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Wallabies hooker to make return against Japan Wolfpack
By Online Editors
Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese will take a step closer to a return to Super Rugby action when he lines up for the Rebels' second team against Japan's Wolfpack.
The AAMI Park match is a curtain-raiser to Melbourne's Super Rugby match against the Bulls on Friday night and is Uelese's first game back on home turf since his knee reconstruction almost a year ago.
Uelese, who suffered the injury on the eve of the Ireland Test series, returned in Sydney club rugby last weekend for Gordon where he played 60 minutes.
"It took the first 10-20 minutes to get a feel for the game and catch my breath but it was great to get out there again," said Uelese, who has two Test caps.
"The knee is fine, I definitely came out of the game unscathed ... just normal body soreness given I hadn’t played a long time."
The 22-year-old said he'd shed seven kilograms while on the sidelines while he'd also worked hard on improving his lineout throwing which he'd identifie d as a weakness.
Uelese will have a familiar face by his side in the Rising front row in 18-year-old brother Junior - with the match the first time the pair have ever played together.
Uelese said that his little brother was anything but - weighing in at 130kg.
Melbourne bred Junior, whose actual name is Oveleni, went to boarding school for his senior years in Wellington, New Zealand, but has pledged his allegiance to Australia and has been training as a development player with the Rebels.
"When you are a Pacific Islander player and you are called Junior you know he is the complete opposite,” Uelese said.
"He is a big 130kg-plus prop and I have never played with him in my life.
"It will be exciting to pack down with him. He is a tight-head prop and I am a hooker, so it will be pretty special for me and my family."
The Wolfpack are made up of players from Japan’s extended World Cup training squad and showed their talent with a 66-17 win over the Brumbies Runners last Sunday.
The Rising will be comprised of current Rebels not playing Super Rugby on Friday and Victorian club players.
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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