Melbourne Rebels v British & Irish Lions, 25 June

by **George Carlin** Sun 23 Jun 2013, 8:26 am

First topic message reminder :

AAMI Park, Melbourne
Tuesday June 25, 7:40pm local

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Referee: Romain Poite (France), Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray

TEAM LINE UPS:

Rebels

01. Nic Henderson
02. Ged Robinson
03. Laurie Weeks
04. Cadeyrn Neville
05. Hugh Pyle
06. Jarrod Saffy
07. Scott Fuglistaller
08. Gareth Delve (c)

09. Luke Burgess^
10. Bryce Hegarty
11. Lachlan Mitchell
12. Rory Sidey
13. Mitch Inman
14. Tom English
15. Jason Woodward

Replacements:
16. Pat Leafa
17. Cruze Ah Nau*
18. Paul Alo-Emile
19. Luke Jones
20. Jordy Reid
21. Nic Stirzaker
22. Angus Roberts
23. Cooper Vuna

*Rebels debut
^Rebels first start

Lions:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Sean Maitland
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Brad Barritt
11. Simon Zebo
10. Owen Farrell
09. Conor Murray

08. Toby Faletau
07. Sean O'Brien
06. Dan Lydiate (captain)
05. Ian Evans
04. Richie Gray
03. Dan Cole
02. Richard Hibbard
01. Ryan Grant

Replacements:
Rory Best, Tom Court, Matt Stevens, Tom Croft, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg.

Preview 1 (from ESPN Sport):

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."

Preview 2 (from ABC Sport):

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."

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:29 pm

Seems Gray played well if the stats are anything to go by, 11 tackles made none missed, 6 lineouts won and 3 stolen.

Hopefully he's done enough to start the next test.

He has earned it IMO.

by **George Carlin** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:29 pm

Credit to Gray, Faletau and Evans - they all worked their arses off. Slightly scrappy, but that's always the case with less than test match intensity.

Enjoyed the Fox commentary. I think Manu has been listening to criticism of his passing game because I agreed with the commentators saying that they wished he had passed less and carried more.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:30 pm

who was MOTM?

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:32 pm

LondonTiger wrote:How much alike was Youngs try to the one he got on debut against Australia. Sounds similar.

It was a well-worked set piece try, pretty classic scrum half try

by nth Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:32 pm

markb wrote:
markb wrote:
markb wrote:The stats have Croft down for 3 tackles

Up to 4 now, the same number as Tipuric who came on 10 mins earlier.

Now up to 6 for Croft in 15 mins, 5 for Tipuric in 25 mins.

Proof that some posters on here notice what they want to.

by Scrumpy Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:33 pm

Croft will start the 2nd test SOB on the bench,

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:34 pm

According to the admittedly dubious ESPN stats, Hibbard missed 4 tackles. Kind of hope Youngs plays the whole match on Saturday. No offense to Welsh fans

by **LondonTiger** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:37 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Seems Gray played well if the stats are anything to go by, 11 tackles made none missed, 6 lineouts won and 3 stolen.

Hopefully he's done enough to start the next test.

He has earned it IMO.

Where are you getting those stats from. Ones I am looking at have Evans making the steals

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:39 pm

ESPNs, can't say for certain since I didn't see the match.

by RubyGuby Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:39 pm

Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have thumbsup

by GunsGerms Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:39 pm

Didnt get to see the game but scoreline suggests it was another blowout. How can the Rebels be so bad? I know that they are probably the worst Australian super 15 team but I doubt Connacht for example would be nilled if they played the Lions and would put up more of a challenge.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:41 pm

I think the Lions should feel pretty bad if they didn't nil Connacht, especially a weakened Connacht, with as many away supporters as home supporters, Guns...

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:42 pm

GunsGerms wrote: I doubt Connacht for example would be nilled if they played the Lions and would put up more of a challenge.

