Melbourne Rebels have their future in their own hands, even if they dont have their best player.
For so much of this week, Australian rugby has debated whether clubs should bow to the wishes of the Wallabies or fight to have their star players every game.
Rebels half-back Will Genia could have been back from a knee injury and playing against Auckland Blues at a wet Eden Park on Saturday, but Wallabies coaches asked for him to sit out to be fully fit for the upcoming three-Test series with Ireland.
Rebels coach Dave Wessels thinks a successful national team matters to Australian rugby so he didnt pick Genia, while ACT Brumbies, who play at home and need a big crowd, fought such calls.
Wessels admitted Genia was fit and would have likely been selected if he didnt have Test duties although understudy Michael Ruru is playing well in his place.
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“We need to change the conversation in Australian rugby and start living by each others happiness and not each others misery,” Wessels said.
Rugby Australia also supplements the wages of those Super Rugby stars with handsome national contracts, without those deals the likes of Israel Folau or Marika Koroibete could have been lost to the NRL or Europe years ago. That point has been left out of some commentary this week.
What Wessels wants is for his side, who have won their past two games, to take the fight to the Blues who have only won three games this season.
But Australian teams have won just once in the past 39 games against New Zealand rivals.
Finals are still in play for the Rebels, so a win or even a bonus point loss would be invaluable, the question is whether they can seize their moment.
“The game has come at a good time,” Wessels said.
“We have come out of a rough patch and the guys are feeling pretty confident, they are also much more aware that we can handle whatever is thrown at us. In that Brumbies game we were behind and managed to fight our way out of it.
“Our ability to play 80 minutes is growing and that gives us confident going into this game.”
The Rebels play the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday at 3.15pm.
Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.
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