Rebels v Blues: Teams
The Blues will be out to get their dwindling Super Rugby season back on track when they take on the Rebels in Melbourne on Thursday.
Last Updated: 05/04/12 11:38am
The Rebels have made seven changes, three of them positional, for Thursday's Super Rugby clash with the Blues in Melbourne.
Coach Damien Hill welcomes back Danny Cipriani from injury, suffered in his side's 30-29 victory over the Western Force a fortnight ago.
The 24-year-old put in an impressive display for the Rebels to help them end a 12-match losing streak, days after he sealed his return to English rugby with Sale.
His return sees James O'Connor move to inside centre, where the Wallabies star will partner Mitch Inman who returns from injury - Lloyd Johansson drops to the bench as a result.
Lachlan Mitchell shifts out wide where he replaces the suspended Cooper Vuna, while Mark Gerrard moves from right to left wing.
In the forwards, flanker Michael Lipman is promoted to the starting line-up and takes over the number seven jersey from Tom Chamberlain while up front Rodney Blake comes in for the benched Laurie Weeks.
All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu has been dropped to the bench for the Blues
with coach Pat Lam preferring Alby Mathewson and Gareth Anscombe at half-back for the match.
Coming off the bye, Lam denies it's a fitness issue.
"It's what we think is best for the team as far as the game plan and what we need to do against the Rebels and what we need to do so the structure of the game, the whole lot of it," he said.
Hooker Keven Mealamu returns for the match in Melbourne after missing the 26-25 loss to the Hurricanes through injury.
The inclusion of the Blues captain is one of four changes to the starting XV for Thursday's must-win match.
The Blues also regain danger man Rene Ranger, who comes back on the left wing after serving a suspension.
Ranger replaces the injured David Raikuna as part of a back three reshuffle which in which Rudi Wulf moves from left wing to full-back and Lachie Munro from full-back to the right wing.
Despite an impressive performance in his Blues debut against the Hurricanes, lock Liaki Moli has been unwell for the past week and has been unable to train with the team, paving the way for Filo Paulo to join Ali Williams in the locking department.
Rebels: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Mark Gerrard, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (c), 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Alister Campbell, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Julian Huxley, 22 Lloyd Johansson.
Blues: 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Lachie Munro, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Brad Mika, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Dan Pryor, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Hadleigh Parkes.
