This was published 7 years ago
Melbourne Rebels lose winger Sefa Naivalu, await fitness tests on key players
By Roy Ward
Melbourne Rebels have given several senior players until the last minute to prove their fitness to face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night.
Several players, including starting lock Culum Retallick, did not fly with the team on Wednesday but stayed in Melbourne for further training after being injured in the loss to NSW Waratahs last round.
Late decision: James Hanson has been given extra time to prove his fitness before the match in Dunedin.Credit: Getty Images
Retallick, James Hanson and Dom Day were all replaced due to concussion, with Day also suffering a nasty cut to his head. But all three have been named in the Rebels squad to face the Highlanders.
Whether they play or not will depend on fitness tests. They could still fly to New Zealand and play.
The Rebels named a 25-man squad – with two players to be omitted – which did not include reserve half-back Ben Meehan, nor starting winger Sefa Naivalu, who dislocated his shoulder in the final minutes of the Waratahs game.
Wallabies lock Lopeti Timani has been named on the bench with Day, while Retallick and Hanson have been named to start, but exactly who makes the final 23 appears to be a game-time decision, with several players still needing to pass fitness tests, either in Melbourne or at Thursday night's captain's run in Dunedin.
The Rebels have also picked their under-20s captain and Australian under-20s squad member Esei Haangana on the extended bench, so he could make his Super Rugby debut.
Haangana is a highly rated young lock, and he could be thrown into the deep end against the Highlanders, considering the Rebels' injury problems in that position.
The Rebels play the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday at 5.35pm (AEDT).
Melbourne Rebels' team to face the Highlanders: 1. Fereti Sa'aga, 2. James Hanson, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Culum Retallick, 5. Steve Cummins, 6. Jordy Reid, 7. Colby Fainga'a, 8. Amanaki Mafi, 9. Nic Stirzaker (captain), 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Reece Hodge,13. Mitch Inman, 14. Tom English, 15. Jack Debreczeni. Reserves (two to be omitted): Siliva Siliva, Tom Moloney, Tyrel Lomax, Dominic Day, Lopeti Timani, Jake Schatz, Esei Haangana, Mick Snowden, Sione Tuipulotu, Ben Volavola.