Faulkner, Koroibete Return to Face Reds

Wallaby prop Tetera Faulkner and winger Marika Koroibete will make their returns from injury, as the Melbourne Rebels make three changes ahead of their crucial clash against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
 

Faulkner will make his first Super Rugby appearance since the win over the Brumbies in Canberra in May, while Koroibete has shaken off a back injury that saw him be a late withdrawal from last week’s match against the Waratahs.

 
Jermaine Ainsley – fresh from his inclusion in the Wallabies squad from the June series against Ireland – will start at tighthead.

 
Wallaby flanker Richard Hardwick also makes a return to the Rebels line-up via the bench; the 23-year-old in line for his first Super Rugby match since injuring his knee against the Bulls back in Round 11.
 
The Rebels will also celebrate a special milestone with flanker Colby Fainga’a in line to make his 100^th Super Rugby appearance on Friday night. Fainga’a joined the Rebels in 2014 after 35 appearances for the Brumbies.
  

 
Melbourne Rebels team v Queensland Reds on Friday 6 July, 2018 at Brisbane, Australia:

1. Tetera Faulkner
2. Anaru Rangi
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Matt Philip
5. Geoff Parling (v/capt)
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Colby Fainga’a
8. Amanaki Mafi
9. Michael Ruru
10. Reece Hodge
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Billy Meakes
13. Tom English (capt)
14. Jack Maddocks
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
 
Reserves
16. Nathan Charles
17. Fereti Sa’aga
18. Sam Talakai
19. Ross Haylett-Petty
20. Richard Hardwick
21. Harrison Goddard
22. Jack Debreczeni 
23. Sefa Naivalu