The Melbourne Rebels have dropped Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps to the bench and replaced him with former Reds utility back Richard Kingi for Saturday night’s Super Rugby clash against Queensland.
Rebels coach Damien Hill has made five changes – three personnel and two positional – to the starting side which lost 35-19 to the NSW Waratahs last Friday, including prize signing Kurtley Beale at fullback.
Beale has recovered from a lingering hamstring problem to start at No.15, forcing Mark Gerrard to the wing and Lachlan Mitchell to the bench.
Kingi was an impressive pre-season performer in Melbourne and gets his chance to shine from the kick-off at Suncorp Stadium instead of Phipps, who finished last season as Australia’s No.2 halfback.
Young forward Luke Jones moves from the back-row into the second-row for suspended lock Adam Byrnes, allowing for the promoted Tim Davidson to play at flanker.
Former St George Illawarra NRL premiership forward Jarrod Saffy has shrugged off injury to be named on the bench.
No.8 Gareth Delve remains as captain with Stirling Mortlock still sidelined.
Rebels: Kurtley Beale, Mark Gerrard, Mitch Inman, James O’Connor, Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Richard Kingi, Gareth Delve (capt), Tom Chamberlain, Tim Davidson, Hugh Pyle, Luke Jones, Laurie Weeks, Adam Freier, Nic Henderson. Res: Luke Holmes, Rodney Blake, Alister Campbell, Jarrod Saffy, Nick Phipps, Lachlan Mitchell, Julian Huxley.