The final match in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season sees the Rebels host the Highlanders in Melbourne on Sunday and by match day the visitors will know whether they need a result to make the play offs.
Rebels v Highlanders, Sunday 29th May, Melbourne, KO 06:00 (South African time)
Referee: Jordan way
Assistants: Nic Berry, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Oli Kellett
Weather Forecast – Melbourne
Rebels:
This is the final action of the tournament for the Rebels who are currently in tenth position with a record of 3 wins and 10 defeats. Their victories this season came against Moana Pasifika 26-22, Fijian Drua (42-27) and away to the Force (22-21).
Last time out they lost 45-22 to the Hurricanes in Wellington. Earlier results against New Zealand sides comprise of a 33-30 home defeat to the Chiefs, they crashed and burned 71-28 to the Blues at Eden Park and they were beaten 52-17 by the Crusaders in Melbourne in the Super Round.
Highlanders:
After 3 successive victories the Highlanders shot themselves in the foot last weekend when they went down 32-20 at home to the Waratahs.
That defeat saw the Highlanders finish the round in eighth place, the last of the play off places but they were only 3 points clear of the Force who host the Hurricanes in Perth on Saturday. The result of that match will determine whether the Highlanders need something from this game.
Other results against Australian sides include a 61-10 thrashing of the Force in Dunedin, a 29-17 win over the Reds in Brisbane and a 28-17 defeat to the Brumbies in Melbourne in the Super Round.
Team News (subject to change)
Rebels: Matt Gibbon, Jordan Uelese, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Josh Canham, Michael Wells (c), Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota, James Tuttle, Carter Gordon, Glen Vaihu, Matt To'omua, Andrew Kellaway, Lukas Ripley, Reece Hodge
Reserves: James Hanson, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Ross Haylett-Petty, Richard Hardwick, Joe Powell, Nick Jooste, George Worth
Highlanders: Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes (co-c), Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Aaron Smith (co-c), Marty Banks, Rory Van Vugt, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Scott Gregory, Liam Coombes-Fabling
Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Sam Caird, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Vilimoni Koroi, Denny Solomona
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Average early show
Rebels +7.5 points at 9/10
Highlanders -7.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
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Bet: to follow
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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