Melbourne Rebels up the stakes ahead of showdown with ACT Brumbies
Melbourne Rebels have stacked up the tries in their opening two games but stand-in captain Tom English knows fitness and resilience will decide the winner of their clash with ACT Brumbies on Friday night.
The Rebels are chasing their first ever 3-0 start to a season and after taking a maximum 10 points so far, a third win and even a third bonus point would put them in a commanding position on the Australian conference ladder.
“Australian derbies are always ones which are quite physical and with the Brumbies being such a physical team you can just double that,” said English, who turned 27 on Thursday, ahead of the AAMI Park clash.
Tom English.
Photo: AAP“The game will go for 60 minutes and then whoever has the most wind in their sails in that last 20 minutes will really run away with it.
“We have to take a lot of pride in the work we do early in the game and use that as a platform for the finish.”
English will captain the Rebels for the first time on Friday night after star lock and captain Adam Coleman couldn’t overcome a sternum problem in time to play.
“To lead the boys out will be quite a special moment and something I’ll cherish forever,” English said.
“But it won’t change much for me as I’ll have my game callers around me in Willie [Genia] and Jack [Debreczeni] who will steer the ship tactically and I’ll just talk to the ref - I’ll just be nice and smile and hopefully a few penalties will go our way.”
Ross Haylett-Petty will take Coleman’s place and become the play caller during line outs, it’s a key role against a Brumbies side who excel at their set pieces but English said he had full faith in his side to withstand all they throw at them.
With the Rebels facing four Australian conference opponents in their first four games, every game has greater importance, especially for a club who tallied a total of nine points all last season.
“To get a win against another Australian conference side is almost like getting double points because the teams we beat have to go away and beat the other Australian sides,” English said.
“Traditionally the Brumbies are quite a set piece orientated team and are very physical so we know in those two departments we have to front up on Friday night.”
The Rebels host the Brumbies at AAMI Park on Friday at 7.45pm.
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