Ahahahahahahahahahaha!

by mbernz Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:42 pm

Croft made 6 tackles in 15 mins, Lydiate made 15 in 65 mins. I think Lydiate needs to up his tackle rate if he wants to make that starting XV Run

by **George Carlin** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:43 pm

RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have

Not on today's evidence Ruby.

by RubyGuby Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:43 pm

Connacht would have been drilled not nilled mate thumbsup

by **LondonTiger** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:43 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:ESPNs, can't say for certain since I didn't see the match.

Might you have misread them. Pretty sure the ESPN ones I am looking at have Gray 6/0 and Evans 6/3 at the lineout

by **George Carlin** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:44 pm

GunsGerms wrote:Didnt get to see the game but scoreline suggests it was another blowout. How can the Rebels be so bad? I know that they are probably the worst Australian super 15 team but I doubt Connacht for example would be nilled if they played the Lions and would put up more of a challenge.

They were much more competitive than the Farce or Combined Countries GG. Our defence was actually very good.

by RubyGuby Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:44 pm

George Carlin wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have
Not on today's evidence Ruby.

He will be there trust me - thumbsup

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:44 pm

LT, they might have changed, they do that on ESPN

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:45 pm

RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have

Both by all accounts played well. I would be pretty gutted if another 50-50 call went in a Welsh players favour. Gray has been really good all tour.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:45 pm

Ruby is JPR Williams and has been giving Gatland advice all tour thumbsup

by GunsGerms Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:45 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:I think the Lions should feel pretty bad if they didn't nil Connacht, especially a weakened Connacht, with as many away supporters as home supporters, Guns...

Last international Connacht played:

Connacht 3 South Africa 18 in 2007 against the soon to be world champions. It was 8-3 with around 10 minutes left too.

The Rebels dont have very many Aussie internationals so surely they had a strong team out? No?

by GunsGerms Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:46 pm

George Carlin wrote:
GunsGerms wrote:Didnt get to see the game but scoreline suggests it was another blowout. How can the Rebels be so bad? I know that they are probably the worst Australian super 15 team but I doubt Connacht for example would be nilled if they played the Lions and would put up more of a challenge.
They were much more competitive than the Farce or Combined Countries GG. Our defence was actually very good.

Ah right. Who were the top performers from the Lions?

by Hookisms and Hyperbole Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:46 pm

I'm pretty shocked Hibbard has had as poor a tour as he had. I expected big things but he's been pretty dreadful and Best the same.

I think Evans gave a very good account of himself. I'm a big Gray fan, but I think Evans is the best replacement for POC.

Picking an under performing Warburton as captain seriously limits the choices for the test team. It is here lunacy that SOB wasn't in the squad let alone the starting team on Saturday. After than performance today he couldn't really do much more to put himself in position.

If Phillips plays Sexton shouldn't. He can't play from deep, never could, never will. He needs quick ball, standing flat. Either Phillips/Farrell or Youngs/Sexton. Depends if Gatland starts to pick his side on merit.

by RubyGuby Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:47 pm

Croft will drop out, Lydiate will play and SOB will be on the bench - It has a better balance all round thumbsup

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:50 pm

GunsGerms wrote:
ChequeredJersey wrote:I think the Lions should feel pretty bad if they didn't nil Connacht, especially a weakened Connacht, with as many away supporters as home supporters, Guns...

Last international Connacht played:

Connacht 3 South Africa 18 in 2007 against the soon to be world champions. It was 8-3 with around 10 minutes left too.

The Rebels dont have very many Aussie internationals so surely they had a strong team out? No?

Well, JOC might have been gash for the Aussies last week but he's a pretty classy player to be missing. Phipps is Australia's back up SH (mostly, I imagine, because of White's injury) or apparently also back up winger Wink

. Beale is another player they are missing who despite missing his kicks did destroy the Lions midfield defence last week and Higginbotham has probably been Australia's biggest loss this series and was potentially their captain. So missing a few big players, yeah

by gelodge Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:50 pm

mbernz wrote:Croft made 6 tackles in 15 mins, Lydiate made 15 in 65 mins. I think Lydiate needs to up his tackle rate if he wants to make that starting XV

by **LondonTiger** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:51 pm

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:If Phillips plays Sexton shouldn't. He can't play from deep, never could, never will. He needs quick ball, standing flat. Either Phillips/Farrell or Youngs/Sexton. Depends if Gatland starts to pick his side on merit.

