Match Preview – Rebels vs Jaguares

The final round of the regular season of Super Rugby takes place this weekend. For both the Melbourne Rebels and Jaguares it is the final match of the year. For the Rebels it may be more than that with one Australian side to be axed from the competition. Either the Rebels or Western Force will be no more.

Playing at home the Rebels go into their home match on Friday in 17th position. They are ahead only of the Sunwolves, Japan’s Super Rugby franchise. Los Jaguares go into Friday’s match as favorites though are a team to have had a roller coaster ride all season.

Los Jaguares enter having beaten the Waratahs in Sydney last Friday. They now have the opportunity to complte back-to-back wins over Australian opposition. But with the Rebels possibly facing the chop a win would be bitter-sweet. Indeed the teams’ are to meet for the first time.

The Melbourne Rebels will run out onto AAMI Park with two changes from last round. Head Coach Tony McGahan has Wallabies Sean McMahon back to fitness while Jack Maddocks returns at fullback.

McMahon is to join a number of Wallabies in the side. They include front-rowers James Hanson and Toby Smith, second-rower Lopeti Timani, winger Marika Koroibete and center Reece Hodge.

Los Jaguares Head Coach Raúl Pérez has also made two changes. One of them is also at flanker with Rodrigo Báez replacing the injured Juan Manuel Leguizamón. In the backs Baustista Ezcurra gets his second start of the season at his favored position of inside center. He replaced Jerónimo de la Fuente.

Pérez has also made alterations to the bench. Juan Cruz Guillemáin is se to feature for the first time for Los Jaguares all year. He played in 2016 but, in 2017, has been behind Ignacio Larrague, Benjamín Macome and Marcos Kremer. Macome will again play out of position at lock, partnering Guido Petti.

Cruz Guillemáin and Larrague are both to to replacements against the Rebels. The reasoning is that Pérez does not have a specialist back-rower currently in camp in Australia. Macome is thereby set to move to flanker or No 8 if required.

Los Jaguares win last Friday was the team’s 6th of the season. It places the team at 10th overall in Super Rugby. This is with a record of 372 points scored and 357 conceded. This includes scoring 45 tries, while conceding 43 to opponents.

The Rebels enter Friday’s match on a seven match losing-streak. The team has just one solitary victory all season. While Los Jaguares have had their own struggles the team has comp-aratively done far better. The win over the Waratahs ought to have the side cnapping at the opportunity of finishing on a high. Los Jaguares are expected to win cleanly.

MELBOURNE REBELS
15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Tom English, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker (Capt.), 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: 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

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 (Capt.), 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: 7:45pm local (6:45am Argentina)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)