Five Rebels selected in Wallabies squad for June Test series

DESPITE the club’s diabolical 2017 Super Rugby season, five Melbourne Rebels players will feature for the Wallabies in Test matches against Fiji, Scotland and Italy next month.

Marika Koroibete could make his debut in June.

DESPITE the club’s diabolical 2017 Super Rugby season, five Melbourne Rebels players will feature for the Wallabies in Test matches against Fiji, Scotland and Italy next month.

And national team coach Michael Cheika is adamant the quintet is capable of making an impact in green and gold despite the Rebels having won just the one match so far this season.

Forwards Toby Smith and Lopeti Timani and backs Reece Hodge and Sefa Naivalu will have the opportunity to add to their Test caps, while NRL convert Marika Koroibete is in line to make his international debut.

Marika Koroibete could make his debut in June.

All five Australian Super Rugby sides have won less than 50 per cent of the 12 games they’ve played.

But Cheika insists that record is not indicative of the collective ability of the Wallabies squad for internationals.

SEE THE FULL WALLABIES SQUAD HERE!

“I’m not having any of the questions about ‘is it hard to pick from the teams we’ve got?’ This is Australian rugby. They’re our players and they’re capable of doing anything,” Cheika said.

“It’s about getting the mindset right, making them understand that they can do it and then going out there and doing their absolute best.”

Superboot Reece Hodge has been retained.

The Wallabies play Fiji at AAMI Park on Saturday week.

And with a distinct chance there will be at least some Rebels representation in the Wallabies matchday squad, Cheika said yesterday he had not taken into account the Rebels on-field woes when choosing individuals for his line-up.

“They might be playing in different positions (at the Rebels), they might have a different defensive setup, they might have different philosophies around kicking, they might have different priorities with fitness, so it’s a totally different field,” he said.

“You’ve got to try to look at the players in what they’re doing, look at what they’ve done off the field as well and try to make the best selections for what you think you’re going to need around your team.”

Cheika said prop Smith had been impressive since returning from a serious hamstring injury, while he is confident loose forward Timani can return to the form that saw him take last season’s Spring Tour of Europe by storm.

As for winger Koroibete, Cheika said he is seeing constant improvement from the former Melbourne Storm star.

“He’s understanding a bit more, getting himself right positionally,” he said.

“There’s a lot of work rate and he’s taking some opportunities with the ball.”

WALLABIES v FIJI

AAMI Park

3pm Saturday, June 10

Tickets: Ticketek

REBELS IN 34-MAN SQUAD

Toby Smith (prop) 4 Tests

Lopeti Timani (utility forward) 6 Tests

Reece Hodge (utility back) 10 Tests

Marika Koroibete (winger) uncapped

Sefa Naivalu (winger) 6 Tests