Have Youngs and Sexton had much game time together?

by Guest Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:52 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have

Both by all accounts played well. I would be pretty gutted if another 50-50 call went in a Welsh players favour. Gray has been really good all tour.

What 50-50 calls?

As an aside, Sky have announced Toby was the MOTM

by Cyril Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:52 pm

If Lydiate was going to start on Saturday I doubt that would have played him for 65 mins today. He'll probably be bench again, but it really should be SOB.

Nice cameo from Croft today. Will keep him sharp for Saturday.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:53 pm

Risca Rev wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have

Both by all accounts played well. I would be pretty gutted if another 50-50 call went in a Welsh players favour. Gray has been really good all tour.

What 50-50 calls?

As an aside, Sky have announced Toby was the MOTM

Excellent, more Fantasy team points for me

by Guest Tue 25 Jun 2013, 12:54 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:
Risca Rev wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Evans will be on the bench - He's AWJ international partner and the most abrasive lock we have

Both by all accounts played well. I would be pretty gutted if another 50-50 call went in a Welsh players favour. Gray has been really good all tour.

What 50-50 calls?

As an aside, Sky have announced Toby was the MOTM

Excellent, more Fantasy team points for me

It seems it's a fan vote so maybe not the official one?

by R!skysports Tue 25 Jun 2013, 1:05 pm

Woo hoo quoted on the BBC thread :-)

by **George Carlin** Tue 25 Jun 2013, 1:35 pm

Isn't that like being voted the best mime artist in Luxembourg or something though, Risky?

by Totalflanker Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:00 pm

Following ratings for me:

Grant 7 - scrummaged well and showed up in the loose, although looked out of puff on occasion.

Hibbard 8 - apart from a couple of poor throws early on was excellent in the tight and loose. Looking forward to him coming on as a big impact sub on Saturday.

Cole 6 - scrummaged well but didn't really show up during open play for me.

Gray 7 - both locks were great Evans shaded the first half, gray the second. Really high work rate from both, Evans in the lineout for steals and gray for massive tackle count. Really tough call for who gets the bench spot, but for me gray.

Evans 7 - see above.

lydiate 6 - good tackling performance as ever (and will no doubt be slated for the next comment) but not too much else.

SOB 8 - great, tackle breakdown and carrying

Faletau 8 - cracking with ball in hand.

Murray 6 - try scoring aside wasn't as impressed as I was when Young's came on, given Philips struggles with genia, would say they have to think about Young's for the test.

Farrell 9 - my motm. Played flat, got the back line moving and great goalkicking display.

Zebo 7 - always looking for work, perhaps a little too much on occasion . thought he ended up out of positions few times as a result and could have been exposed against better oposition, but tussle with Maitland for the bench spot probably honours even.

Barrit 6 - good defensible but didn't seem to show up going forward, can't say he had a bad game as didn't notice enough of him for any mistakes.

Tuilagi 7 - sky were a little harsh after the match, saying he looked low on confidence, I didn't think so, great break to setup the second try and looked dangerous whenever he got the ball (well certainly made the gain line every time)

Maitland 7 - one poor pass to SOB aside, had a really good game, great support lines twice for the second try.

Kearney 5 - looked like he was trying to hard to make the test team on his own, ran away from his support runners and ended up taking the wrong option in broken field a few times.

by Comfort Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:00 pm

Hibbard - luckily Best is playing worse than him.

Evans/Grey - good games, I'd like to see Ian Evans put into the test team, we need some beef in the second row, Gray and Parling dont add the grunt POC does and Evans can do. He was actually someone I'd hoped would step up on the tour as hes had an excellant year carrying the welsh second row on his own at times. Grey has played well all tour to be fair, not at his best, but well, on form both have the potential to outshine the rest of the locks in the squad imo.

Faletau - another good showing, its a close call between him and Heaslip.

