Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
20 - 17
FT
20 - 52
FT
Tomorrow
14:10
Saturday
07:30
Saturday
09:10
Saturday
09:30
Saturday
09:30
Saturday
09:30
Saturday
09:30
Saturday
11:40
Saturday
14:05
Saturday
14:10
Sunday
07:40
Sunday
09:00
Sunday
10:10
Sunday
14:05
Super Rugby Pacific

Wallaby Taniela Tupou in line for Rebels debut against Brumbies

Taniela Tupou with ball in hand for the Wallabies. Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images

The Melbourne Rebels will unleash marquee recruit Taniela Tupou upon the ACT Brumbies on Friday night after naming the Wallaby on the bench ahead of their season-opener.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tupou, 27, has traded Queensland’s maroon for Melbourne’s navy strip this season on a headline-grabbing deal.

But fans will have to wait a little bit to see the man known as ‘The Tongan Thor’ in action with Tupou set to come off the pine in the No. 18 jumper.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Australian international Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, English halfback Jack Maunder, centre Filipo Daugunu and reserve Jake Strachan are also in line to debut for the Melbourne club.

“We know how important this game is to our fans, members as well as to our city and state,” coach Kevi Foote said in a statement.

“We are ready to go out there and give them a performance they can be proud of.”

Matt Gibbon, Jordan Uelese and Sam Talakai will lead the way for the Rebels after being named to start in the front row. Josh Canham and Salakaia-Loto round out the tight five.

To complete the forward pack, coach Foote has named the talented trio of Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin and captain Rob Leota to tackle the Brumbies.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maunder has been handed a start at scrumhalf after impressing in the pre-season trials. The halfback will partner Carter Gordon in the halves.

David Feliuai joins former Wallaby Filipo Daugunu in the midfield, will Glen Vaihu, Lachie Anderson and Wallaby Andrew Kellaway complete the starting XV.

With tickets on sale now, rugby fans can see the Melbourne Rebels take on the Brumbies in a highly anticipated Australian derby at 7.35 pm (local time) at AAMI Park

Melbourne Rebels team to take on ACT Brumbies

  1. Matt Gibbon
  2. Jordan Uelese
  3. Sam Talakai
  4. Josh Canham
  5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto*
  6. Josh Kemeny
  7. Brad Wilkin
  8. Rob Leota (c)
  9. Jack Maunder**
  10. Carter Gordon
  11. Glen Vaihu
  12. David Feliuai
  13. Filipo Daugunu*
  14. Lachie Anderson
  15. Andrew Kellaway

Reserves

  1. Alex Mafi
  2. Isaac Kailea
  3. Taniela Tupou*
  4. Tuaiana Taii Tualima
  5. Vaiolini Ekuasi
  6. James Tuttle
  7. Jake Strachan*
  8. Nick Jooste

* Denotes Rebels debut    ** Denotes Super Rugby Pacific debut

ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended

Brumbies name Wallaby-heavy forward pack for Melbourne visit

Queenslander Izaia Perese headlines Waratahs’ team for Super Rugby derby

Ex-All Black named to start in Reds’ grudge match against Waratahs

The Highlanders begin new chapter with team named for season opener

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Let's be real about these All Blacks

2

Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand

3

Tyrone Green decision has huge bearing on his international future

4

Five legends to be inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame

5

The appointment I would make to save Steve Borthwick – Andy Goode

6

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

7

'Ellis Genge, I have never seen his defence so bad'

8

The 'too small, physically out of his depth' Sam Prendergast verdict

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The Irishman's abrupt departure left his players reeling and confused about their new rearguard action.

LONG READ

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

The England head coach shoulders some responsibility for his side's disappointing autumn results.

LONG READ

Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat

Signs of progress for Scott Robertson and a resurgent Australia are reasons for optimism for an All Blacks collective

Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cantab 8 minutes ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 10 minutes ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 15 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 15 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.


Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 20 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 29 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.


I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.


So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 37 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.


He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.


He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments
C
Chesterfield 39 minutes ago
Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments
A
Arnold 42 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments
R
Reader76 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."


Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments
C
CM 1 hour ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments
M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.


Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments
J
J Marc 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments
N
Ninjin 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

And there it is, the game just given away. Thanks.

18 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

The nationality of the coach is important to kiwis and south africans and the french.

Not coincidentally the teams in world rugby who play with the most passion.

Why is it not allowed to be important for Australians ?

18 Go to comments
O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
Tyrone Green decision has huge bearing on his international future

He'd make a great John C Reilly impersonator though. Someone call his agent. 🙃

2 Go to comments
O
OM 3 hours ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

On behalf of New Zealand, I apologise for Ben Smith.

22 Go to comments
M
Mitch 3 hours ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

No doubt they liked Rennie but a 38% win record is hard to defend.

18 Go to comments
R
Red and White Dynamight 3 hours ago
Pablo Matera returns from ban as Argentina change 3 for Ireland

Incorrect. Matera plays mostly on blindside incl for Crusaders when they won title in 2022. Pumas tend to play their flankers left and right rather than 6/7 but Matera is involved in set pieces mostly on blindside channel.

3 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame' 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'
Search