Preview: Rebels v Jaguares

Editor

The Rebels and Jaguares meet for the first ever time in what could be the Melbourne outfit's last Super Rugby game at AAMI Park on Friday.

Still no clearer on who out of the Rebels and Force will be axed from the competition, this is hardly ideal for players, coaches and fans.

But those running out in their final game of the season will have to put off-field factors to one side as they look to end on a high note.

Currently the Rebels are in 17th position on the overall table after just one victory, with only the Sunwolves worse off after 14 fixtures. Their opponents this week, the Jaguares, have won five more games than their hosts but still are some way off where they would like to be.

What may give the Rebels hope of ending on a high is that they have earned two wins and one bonus-point loss in their final match of each of the last four campaigns, including a three-point win against the Reds last season. They'll also hope their fans come out in support, possibly for the last time.

The Jaguares will take to the field on a Friday for just the second time this season but haven't won on a weekday since their first Super Rugby fixture in Round 1 of 2016. They have two wins from four previous encounters with Australian opposition, having lost the other two.

Last week's win at the Waratahs came as a surprise following a recent three-match losing run and it's a certainty that will have lifted a great deal of gloom around the side after another disappointing campaign that will see the international-filled squad miss out on the play-offs.

It's unsurprising the visitors have stuck with the vast majority of that XV that won in Sydney and their fans will hope continuity breeds success as they look to finish in 10th place, which will be a three-spot improvement on last term. However, many expected more from them.

The last time these teams met: Yet to play

Players to watch: He's been in impressive form of late and wing Marika Koroibete is the go-to-man for the Rebels in terms of try scoring. Four of the last six Rebels' tries have been scored by Koroibete, who has bagged two doubles across his last three matches, so they will hope to get the ball in his hands as much as possible at AAMI Park. Also keep an eye on returning Wallaby Sean McMahon in their back-row.

Also returning this week is Jaguares centre Bautista Ezcurra, with the 22-year-old looking a decent prospect in midfield. He is the only change to the backline and will hope to slip in seamlessly as the Jaguares look to come away with the points. An entertaining runner, his battle with Reece Hodge in midfield will be a good watch while Nicolás Sánchez will, as always, need to direct the traffic from fly-half.

Team news: Rebels head coach Tony McGahan has made just two changes to the starting line-up that lost to the Force in Perth last week with flank Sean McMahon and full-back Jack Maddocks both back. McMahon missed the game against the Brumbies before the four-week international break and the side's return against the Force after he suffered a wrist injury against the Crusaders. The Rebels have named an unchanged front row with James Hanson, Laurie Weeks and Toby Smith, who will make his 50th Super Rugby appearance for the club. Maddocks will make his third Super Rugby start after McGahan promoted the rising star to the team following his return from injury off the bench last week.

Jaguares head coach Raúl Pérez has made two changes to his starting line-up. In the pack Rodrigo Báez comes in for Juan Manuel Leguizamón on the flank while in the backline Bautista Ezcurra replaces Jerónimo de la Fuente at inside centre. He lines up alongside Matías Orlando in their midfield. Otherwise it’s the same XV that defeated the Waratahs last weekend as the Jaguares look to end their season on a high.

Form: It's now seven straight defeats for the Rebels with their only win this season coming way back on April 15. They have conceded 537 points this year at an average of 38 per game. The Rebels have leaked 75 tries, scoring 21 of their own, for worrying numbers in a campaign.

As mentioned, the Jaguares ended a three-game losing run last week with victory at the Waratahs. That was only their second win since the end of March and they'll hope it breeds confidence to their game. The win over the 'Tahs was also just their second away victory of 2017.

Prediction: Emotions will be high on Friday, but after that Sydney win we just feel the visitors will have their tails up. Jaguares by 5.

The teams:

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Tom English, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements (one to be omitted): 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Fereti Sa’aga, 19 Esei Haangana, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Sione Tuipulotu, 23 Semisi Tupou, 24 Jonah Placid

Jaguares: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Rodrigo Báez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Benjamin Macome, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Ramiro Herrera, 18 Lucas Noguera, 19 Ignacio Larrague, 20 Juan Cruz Guillemain, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Santiago Cordero

Date: Friday, July 14
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19:45 local (09:45 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, James Leckie
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore