Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24772888-20140404044329

The Highlanders and Melbourne Rebels kick off the 8th Round of Super Rugby this season and they will be playing each other for the fourth time.

The Rebels joined Super Rugby in 2011 so the Highlanders have only played the Rebels three times in Super Rugby.

http://w.atch.me/nOOmDV

In those three matches the Highlanders have won twice and the Rebels have won once. This gives the Highlanders a record of winning 67% of their matches against the Melbourne side.

The average score when the Highlanders play the Rebels across all venues is: Highlanders 40 Rebels 23

This weekend the match will be played in Dunedin where the teams have only met once before. They last time the Rebels visited Dunedin they were thumped 43-12 and that was in March 2012.

As the Highlanders and Rebels have only played once in Dunedin there isn't a proper average score for the venue. The Highlanders are therefore undefeated at home against the Rebels.

The Highlanders go into the match on the back of 30-12 a loss to the Blues last week and they were never really in the match in Auckland.

There was a surprising drop in form and intensity compared to their 35-31 victory over the Hurricanes prior to the Blues. It should also be said that the Blues took a big step up which made the Highlanders look worse than they probably were.

In terms of selection the Rebels have made four changes for this week and their star player Jason Woodward who inspired the team last week has retained his place. The Rebels have lost Tom Kingston and Japanese International Male Sau replaces Kingston on the right wing, with Jordy Reid and Alex Rokobaro injected into the matchday squad as reserves for the first time in 2014.

The Highlanders have named Aaron Smith to win his 50th Super Rugby cap and there is a shuffle in the front row, due to in form prop Kane Hames' 1 week suspension for a dangerous charge so Chris King move into loosehead and Ma'afu Fia get his second start of the 2014 season in the tighthead position.

Gareth Evans rounds out the loose forward trio for this round 8 match up while Shane Christie and Nasi Manu will be looking for another solid performance after proving to be a dynamic defensive duo on the field.

The backline sees Shaun Treeby and Kurt Baker back in the starting XV while Trent Renata has been brought into the match day 23.

The Rebels started the season with a solid victory over the Cheetahs but then slipped back and lost three matches in a row. Last week however they shocked 2013 finalists the Brumbies.

Both of the Rebels best performances have been at home and they have yet to deliver away from home.

If there has been one big change in the way that matches are being decided in 2014 it is home advantage. Teams are winning more at home and this weekend the Highlanders have home advantage.

The Highlanders have played five matches so far this season and they only venue where they have won is at home in Dunedin.

This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 3/HD.

Average score: Highlanders 40 Rebels 23

Last three results 12 Jul 2013 Highlanders v Rebels 37-38 Melbourne 30 Mar 2012 Highlanders v Rebels 43-12 Dunedin 15 Apr 2011 Highlanders v Rebels 40-18 Melbourne

Highlanders overall record against the Rebels Played 3,Wins 2 ,Losses 1, 0

Match No. 43: Highlanders v Rebels Date :Friday 4 April Venue : Forsyth Barr Stadium Kick Off local: 19:35 Referee: Chris Pollock Assistant Ref 1: Garratt Williamson Assistant Ref 2: Mike Lash TMO: Ben Skeen

Teams

Highlanders

1 . Chris King, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Ma'afu Fia, 4. Jarrad Hoeata, 5. Joe Wheeler, 6. Gareth Evans, 7. Shane Christie, 8. Nasi Manu (co.captain), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Kurt Baker, 12. Shaun Treeby, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Richard Buckman, 15. Ben Smith (co.captain)

Reserves, 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Craig Millar, 18. Matias Diaz, 19. Josh Bekhuis, 20. Elliot Dixon, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Trent Renata, 23. TJ Ioane

Rebels

1. Toby Smith, 2. Shota Horie, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Hugh Pyle, 5. Luke Jones, 6. Sean McMahon, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Scott Higginbotham (C), 9. Nic Stirzaker, 10. Bryce Hegarty, 11. Tom English, 12. Mitch Inman, 13. Tamati Ellison, 14. Male Sau, 15. Jason Woodward

Replacements : 16. Pat Leafa, 17. Paul Alo-Emilie, 18. Cruze Ah-Nau, 19. Cadeyrn Neville, 20. Jordy Reid, 21. Luke Burgess, 22. Angus Roberts, 23. Alex Rokobaro 