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New halves pairing for the Rebels in do-or-die match with Crusaders
By Online Editors
Melbourne will field a new halves combination for their crunch Super Rugby match with the Crusaders, with Australian Test star Will Genia rested and Quade Cooper named on the bench.
The Rebels are looking to knock off the overall competition leaders and defending champions in Christchurch on Saturday to cement a finals berth.
New Wallabies recruit Matt Toomua will start at five-eighth with Michael Ruru at halfback, with Genia's rest enforced by Rugby Australia.
Rebels coach Dave Wessels said the break had been pencilled in months ago and he was comfortable with it.
"From a performance perspective when we get to the play-offs we want to thrive - we don't want to limp in with tired bodies and both Will and Quade have played a lot of minutes for us," Wessels said.
"It's a sensible time not only from a Wallabies perspective but from a Rebels perspective to give those guys some time out.
"It hasn't been a hard decision."
In-form winger Marika Koroibete must also start on the bench as part of the Test player rest policy, while hooker Jordan Uelese gets his first Super start of the season.
Wessels stressed the changes weren't about targeting their final round home game against the Chiefs, which appears more winnable as they try to finish in the top eight.
"We don't have that luxury to be taking things easy here - we have to fight for every opportunity and this is an opportunity," he said.
"There's a couple of guys in this group who've had some success in Christchurch and the group is feeling good.
"The Crusaders are a hell of a good side but they have been frustrated by their form - I think they've won two of their last five - but there's no doubt we're going to have to play really well."
Wessels said the team was bitterly disappointed by their five-point loss to the NSW Waratahs last round but he felt they'd rallied well at training.
"We were down because we didn't play well and that's been the frustrating thing. When we're on we feel like we can beat anybody."
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Jack Maddocks, Reece Hodge, Billy Meakes, Tom English, Matt Toomua, Michael Ruru, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Angus Cottrell, Adam Coleman, Matt Philip, Sam Talakai, Jordan Uelese, Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: Anaru Rangi, Matt Gibbon, Jermaine Ainsley, Luke Jones, Ross Haylett-Petty, Harrison Goddard, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete, Sam Jeffries.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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