The Melbourne Rebels have named this week’s Match Day 23 for this weekend’s Easter Saturday trans-tasman blockbuster clash against the Blues at AAMI Park.
Hulking prop Pone Fa’amausili joins Cabous Eloff in returning to the front row, while Trevor Hosea will pair with Harlequin teammate, Josh Canham in the second row.
Following a blistering second half in Fiji last weekend, Wallaby Andrew Kellaway has been promoted starting outside centre, with fellow international star, Reece Hodge, named at 12.
The size and physicality of Nick Jooste and Lukas Ripley will provide important late game value, with both players recalled for the Round 7 clash, named on the bench alongside James Tuttle, Tuiana Taii Tualima, Angelo Smith, Sam Talakai, Matt Gibbon and Jordan Uelese.
Saturday’s match shapes as special moment for Jordan Uelese. Just days after being named in Eddie Jones’ opening Wallabies squad of the year, the twenty-six-year-old will become the first homegrown Victorian to make 50 Super Rugby appearances for the Rebels after making his debut in 2017 against the Blues.
“As a kid, I always dreamt of playing for the Rebels, so to be able to play 50 matches for my hometown team and wear that jersey, it's been a huge honour and I’m keen to keep putting my hand up to go to battle for this Club," Uelese.
Meanwhile, Reece Hodge needs just one-point to become the first Rebels player to score 500 points at the Club.
Speaking to media earlier this week, Hodge said it was important to keep building momentum and playing the ‘Rebels way’ - Fast Fearless and Resolute.
“In terms of mindset coming into Saturday, we’re going to throw everything physically and mentally into this game week. This is one of the toughest competitions in the world, and one of the challenges is overcoming travel and backing up your performance's week after week, and that’s what we’re looking to do,” said Hodge.
“This block coming up either side of the bye is really important in terms of getting the result and building in attack and defence."
Hodge and his teammates will be wearing the Melbourne Rebels 2023 Cultural Jersey for this first time on Saturday night as the Club looks to celebrate the coming together of all cultures that form the Naarm Rebels, our fans and community.
The jersey celebrates our First Nations peoples as the oldest living culture in the world. We honour them through the visualisation of the Yarra River, and the communities that gather around it including our expansive Pasifika family that has journeyed to Naarm and now resides on Wurundjeri land.
Both Pasifika and First Nations pattern harmoniously straddle shared zones of the jersey depicting Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Cook Island and Niuean artworks that travel upwards to embrace the First Nations designs.
This visual coming together of cultures is joined by Bunjil, the eagle (front of jersey) and Waang, the crow (back of jersey) who are both creation deities of the Kulin Nation.
The jersey honours the coming together of many peoples to form the rich collective that is the beating heart of our Rebels family. One Club of many cultures.
With performances from Oriana Siva Academy, T’HONI Kapa Haka and plenty of enjoyable family pre-game experiences, it promises to be a special night for all lovers of rugby.
The Melbourne Rebels face the Blues at 7:35 pm (AEST) on Saturday April 8 at AAMI Park. Tickets available now.
Melbourne Rebels Match Day 23 vs Blues
- Cabous Eloff
- Alex Mafi
- Pone Fa'amausili
- Josh Canham
- Trevor Hosea
- Josh Kemeny
- Brad Wilkin (c)
- Vaiolini Ekuasi
- Ryan Louwrens
- Carter Gordon
- Monty Ioane
- Reece Hodge
- Andrew Kellaway
- Lachlan Anderson
- Joe Pincus
- Jordan Uelese
- Matt Gibbon
- Sam Talakai
- Angelo Smith
- Tuaina Tuii Tualima
- James Tuttle
- Nick Jooste
- Lukas Ripley
