Rebels hoping for Tens advantage

Thu, Feb 9, 2017, 7:44 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
The Melbourne Rebels are still on the Gold Coast as they make their final preparations for both the Brisbane Tens and the upcoming Super Rugby season. Hear what Tom English and Colby Fainga'a had to say when they spoke to the media.

The Rebels are hoping visiting teams will be bringing the hangover of a long season at this weekend’s Brisbane Tens.

While the Australian and New Zealand teams are still in the throes of preseason, the European and Japanese visitors have just finished their years.

Fainga’a said that would hopefully play into the hands of the Super Rugby sides, with round one still two weeks away.

Colby Faingaa is looking forward to a fitness test at the Tens. Photo: Getty Images“We know as a team you get to the end of the season you're a bit battered and bruised,” he said.

“The Tens comp will be exciting for them but myself coming into the season I'm just trying to get through the game.

“My body's always so sore towards the back end of the season so I’m looking forward to a break so hopefully that's what they're doing and we can kind of, as a fresh young team, come in in our prime just before the season starts and take advantage of that.”

The Rebels had their opening trial hitout against the Force on Monday night, going down 27-5, and Fainga’a said there was much to work on after that.

“We haven't done too much 15 on 15 live contact stuff so that was the first or second real hitout that we had,” he said.

“Good to have a gauge on where we are and from the last time that we did a 15 v 15 live contact stuff we've improved from last time.

The Rebels had a hitout against the Force earlier this week. Photo: rugby.com.au/Stu Walmsley“We're not taking too much out of it, we know we've got a bit to work on  but I think all signs are quite positive for the start of the season.”

The new-look Rebels will be missing star recruit Marika Koroibete this weekend but Fainga’a said the impact of their new faces had been felt early on

“The new guys that have come in, they haven't been shy, they've  spoken up when they needed to speak up,” he said.

“They've put their opinions forward so it's good that guys haven't come in new to a club, haven't been intimidated or quiet, maybe just a bit shy for the first couple of months.

“Those guys have come in, ripped in and really brought the energy for the start of the season.”

The Rebels officially ruled Koroibete out of the Tens on Thursday, along with Mitch Inman and Murray Douglas.

Jonah Placid, Dennis Pili-Gaitau and Jake Schatz come into the squad.

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