Lydiate/SOB - good games. if it was up to me I'd have LYdiate starting the tests and SOB on the bench. If Croft is going to start (which I assume so) then I'd have SOB on the bench with Lydiate missing out altogether.

Tuilagi - what a force he can be going forward, defensively not as sound as other options.

by Totalflanker Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:06 pm

Comfort wrote:Hibbard - luckily Best is playing worse than him.

Evans/Grey - good games, I'd like to see Ian Evans put into the test team, we need some beef in the second row, Gray and Parling dont add the grunt POC does and Evans can do. He was actually someone I'd hoped would step up on the tour as hes had an excellant year carrying the welsh second row on his own at times. Grey has played well all tour to be fair, not at his best, but well, on form both have the potential to outshine the rest of the locks in the squad imo.

Faletau - another good showing, its a close call between him and Heaslip.

Lydiate/SOB - good games. if it was up to me I'd have LYdiate starting the tests and SOB on the bench. If Croft is going to start (which I assume so) then I'd have SOB on the bench with Lydiate missing out altogether.

Tuilagi - what a force he can be going forward, defensively not as sound as other options.

Can't agree on Hibbard - thought he played really well. Lydiate was also a poor second to SOB for me.

by JmD Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:12 pm

Did the people commenting on the hookers actually watch the match? 2 lineouts aside, Hibbard played well and made some very strong carries. Best came on and didn't put a foot wrong, he should have had a try if it weren't for intentional infringing and Youngs scored off the back of an excellent lineout. I guess it's easier to just spout nonsense based on what people have said in the past than to watch the match and form your own opinion based on the facts.

by GunsGerms Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:12 pm

Is it true that Tom Court got called up because he was in holidays in Australia anyway?

Nice ploy Court.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:15 pm

Apparently Hibbard made 5 tackles and missed 4...

by wales606 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:16 pm

Forget the 6s and 7s,

I thought Faletau was fantastic today, probably the best no8 performance of the tour so far. Heaslip will lose his place if he doesn't step up on the weekend

16 carries making 60 metres and 13 tackles

Certainly my MOTM

I though Lydiate and SOB did well, but then so did Tipuric and Croft off the bench.

Gray and Evans were strong

Scrum and lineout was good, but I wasn't overly impressed with the front row.

English midfield were solid if uncreative - as they are for their country, the 0 on the scoreboard is their favourite, not the 35.

by JmD Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:21 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Apparently Hibbard made 5 tackles and missed 4...

He goes in too aggressive a lot of the time, seems to prone to not wrapping up the man and letting him get away.

by ChequeredJersey Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:27 pm

Hibbard will bench on Saturday anyway, should do well in the lineout if as some suspect we see both Evans and AWJ on the field at the same time

by munkian Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:31 pm

Parling will start, it is known

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:34 pm

I'll be more than a bit gutted if we don't see Gray involved in the tests.

by munkian Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:37 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I'll be more than a bit gutted if we don't see Gray involved in the tests.

'shocker'

Faletau deserves a start - how much work does he get through ?

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:43 pm

I did not say he didn't. The thing is we could swap guys like Heaslip and Faletau or Gray and AWJ and not weaken the side.

by Comfort Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:50 pm

Total flanker/JMD -

Hibbards done alright in general, but not showing any of the form he had in the 6nations.

Best was better than in his first game on tour, but it was hard to get any worse.

Youngs way out in front at the moment.

I say that as a welshman and big hibbard fan, hes capable of a lot more and is a massively destructive hooker when on form, right now though he isn't up where he can be and has showed he can be.

by flyhalffactory Tue 25 Jun 2013, 2:56 pm

munkian wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I'll be more than a bit gutted if we don't see Gray involved in the tests.

'shocker'

Faletau deserves a start - how much work does he get through ?

How much work does he get through munkian?

Saw him doing the best shift for about 10 months if I am honest, his tackles were actually not just passive and around the fringes of the scrum for once, its all very well having a high tackle count or not missing a tackle but if they don't stop the opposition then not a lot of use is it. There were only two 8s that started the game and Toby came second in that particular race.

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