Melbourne Rebels v British & Irish Lions, 25 June

 
Luke Burgess to direct Rebels
ESPN Staff
June 23, 2013

Luke Burgess will make his first start in Australia in almost two years after being named in Melbourne Rebels' run-on side to play the British & Irish Lions at AAMI Park on Tuesday.

Burgess, who has played 37 Tests for the Wallabies, recently returned to Australia from French Top 14 side with a stated aim of facing the Lions. "Every rugby player's dream is to have the opportunity to play the British & Irish Lions in their home country, and I am very honoured to have been selected to start for the Rebels and get a chance to play them," Burgess said. "Having been in Melbourne a couple of weeks now, I have built some solid combinations with this young playing group, and have enjoyed working alongside Nic Stirzaker in the half-back role. Together, we have both been able to apply a game plan that will look to challenge the Lions, and something we are both looking forward to."

Burgess made mention of the contrasting style between the two continents as a point of difference in his game management. "European rugby is a lot different to what we have down under, and I think I can bring an edge to the Rebels' attack and control the tempo of the game. It's important we establish this early, as we have seen what they can do when allowed to control the match."

Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor and Nick Phipps are unavailable for selection due to Wallabaies commitments, but the Rebels welcome the return of Hugh Pyle and Jarrod Saffy from injury. Rookie fly-half Bryce Hegarty also returns to the run-on side after missing the Rebels' previous match due to illness.

"There are many great milestones in this match," Rebels coach Damien Hill said. "Not only is it the first opportunity the Rebels have to play the British & Irish Lions in front of our members and fans, but it will be the first match for Cruze Ah-Nau at the Rebels and Luke's first start at the club. I am very proud of the way Melbourne has embraced the Rebels, and we hope to repay that with a record attendance at AAMI Park, and a historical moment in Victorian sporting history.

"We have been without a number of our high-profile players this season but the squad has met these challenges head on with many of the younger members like Bryce, Tom English, Jason Woodward, Jordy Reid, Angus Roberts and Pat Leafa getting their first taste of Super Rugby. Their efforts have contributed to a number of excellent team performances this season and they are excited about the challenge they will face together on Tuesday night."

2013 Lions Tour: England centre Manu Tuilagi to face Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday

England centre Manu Tuilagi will return to action after injury against the Melbourne Rebels on Tuesday after coach Warren Gatland named him in the British and Irish Lions team for the match on Sunday.

Tuilagi suffered a shoulder injury during the match against the Queensland Reds two weeks ago and has not played since but will link up with Brad Barritt for the match against Australia's youngest Super Rugby team.

The team will be led by England lock Geoff Parling, who links up in the second row with Scotland's Richie Gray in a strong pack.

Although this was clearly a second string, or dirt-tracker, team, Gatland said a good performance would put players in contention for the second Test, where they will be looking to wrap up the series after Saturday's 23-21 win over the Wallabies.

"I think it's important for the players to get an opportunity on Tuesday," the New Zealander said.

"We've kept saying all along that there's still a chance for performances to really catch the eye and Tuesday night is another chance to go out and impress.

"We were disappointed with the Brumbies result, I think it was a gentle reminder of certain things we needed to remember for the Test match.

"So for certain guys taking the field on Tuesday, it would be nice to continue with that momentum for the second Test."

Several players saw their Test places go up in smoke when the Lions lost to a Brumbies side in Canberra last Tuesday and get a chance to make amends.

There is also a string contingent of players who were on the bench against the Wallabies at Lang Park, including loose forward Dan Lydiate and Scottish back Sean Maitland.

Owen Farrell starts at fly half in a halves partnership with Irishman Conor Murray while hooker Rory Best, who captained the Lions against the Brumbies, is named among the replacements.

Sean O'Brien gets a chance to impress at openside flanker with Lydiate coming in at blindside and Justin Tipuric, a favourite of many for a Test start at the beginning of the tour, on the bench.

Irish winger Tommy Bowe, who played a major role on the 2009 series in South Africa, has made a rapid recovery after fracturing a bone in his hand against the Reds but was not included in the team to ensure he is fit for Saturday.

There was also good news about another centre, Welsh battering ram Jamie Roberts, who sustained a hamstring strain in last weekend's match against the New South Wales Waratahs.

"They've done a fantastic job getting those guys back and fit and we don't think Jamie Roberts is too far away as well, he was up and running last week and he's potentially in contention for that second Test as well," Gatland said on Sunday.

"So to have Tommy fit and back and to have Manu fit and back as well it's a great contribution from the medical team and the fitness staff.

"The squad is looking healthy, we've got nearly everyone available, which is great, and if you look at the Australians, they took a bit of a battering last night.

"So we're in a good place now and looking forward to Tuesday."

