Rebels v Hurricanes: Teams

Former Reds scrum-half Richard Kingi gets his first start for the Melbourne Rebels, at full-back, against the Hurricanes on Friday.

Kingi replaces the injured Julian Huxley in the starting XV while South African JP Du Plessis makes his debut in the matchday 22 on the bench.

Up front, Rodney "Rodzilla" Blake will start at loosehead prop, Hugh Pyle moves into the second row and Adam Byrnes will start on the bench.

In the back row, Michael Lipman returns from injury at openside flanker, replacing Tom Chamberlain.

In another change amongst the backs Luke Rooney will line up on the wing, with Afusipa Taumoepeau moving to the bench.

Both Heath Tessmann and Nic Henderson will be rested this week.

Sam Cordingley (hip), James Hilgendorf (ac joint), Hoani Macdonald (hand), Mark Gerrard (ac joint), Kevin O'Neill (calf), Julian Huxley (groin) were not considered for selection due to injury.

Horrendous

However, Rebels coach Rod Macqueen refused to use his team's injury worries as an excuse for their horrendous performance on Friday when they lost 53-3 to the Reds.

"We put a lot of work into our preparation, obviously we've got professionals preparing the players and we try to peak them at the right time," added the coach.

"For whatever reason it just didn't work this week and they weren't up for the game and it showed.

"The week before we were a lot more urgent, we had numbers there at the breakdown and were securing the ball time and time again.

"Against the Reds they were beating us to the breakdown consistently."

Hurricanes have made just one change to their matchday 22 to face the Rebels on Friday as Serge Lilo starts from the bench.

Lilo's inclusion amongst the replacements comes at the expense of Mark Reddish, while the starting XV that lost the Blues last week remain intact.

That means that Daniel Kirkpatrick will get another shot at fly-half over 2010 All Black Aaron Cruden.

Hammett said he was happy with the way his side performed for most of the match against the Blues.

"Up to that 65 minute mark I think we built momentum, we got the intensity that we wanted and so we need to take the point before that 65 minute mark and carry that on to the Rebels game," he told ONE News.

The 'Canes are still without Piri Weepu (ankle), Karl Lowe (knee), Hosea Gear (shoulder), Laurence Corlett (calf), Rodney So'oialo (lower back) and Alapati Leiua (knee).

Rebels:15 Richard Kingi, 14 Luke Rooney, 13 Lachlan Mitchell, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Rodney Blake.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Adam Byrnes, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 JP Du Plessis, 21 Peter Betham, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Jayden Hayward.