Edel McMahon, who captained the side in last week’s historic victory over New Zealand, has been ruled out of this weekend’s match with an injury sustained in training during the week.
There are just four weeks to go before the All Blacks arrive at Allianz Stadium on November 2, so players will be vying to impress.
The Gallagher Premiership table after round one highlighted how you can get strange quirks in this game, defending champions Northampton finding themselves at the bottom 16 weeks after they lifted the trophy at Twickenham.
Three matches are scheduled for Stellenbosch: Ireland vs Georgia (kick-off 2pm local), France vs New Zealand (4:30pm) and South Africa vs Argentina (7pm). Over in Athlone, Wales vs Spain is the opening match (2pm) followed by England vs Fiji (4:30pm) and Australia vs Italy (7pm).
The stakes could not be higher this weekend as teams jostle for position and qualification races are run from Krakow to Melbourne. Watch all the action on RugbyPass TV.
Nick Cummins is set to return to rugby following a three-year hiatus after being named in a World XV squad to take on his former side, the Western Force.
Now more than ever the Rebels need to step up and deliver and they have never been better placed to do so.
Now more than ever the Rebels need to step up and deliver and they have never been better placed to do so.
Brisbane's biggest festival of rugby is just around the corner, with the two-day Global Rugby tens tournament kicking off on February 9 at Suncorp Stadium.
