Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill says winger Cooper Vuna owes his teammates a big performance as the Super Rugby franchise attempts to climb off the bottom of the Australian conference.
Vuna was banned for one game following his post-match punch-up with fellow Wallaby Kurtley Beale a fortnight ago.
Beale, who was the instigator, is still suspended indefinitely, but Vuna will return off the bench in Saturday’s twilight fixture against the Western Force in Perth.
The Force sit just one point ahead of the Rebels, with both teams desperate to improve on their dismal 1-5 records.
Hill said Vuna would have a point to prove on Saturday, and needed to display a strong showing to earn back a spot in the starting line-up.
“The instances are in the past, but he knows he owes his teammates a big performance,” Hill said on Friday.
“I expect Cooper to have an absolute standout game, depending on how much time he gets.”
With the Brumbies (5-1), Reds (5-2) and Waratahs (3-3) all in the top eight, Saturday’s match looms as a critical battle for the Force and Rebels in their attempt to avoid collecting the wooden spoon in the Australian conference.
The Force are unlucky not to have won more games this year, while the Rebels are licking their wounds following a disastrous tour of South Africa that included a 64-7 mauling at the hands of the Sharks.
Coach Michael Foley has been impressed with his Force’s endeavour this season, but said they needed to learn how to close out tight games.
“It’s a critical period for us these next four or five games, because we do want to convert some of those opportunities that we create,” Foley said.
“We’ve been in games we could have won, and probably let them slip away.
“That creates frustration. But we’ve done a lot of good things to put ourselves in that position in the first place.
“I expect the Rebels to be a very desperate opposition, which makes them dangerous.”
Force winger Nick Cummins is a chance to return from a knee injury in next week’s clash with the Crusaders.
But scrumhalf Brett Sheehan (ankle) is still a month away from playing again.
