Hagan in for injured Weeks
Irishman Jamie Hagan will make his starting Super Rugby debut in place of the injured Laurie weeks when the Rebels take on the Blues.
Weeks injured his hamstring in training on Tuesday and Rebels coach tony McGahan confirmed the tighthead would be unavailable until at least the beginning of June.
The reshuffle brings Tim Metcher on to the bench for the first time in 2016.
"Laurie (Weeks) did a hamstring at the end of training on Tuesday so unfortunately he’s out for a period of time and certainly won’t play before the beginning of June,” he said.
“It’s nice and easy for us, we bring in Jamie Hagan into the starting side, he’s been gathering time off the bench and going really well so he’s pretty excited to be an Irishman starting a Super Rugby game and Tim Metcher comes onto the bench.”
The front row change up is the only difference to the side that beat the Cheetahs 36-14 last weekend in Melbourne.
Melbourne will go into the clash aware of the quality of this Blues, after going down to the Auckland team 59-7 in a preseason trial, McGahan said.
“We’re under no illusion of the challenge we face against a really good side that towelled us up in a pre-season trial match earlier this year so we need nothing less than our best 80-minute performance on Saturday,” he said.
The Rebels will be looking to hang on to the top Australian conference spot when they take on the Blues in Auckland at 5:35pm AEST on Saturday LIVE on FOXSPORTS.
1. Toby Smith
2. James Hanson
3. Jamie Hagan
4. Luke Jones
5. Lopeti Timani
6. Jordy Reid
7. Sean McMahon
8. Adam Thomson
9. Nic Stirzaker (captain)
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Cam Crawford
12. Tamati Ellison
13. Reece Hodge
14. Sefa Naivalu
15. Jonah Placid
Reserves
16. Pat Leafa
17. Cruze Ah Nau
18. Tim Metcher
19. Sam Jeffries
20. Colby Fainga'a
21. Ben Meehan
22. Kotaro Matsushima
23. Sione Tuipulotu
