The form of Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Billy Meakes is making life that little bit better for the Rebels, according to centre Tom English.
Genia, Cooper and Meakes are playing together for the first time in 2019 and the trio have laid the foundations for one of the Rebels' most potent attacking seasons to this point.
The Rebels’ finishing skills have been well and truly proven this season and the Melbourne side sits second overall in Super Rugby for tries scored.
After seven matches and still another nine to go, they have racked up 30 tries - second only to the Crusaders - after last year totalling 57 for the entire season.
The reunion of Quade Cooper and Will Genia, along with the career-best form of inside centre Billy Meakes, is laying the platform for the rest of the backline to fire, English said.
“They really understand each other's game and it shows there out on the field,” he said.
“All we have to do is just really just show up and run our lines, do our job and the rest will take care of itself.”
While the trio set up the attacking side of the game, Meakes’ defensive talents have also been crucial for the Rebels this season.
“He's probably one of our best tacklers in the team and he's not one of the biggest guys but his technique's quality, he's got it down pat and I really enjoy defending inside of him because he makes a few tackles for me every now and then.
English’s view that the inside trio sets the foundations for the outside backs to finish echoes comments from winger Jack Maddocks about the side’s instinctive approach to 2019.
That approach is paying off for English, who is enjoying a career-best season so far, but he was quick to deflect the credit.
“I've matured more as a player,” he said.
It also helps when you are in a squad that's doing well and with such quality players, it makes your job a hell of a lot easier.
“I find that playing outside Bill, Will and Quade, players who are at the top of their game at the moment, it really brings everyone else up around them.
“I have a lot to them to thank for my form at the moment and I think just for me it's just taking it a week at a time, don't get complacent and just working on little parts of my game just to make it better and well-rounded.”
Despite his form, English was frank when asked about the prospect of a Test call-up down the track.
“To be honest no, I haven't had chats (with Wallabies staff) for a couple of years now,” he said.
“Like every player says when they get asked this question is I think the most important thing is focusing on your Super team.
“If your Super team's going well and you're going well, well then you may get the opportunity to represent your country at the end of the year.
“For us it's just all eyes ahead for the Rebels.”
This weekend, the Rebels have another chance to distance themselves from the chasing pack against a Stormers side hungry for a win in Australia.
The Stormers will be missing captain Siya Kolisi and star forwards Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit but they will still be a fearsome opponent, English said.
“It's tough travelling and being on the road,” he said.
“We were on the receiving end of that when we were over in Africa but they're a great team and they have some quality players like Damien de Allende, the springbok 12, he's their go-to man.
“If he can be firing, I think they'll look to play a lot of their attack around him.
“Then their forwards, I'm assuming some of them are going home to be rested but they always play a quality side and we can't afford to take teams lightly.”
The Rebels take on the Stormers on Friday April 12 at AAMI Park, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
