The Queensland Reds and Rebels play in the last Vodafone Super Rugby AU clash for the weekend at the Suncorp Stadium @ 11:15 SA time, today.
The two sides drew 18-18 in their round two games, with the Reds hoping to bounce back after a humiliating loss against the Waratahs (12-45) last weekend. The Reds is currently fifth on the Super Rugby AU competition log with two wins from five games.
The Rebels comes off a big win (30-12) over the Brumbies last weekend and are currently second on the competition log, six points short of log leading Brumbies. The Rebels and Reds played to an 18-18 draw in round two earlier this year.
Rebels' Dane Zander has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury at training this week.
It sees Jack Straker starting at loosehead prop and fellow GPS frontrower Jethro Felemi brought into Queensland’s 23.
Born in Tonga and schooled in New Zealand, Felemi represented the Blues and also Auckland U18s sides before playing for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup in 2016.
Two years later he moved to Australia and in 2019 played for Bond University Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) and GPS in Queensland Premier Rugby.
As for the other three changes, Jordan Petaia will make his return this week on the wing with Jock Campbell returning to fullback.
While Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight have both been promoted into the starting side.
McReight will wear the number seven jersey with captain Liam Wright shifting to blindside flanker in a reshuffle to the backrow.
McReight, McDermott and Petaia’s inclusion sees Angus Scott-Young, Scott Malolua and Bryce Hegarty respectively all on the bench as finishers.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “After two weeks of travelling, it’s good to be back home this week in front of our Queensland fans.
“The Rebels are a quality team. They’ll be full of confidence after their performance over the Brumbies. We went 90 minutes with them last time down at Brookvale and we’re expecting another tough match on Saturday night.
“We’re gutted for Dane. He’s been playing good footy recently. We’ve got Jethro coming in for us. He’s played a fair bit of footy including in the Mitre 10 Cup with North Harbour and also for Queensland Country in the NRC last year.
“It’s a good boost for everyone having Jordy back. We’re a family here at the Reds and he’s a part that. We’re a tight group and we’re all supporting him and his family,” said Thorn.
Rebels: 1. Jack Straker, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Jock Campbell. Replacement: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Jethro Felemi, 18. Zane Nonggor, 19. Tuaina Tali Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Scott Malolua, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Josh Flook.
Reds Coach Dave Wessels has rewarded his chargers for their victory over the table-topping ACT Brumbies last week and named a near unchanged lineup.
Prop Pone Fa’amausili is the only new face in the starting XV, coming in for Jermaine Ainsley at prop.
Melbourne Rebels' vice-captain Michael Wells and emerging lock Esei Haangana have also been recalled to the matchday squad, sliding onto the bench in place of Michael Stolberg and Rob Leota.
At outside centre, former QLD Red Campbell Magnay will lock horns with former Rebel and Victorian junior Hunter Paisami in a midfield battle that will feature as a key matchup.
Unsurprisingly though, it’s the reinstated prop Pone Fa’amausili, who created headlines during the Rebels Round 2 match against the Reds, that will draw the most attention.
His battle against Taniela Tupou will be a battle of two of the most exciting big men in Australian rugby.
“He’s definitely a point of difference for us,” said Wessels about the 133kg Fa’amausili.
“He’s still a young guy and good performances come on the back of good preparation, so I’m not stressing too much on his performance.
“We’re pushing hard for him to get his preparation right and that he’s diligent during the week with everything he should be doing, and he’s been great.”
Should he see minutes off the bench, Charles Abel will become the Rebels 17th debutant in 2020 and be welcomed into the family as Rebel 161.
“Charlie is the brother of Robbie Abel, who was with us in the past and is now with the Waratahs, so we know the family pretty well.
“But he’s got some rugby league in his background and has recently come back to rugby and I think he’ll surprise a lot of people.
“He’s not well known but he’s really made an impression with us.”
The round seven clash presents a unique opportunity for the Melbourne men; a potential fourth straight victory would set a new club record.
Furthermore, with the table-topping ACT Brumbies enjoying the BYE this week, a victory will see the Rebels jump to the top of the ladder.
“We were pleased with our performance last week and as I said after the game, we never get too up and never get too down.
“We’ve got to reproduce that, and I’m pleased we’ve got some momentum going into the finals, which is the way you want to do it, but Saturday will be a totally different contest and the Reds will be right up for it.
"If we get the win, then we’ll be top of the comp and I’d be really proud of the guys under very difficult circumstances – we’ve played every game away in this comp and we’re missing a lot of established players that have been part of our group for a long time.
“So, the fact we are still able to perform well and are building up to some good performances is something to be really proud of.”
Reds: 1. Cameron Orr, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Pone Fa'amausili, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Matt To'omua (c), 13. Campbell Magnay, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Reece Hodge. Replacements: 16. Efitusi Maafu, 17. Cabous Eloff, 18. Charles Abel, 19. Esei Ha'angana, 20. Michael Wells, 21. Richard Hardwick, 22. James Tuttle, 23. Billy Meakes.
Opta Facts:
The Rebels have won three of their last five Super Rugby games against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium (L2), including a 32-13 win when they met there last (Rd 7, 2019); they’ve not previously won back-to-back games against the Reds in Queensland.
The Reds have won five of their last six Super Rugby games on home turf (L1), including their last three on the bounce; the last time they won more consecutive home games was a five-game stretch across the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.
The Rebels have won three of their last four Super Rugby games away from home (L1), including their last two on the bounce; they have never previously won three successive away games in the competition.
The Rebels have scored 34 points in the 61st minute of games or later in Super Rugby AU, more than any other team during this period.
The Reds’ James O’Connor has made five break assists so far in Super Rugby AU, the second-most of any player in the competition behind Joe Powell (9).