The Melbourne Rebels have selected their Match Day 23 for Friday night’s Community Round blockbuster against the Crusaders.
Rebels Head Coach, Kevin Foote, has made five changes to this week’s Starting XV, with the experienced Matt Gibbon and Sam Talakai replacing Cabous Eloff and Pone Fa'amausili, while Stacey Ili returns to 12, seeing Reece Hodge take up the number 13 jersey, with Andrew Kellaway moving to fullback.
Meanwhile, Cameron Orr has been named for his first match since the Rebels’ Round 3 win over the Waratahs, joining Australian Under-23 representative, Daniel Maiava, and Joe Pincus on the bench.
Talakai’s starting return will see him combine with Alex Mafi and Matt Gibbon in the Rebels’ front row for the sixth time this year.
Fresh off attending the Wallabies opening training camp of 2023, Rebels Captain Brad Wilkin, will lead out a dominant backrow alongside Josh Kemeny and the powerful Vaiolini Ekuasi, who has taken the Super Rugby Pacific world by storm since arriving in Melbourne.
After making his debut against the Force in Round 1, Ekuasi has gone on to play six matches in his opening season at the Stockade and will make his fourth consecutive start on Friday night.
Another standout this year has been the continued growth of Carter Gordon, who has been named at starting flyhalf for the eighth time this season.
The twenty-two-year-old has been one of the Rebels most consistent players this season, scoring a career-high four tries, repeatedly running the lines, while becoming one of Australian rugby’s most physical playmakers.
Gordon credited an intense off-season improving his game and leadership with the Rebels’ Coaching Staff as the catalyst behind his impressive form.
“I just wanted to work as hard as I could to put myself and the team in a good spot,” said Gordon.
“Off the field it’s been a big step up for me in terms of being involved in the meetings and talking to the boys about what they want from me and what I want from them.
“The hunger has always been there, but it’s important to continue that workload and not get complacent.”
As the Rebels chase their third home win in four games, Gordon said his teammates were determined to put on a strong showing against the Crusaders.
“It’s an important game for us after having the bye last week, and all the boys are just focused on laying it all out there, playing fast, fearless and resolute and putting in a great performance for ourselves and our fans.”
Friday’s contest will provide a special moment for the Victorian Rugby community with the Rebels using the fixture to celebrate the dawning of a new grassroots season, and the impressive growth of rugby across the Club’s home state.
As part of the celebrations, fans are encouraged to wear their local Club colours along to the game.
With dry weather forecast, and the Rebels final doubleheader of 2023, it promises to be a memorable night for rugby in the Sporting Capital.
With the start of the Victorian Club Rugby season upon us for 2023 the Melbourne Rebels have allocated players as ambassadors to their Victorian Rugby Clubs and Schools. As part of community round we wanted to showcase the players and their affiliated schools and clubs.
Melbourne Rebels Match Day 23 (Ambassador for school and Victorian Rugby Club) vs Crusaders
- Matt Gibbon – Melbourne High and Maroondah
- Alex Mafi – Brighton Grammar and Southern Districts
- Sam Talakai – St.Kevin’s and Cerberus and Southern Districts
- Josh Canham – Brighton Grammar and Harlequins
- Trevor Hosea – Fountain Gate and Harlequins
- Josh Kemeny – Melbourne Grammar and Eltham
- Brad Wilkin ( C ) - Geelong Grammar and Racing Rugby
- Vaiolini Ekuasi – Footscray and Western Districts
- Ryan Louwrens – Marcelin and Melbourne University
- Carter Gordon – Trinity Grammar and Melbourne Unicorns
- Monty Ioane – Scotch College and Endeavour Hills
- Stacey Ili – The Grange and Brimbank and Melton
- Reece Hodge – Scotch College and Geelong
- Lachlan Anderson – Marcellin and Kiwi Hawthorn
- Andrew Kellaway – Haileybury College and Monash Uni
- Jordan Uelese – St.Kevin’s and Melbourne University and Eltham
- Cameron Orr – Melbourne High and Endeavour Hills
- Pone Fa'amausili – Melbourne Grammar and Moorabbin
- Angelo Smith – Scotch College and Shepparton
- Daniel Maiava – The Grange and Wyndham City
- James Tuttle – Melbourne High and Ballarat
- Lukas Ripley – Scotch College and Geelong
- Joe Pincus – Marcelin and Melbourne Univesity
