.
Saturday's return is timely for the pair, with new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones set to name his first World Cup training squad on Sunday.
Chasing their third victory in four games, the Rebels are looking for successive wins for the first time this season.
Hodge will line up at outside centre alongside in-form Kiwi Stacey Ili, while Kellaway will make his return via the bench with Melbourne's back three fit and firing.
Coach Kevin Foote made one change to his starting pack, with lock Josh Canham returning for his first game since their round-three win over the NSW Waratahs.
Foote said his side were excited about the opportunity to play in Fiji as they looked to bed down a maiden finals berth.
"Every game is of great importance to us as we're desperate to play finals," Foote said.
"Going into Fiji is going to be a great challenge - we saw the Crusaders go down to them a couple of weeks ago, so we know what the Drua are going to bring.
"We have a really clear game plan on how we're going to play against them."
Rebels: Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Josh Canham, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Joe Pincus. Res: Jordan Uelese, Cabous Eloff, Pone Faamausili, Angelo Smith, Daniel Maiava, James Tuttle, David Feliuai, Andrew Kellaway.
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The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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