Gerrard hoping to face Brumbies

Updated May 30, 2012 15:48:29

Melbourne Rebels veteran Mark Gerrard is set for a surprise return from injury to face the Brumbies in their Super Rugby match on Friday night.

It was feared Gerrard had fractured his sternum in a massive tackle in their weekend loss away to the Hurricanes but the former Wallabies utility back has put his hand up to play the Australian conference leaders at AAMI Park.

It is a relief for the Rebels with fly half Kurtley Beale (shoulder), centres Lachlan Mitchell (head) and Lloyd Johansson (finger), and flanker Michael Lipman (head) joining their hefty injury list.

"He trained yesterday and he trained well so we're very confident he'll be right to play," Rebels coach Damien Hill said.

"He really is very keen to play and he's got through all the training sessions and he's ready and raring to go."

Hill says Gerrard has taken his game to a new level this season with the arrival of players such as Beale and O'Connor sharing the leadership.

"He's using his skill set better than last year - his kicks for touch and place kicking is one of the best in competition," he said.

When the Rebels hosted the Brumbies early last season the home side was coming off a 43-0 loss to New South Wales, almost as bad as their 66-24 beating by the Hurricanes.

They broke through for their inaugural win 25-24.

Hill says it would be nice to have a similar rebound but believed the Brumbies were vastly different in 2012.

"You can't compare the two, the Brumbies outfit this year is a vastly different outfit to what they were both in personnel and performance," he said.

"They're the top of the Australian conference and rightly so and we know we're in for a tough game."

The Rebels' four Wallabies training squad members - Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Nick Phipps and Cooper Vuna - will rejoin the side for their final training session on Thursday.

"They all seem to have taken it in their stride ... it can be difficult for them to put their minds on a different team and different set of organisational structures but we're confident they'll be fine," Hill said.

Beale, who is hopeful of playing in the Wallabies' final June Test against Wales, is already back at training after shoulder surgery on Monday.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted May 30, 2012 15:48:29

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Rebels shift Gerrard to centres

Updated April 13, 2011 20:38:00

The Melbourne Rebels have reshuffled their backline with coach Rod Macqueen finally having most of his players fit and available.

After a wave of injuries, all of the backs except Julian Huxley (groin) were up for selection for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders at AAMI Park, with the Rebels gunning for their third successive victory.

Former Test full-back Mark Gerrard has shifted to the centres, with blossoming custodian Richard Kingi named at the back.

That allowed Macqueen to accommodate the return from injury of bustling winger Cooper Vuna.

Lachlan Mitchell, who played outside centre in their win over the Force before last weekend's bye, is on the right wing with Luke Rooney relegated to the bench.

In the forwards Rodney Blake has returned to the starting 15 and replaced Nic Henderson at loose-head prop.

Flanker Hoani Macdonald will make his return from a long-term hand injury on the bench.

For the visiting Highlanders, All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan has been relegated to the bench.

Cowan, who has started all of the Highlanders' matches in 2011, is replaced by Manawatu and NZ Maori half-back Aaron Smith.

Rebels (15-1): Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (c), Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (vc), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake. Res: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Hoani Macdonald, Luke Rooney, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted April 13, 2011 18:49:00

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Interview: Mark Gerrard

Published:Friday, June 10, 2011 10:25 AESTExpires:Thursday, September 8, 2011 10:25 AEST

Rebels full-back Mark Gerrard told Grandstand's Nick Smith that he sustained a hip pointer in Melbourne's loss to the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia

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Gerrard to return for Rebels

Posted May 19, 2011 11:34:00

Former Wallabies star Mark Gerrard returns from injury to boost the struggling Melbourne Rebels in their Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Gerrard will partner skipper Stirling Mortlock in the centres for Saturday's match.

Thrashed 47-10 by the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend, the Rebels (3-9) badly need to get back on track against the much-improved Cheetahs (4-8) who sit four places above them on the ladder in 10th spot.

Gerrard's return sees Afusipa Taumoepeau drop to the bench while sharp attacker Cooper Vuna replaces Lachlan Mitchell on the right wing.

Coach Rod Macqueen has opted to rest impressive import Gareth Delve with Tim Davidson to play at No.8.

