PREVIEW: REBELS VS BULLS, ROUND 17
Setting the scene:
The Rebels and Bulls head into this clash with different motivations and different levels of comfort, however the same aspirations; to claim a crucial victory.
For the Rebels, it’s a case of finishing the season on a positive note; two games remain, both at AAMI Park, and while finals are no longer possible there’s still plenty to play for, starting with the Bulls.
It’s already been the most successful season in the Club’s short history, and come Saturday it will have been nearly a month since the bonus point win against the Blues last time out at AAMI Park; the team are thrilled to be back home!
It’s essentially a sudden death game for the Bulls, as they know another loss will condemn them to missing the finals as well. They come into this game having been away from home for nearly a month, and having not tasted victory in their trips to Canberra, Rotorua or Auckland in that time.
They haven’t scored over 20 points in any of those games, yet they’ve also been right in each of those contests until the very end; they are renowned for their defence, and they’re very tough to score against.
They’ve scored over 40 points in each of their previous three clashes with the Rebels, but those performances can quickly be resigned to ancient history; it’s all about this Saturday.
There are plenty of firsts on offer if the Rebels can get the win here; first time in a season to seven wins, first ever win against the Bulls, four home wins in a row for the first time and first win against South African opposition this season. The stage is set…
Key Match Up:
Springboks Victor Matfield and Flip van der Merwe certainly represent an experienced and capable second row duo for the Bulls.
Matfield needs no introduction; over 100 appearances for South Africa, including winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and three Super Rugby titles for the Bulls. He retired in 2011 but came back two years later however this is his final game on Australian shores, and potentially his last in the Bulls jersey, as he is due to be rested due to SARU requirements next week before a Rugby World Cup swansong.
He plays 80 minutes almost every week despite being 38 years of age, averages a team high eleven tackles per game and is ranked in the top six in the competition for average lineout takes per match; not bad for a bloke who spent two years out of the games as a commentator!
van der Merwe has played for his country 35 times and has over 70 Super Rugby caps to his name; he’ll leave the Bulls at the end of the season to play for Clermont, and will be determined to do everything in his power to get his side into the Super Rugby playoffs. He is ranked equal third in Super Rugby for lineout steals, with nearly one per game; he’s a sniper!
Wallaby Luke Jones and Lopeti Timani have been standouts in 2015 for the Rebels, each missing just one game and bringing wonderful physicality to the second row. Both are utility forwards with experience at blindside flanker and number eight, and therefore love getting their hands on the ball to be a presence in attack as well as defence.
Only once has Luke been substituted in 2015, and he is ranked second at the Club and in the top 25 Super Rugby tacklers for the season. He also carries over ten times per game on average, and has taken the second most lineouts in the competition.
Lopeti has scored three tries already this year, his first season in the second row, and ranks behind only Jones, Mitch Inman and Mike Harris for carries. He’s one of the hardest hitters in Super Rugby, and like Jones has a high-knee, powerful running style that makes him difficult to tackle. The extra size Luke and Lopeti brings to the table has also had a significant impact on the Rebels’ ever-improving scrum, ranked amongst the competition’s elite.
From the experience of Matfield and van der Merwe to the enthusiasm and work rate of Jones and Timani, Rugby aficionados will be treated to a great lock battle on Saturday afternoon.
Tickets are on sale here, or you can purchase a 2 game ticket offer for the final two Rebels matches of 2015 here; gates open at 1pm, with the Direct Connect Dewar Shield Sprint at half time.
Rebels’ team:
Starting Lineup: Toby Smith, Pat Leafa, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Colby Fainga’a, Scott Higginbotham (C), Nic Stirzaker, Jack Debreczeni, Cam Crawford, Mitch Inman, Tamati Ellison, Dom Shipperley, Mike Harris
Reserves: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Tim Metcher, Sam Jeffries, Jordy Reid, Ben Meehan, Bryce Hegarty, Tom English
Bulls’ team:
Starting Lineup: Dean Greyling, Callie Visagie, Marcel van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Victor Matfield, Lappies Labuschagne, Jacques du Plessis, Pierre Spies, Rudy Paige, Jacques-Louis Potgeiter, Travis Ismaiel, Burger Odendaal, JJ Englebrecht, Francois Hougaard, Jesse Kriel
Reserves: Jaco Visagie, Trevor Nyakane, Werner Kruger, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Tian Schoeman, Bjorn Basson, Jurgen Visser
Referee: Nick Briant
AR1: James Leckie AR2: Michael Hogan TMO: Ian Smith
Courtesy of Rebels Media Unit
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