Melbourne Rebels gear up to right the wrongs of last year’s Super Rugby season

THE Melbourne Rebels are back on the training track and coach Tony McGahan says his side is in far better shape than it was this time last year.

Sione Tuipulotu and Jonah Placid get physical during Melbourne Rebels training at Gosch’s Paddock. Picture: Tim Carrafa

THE Melbourne Rebels are back on the training track and coach Tony McGahan says his side is in far better shape than it was this time last year.

Yesterday marked 100 days until the Super Rugby season opener against the Auckland Blues at AAMI Park and was also the first time the team got together for pre-season training.

Wallaby squad members Sean McMahon, Reece Hodge, Lopeti Timani, James Hanson, Sefa Naivalu, Marika Koroibete, Nic Stirzaker and Toby Smith are in Europe, while Amanaki Mafi and Dom Day remain with their Top League teams in Japan.

Sione Tuipulotu is obviously happy to be back in training. Picture: Tim Carrafa

But considering the overly populated injury list he had to deal with during his side’s 2016 Super Rugby campaign, McGahan is more than happy with the state of his team three months out from the start of the new season.

McGahan struggled to field a fit 22-man squad for Melbourne’s final round clash with the Queensland Reds in July, but the coach is hopeful those woes have been consigned to the past.

Only Dom Shipperley and Rob Leota — both with knee injuries — remain on the long-term injury list.

“We’ve come back in pretty good shape,” McGahan said.

“Last year we came in pretty banged up at the start of pre-season, this year we come in in really good shape.

“The medical team and strength and conditioning have done a really good job over the break.

The Melbourne Rebels get into the swing of training on day one of preseason. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“The lead in to what they’re developing in their program will enable us to have a really good four or five weeks in to Christmas and then go from January.”

The international absentee list has seen the Rebels give three Victorian youngsters the opportunity to train with the side on development contracts.

Fereti Sa’aga, Ikapote Tupai and Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano all impressed for the Melbourne Rising during the National Rugby Championship.

“We’ve still got eight guys away on representative commitments or who have not joined us from Japan,” McGahan said.

“It allows us the opportunity to bring in some young players in to the system to have a look at them.”

Originally published as Melbourne Rebels gear up to right the wrongs of last year’s Super Rugby season