Tackling machine Jarrod Saffy returns to openside flanker with Michael Lipman dropping to the bench and former Western Force forward Luke Jones gets his Rebels starting debut as blindside flanker replacing Hoani Macdonald.

Prop Rodney Blake and five eighth James Hilgendorf make their returns on the bench.

Melbourne Rebels: Richard Kingi, Cooper Vuna, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Luke Rooney, Julian Huxley, Nick Phipps, Tim Davidson, Jarrod Saffy, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Greg Somerville. Res: Heath Tessmann, Rodney Blake, Kevin O'Neill, Michael Lipman, James Hilgendorf, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Peter Betham.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

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Gerrard injury blow for Rebels

Posted April 22, 2011 16:26:00

The Melbourne Rebels have been hit by the late withdrawal of Mark Gerrard from tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Blues in Auckland.

Gerrard felt some soreness in his hamstring yesterday and has had to pull out of the match.

Afusipa Taumoepeau will now come onto the bench with Julian Huxley moving to inside centre and Richard Kingi starting at full-back.

The match begins at 5:30pm AEST.

- AAP

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Gerrard denies Rebels drinking culture

Posted April 16, 2011 16:21:00

Rebels veteran Mark Gerrard says his Super rugby side does not have a problem drinking culture.

Gerrard scoffed at the accusation that Melbourne players need to be "reined in" and suggested it came from disgruntled sources in New South Wales.

"That's from New South Wales papers is that right? We just signed Kurtley Beale so that's what I put into that," he said of Melbourne luring the Test full-back from the Waratahs from 2012.

"There's always been that rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne."

Gerrard did not proclaim the entire squad was a bunch of cleanskins and indeed the Rebels English five-eighth Danny Cipriani is a regular in the social papers.

At the start of the season Cipriani was tossed from a nightclub after stealing a bottle of vodka in the early hours of the morning.

But Gerrard, speaking after his side's awful performance in their 40-18 loss to the Highlanders, said there was not a grog culture.

"We pride ourselves on being a tight-knit group and our culture is not that of going out and partying all the time, that's not us," he said.

"Some boys may choose to do what they choose to do but if you look at most of the team, we've all got kids so I don't know where the grog culture comes out."

The Rebels continue to deny reports that Force wunderkind James O'Connor has already signed to join Beale in Melbourne and it will be officially unveiled on Monday.

The Force issued a statement on Friday night that they still hoped to retain the Test performer.

"The Western Force is continuing negotiations with James O'Connor's management with both parties committed to the process," the statement said.

The 20-year-old himself tweeted: "Interesting - only headlines expecting on Monday is big win for the Force, reports not right!"

O'Connor would be an ideal replacement for Cipriani, who continues to be linked with UK and French rugby clubs but Rebels coach Rod Macqueen believed the English Test hopeful would honour his two-year deal.

"I know there's speculation out there and that's always going to happen with someone like Danny," Macqueen said.

"From our point of view he's doing well and we're happy with his form and he's happy to be here.

"He's certainly different, and the way he plays is different, he's a very talented player and we're happy to have him."

- AAP

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Rebels shift Gerrard to centres

Posted April 13, 2011 18:49:00

The Melbourne Rebels have reshuffled their backline with coach Rod Macqueen finally having most of his players fit and available.

After a wave of injuries, all of the backs except Julian Huxley (groin) were up for selection for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders at AAMI Park, with the Rebels gunning for their third successive victory.

Former Test full-back Mark Gerrard has shifted to the centres, with blossoming custodian Richard Kingi named at the back.

That allowed Macqueen to accommodate the return from injury of bustling winger Cooper Vuna.

Lachlan Mitchell, who played outside centre in their win over the Force before last weekend's bye, is on the right wing with Luke Rooney relegated to the bench.

In the forwards Rodney Blake has returned to the starting 15 and replaced Nic Henderson at loose-head prop.

Flanker Hoani Macdonald will make his return from a long-term hand injury on the bench.

For the visiting Highlanders, All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan has been relegated to the bench.

Cowan, who has started all of the Highlanders' matches in 2011, is replaced by Manawatu and NZ Maori half-back Aaron Smith.

Rebels (15-1): Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (c), Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (vc), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake. Res: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Hoani Macdonald, Luke Rooney, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.

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