[he] was not included in the team to ensure he is fit for Saturday.

LondonTiger wrote:I wish they had gone with 36 in the centre, but I guess a Farrell, 36, Manu midfield would have given too much info to Stuart Lancaster

Glas a du wrote:I take it Hogg was asked before the squad announcement if he'd be prepared to play fly half? And said yes...

George Carlin wrote:If Lydiate has a poor game (not really likely, but let's assume) and O'Brien and/or Tipuric have a huge game, do people think that this will do anything to change Gatland's mind about the test bench?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Well he wasn't exactly going to say no was he! Gregor Townsend was also consulted and told the coaches he has the ability to play at 10.

Really hope we see at least 1 Scot get capped this tour - will be a massive shame if they don't.  I always thought Richie Gray was a certainty for the test 23 but Gats obviously sees things differently.

George Carlin wrote:I wouldn't mind that at all Yappy but reading the ABC interview with Gatland in my OP above the direct implication is that Bowe is not playing on Tuesday because he's already been earmarked to play on Saturday.

Can only mean one of two things - Bowe is wearing 14 (in which case, Cuthbert can be aggrieved after his excellent score) or Bowe is wearing 23. My sense is that it's the former.

LondonTiger wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I wouldn't mind that at all Yappy but reading the ABC interview with Gatland in my OP above the direct implication is that Bowe is not playing on Tuesday because he's already been earmarked to play on Saturday.

Can only mean one of two things - Bowe is wearing 14 (in which case, Cuthbert can be aggrieved after his excellent score) or Bowe is wearing 23. My sense is that it's the former.

Whereas I suspect it will be the latter.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Like the Lions team on the whole, more sensible than last week. That midfield could easily kill any ball going to the wings though, as we have seen with England, but we should see the Manu show at least. Much better pack than last week, let's see how SOB and Lydiate do as I think one may start on Saturday.

Would really really like Wade to get a game in an actual team in the last midweek match! At least this team shows me, for the first time ever I think, that Gatland can learn from his errors and that bodes well for next Saturday because we have a lot of learning to do from yesterday

George Carlin wrote:I see now that Christian Leiliifano has been cleared to play in the second test.

Whoever takes the 12 shirt for the Lions is going to have to be on top of his considerable bag of tricks.

Good for him that he gets another chance but that's definitely bad news for us as it means the Wallabies won't be missing many more kicks for goal.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

Totally agree. That's a big 24 hours us losing POC & Oz getting back a great playmaker in Leilifano.

George Carlin wrote:Shows the importance of a goalkicker though too, Yappy.

1/2p has only missed something like 2 pots at goal the entire tour which gives him a bonkers strike rate - something like 96% was being trotted out for the first game. It's the difference between winning and losing and I don't think that anyone would suggest that he is replaced - despite (and I'm going to whisper this before I get wedgied by everyone out here) either missing or being out of position for two key tackles for each of the Falau tries. I don't mind about that though - I'll happily put it down to Falau having feet like Fred Astaire and I'm not sure anyone would have made those tackles.

IronMike wrote:Tipuric's one "bad" game doesn't hide his fantastic performances for both Wales, Ospreys and even the opening Lions games this season. He would still be my starting 7.

dragonbreath wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Shows the importance of a goalkicker though too, Yappy.

1/2p has only missed something like 2 pots at goal the entire tour which gives him a bonkers strike rate - something like 96% was being trotted out for the first game. It's the difference between winning and losing and I don't think that anyone would suggest that he is replaced - despite (and I'm going to whisper this before I get wedgied by everyone out here) either missing or being out of position for two key tackles for each of the Falau tries. I don't mind about that though - I'll happily put it down to Falau having feet like Fred Astaire and I'm not sure anyone would have made those tackles.

Bit harsh. The attempted tackle on Falau was a tough one and the first I can remember him not nailing for a long long time, his legs are so long it seems hard to get arms around them when he is full flight. The first however was Norths error. Halfpenny was in position to tackle the ball carrier (Genia) it was George who having ran a good defensive line initially isolating Genia from Falau, who then decided that he needed to tackle Genia despite the fact he was covered, leaving Falau unchallenged to collect the nudge ahead.

chargedowntotheface wrote:why would you think Tipuric is now likely to start?
 Tipuric was completely ineffective against the brumbies. he got schooled by Faingaa Jr, who has about 5 S15 games under his belt.
the only changes i would make would be youngs for phillips and parling for POC. (Grey onto the bench.) and maybe bowe to replace maitland on the bench.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Phillips was one of the worst performers on Saturday - reckon he'll stick with him?

jelly wrote:Ah, fair enough. Still think they must be thinking about Tipuric starting on Saturday otherwise it seems a bit odd him not starting at 7 tomorrow.