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Rebels make changes in the halves for Brumbies rematch
By AAP
Melbourne will have a new halves pairing to take on the high-flying Brumbies on Friday night with halfback Ryan Louwrens undergoing biceps surgery, which rules him out for the rest of the Super Rugby AU season.
One of the Rebels' best this year, Louwrens suffered the injury while making a tackle in their last-round win over Western Force.
Fiji international Frank Lomani is at No.9, with former Red James Tuttle on the bench.
Melbourne coach Dave Wessels named Andrew Deegan at five-eighth and shifted Matt Toomua to inside centre, saying he wants more from his backline in the Leichhardt Stadium clash.
He has also included big outside centre Campbell Magnay, with Billy Meakes starting in the reserves.
"We feel our young forward pack have been going well but we've lacked a bit of cohesion in our backs," Wessels said.
"Campbell is an out and out 13 and he will make a big impression for us linking the inside and outside of our attack.
"This is an important game for our backs who need to take a step up."
Currently third, the Rebels are looking to inflict the Brumbies' first loss of the season and start to lock down a finals berth.
"We want to start building some momentum as we did at the start of the year when we had a bit of a slow start and started to build into it," Wessels said.
"This game is important for that - the Brumbies are a team we like playing against and we've had a fair amount of success against - so this is an opportunity to try to start to play with some intensity."
Melbourne Rebels: Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway, Campbell Magnay, Matt Toomua (c), Marika Koroibete, Andrew Deegan, Frank Lomani, Isi Naisarani, Brad Wilkin, Josh Kemeny, Trevor Hosea, Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr. Melbourne will have a new halves pairing to take on the high-flying Brumbies on Friday night with halfback Ryan Louwrens undergoing biceps surgery, which rules him out for the rest of the Super Rugby AU season. Efitusi Ma'afu, Cabous Eloff, Pone Fa'amaluli, Michael Stolberg, Richard Hardwick, Rob Leota, James Tuttle, Billy Meakes.
- Melissa Woods
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Latest Comments
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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