France star may save Rebels

[Intercept King JDV]

Mercurial Frenchman Frederik Michalak looms as a potential reinforcement for a Melbourne Rebels outfit licking their wounds from a forgettable Super Rugby baptism.

Not only were the competition newcomers outclassed and outmuscled 43-0 by New South Wales Waratahs, the Rebels also sustained serious injuries to five-eighth James Hilgendorf (shoulder) and blind-side flanker Hoani Macdonald (broken hand).

Hilgendorf will be sidelined for at least six weeks with grade three AC joint damage but Melbourne coach Rod Macqueen fears it may be longer and Sunday admitted he must look at replacement contingencies.

Michalak, a playmaking and goalkicking marvel in 54 Tests for France, appears to be at the top of the queue after he revealed he was interested in linking with an unnamed Super Rugby team from Australia.

The 28-year-old, plagued by injuries in the past year, made the comment to the French press just before playing his second match in his comeback for Toulouse, where his contract is about to expire.

Michalak said he wanted to stay with Toulouse but was keen to move to Australia, where Melbourne have extra latitude to sign up to 10 imports, if his Top 14 club failed to make him a new offer.

Macqueen will replace Hilgendorf with marquee import Danny Cipriani for Friday night's clash with the Brumbies but needs extra depth in the crucial position.

"I would suggest they are things that we have to look at this next week or so," he said.

"We need to get some solid medical advice on where James stands and until we get that and know the enormity of the advice we can't say too much.

"(Michalak) is a good player but that's too early to speculate about."

Cipriani showed some exciting glimpses of his talent on Friday night but after the 20-minute mark the Rebels looked clueless in attack under the suffocating weight of the Waratahs defence.

"Danny is fitting in well with the team and while we were disappointed with the result there were some promising signs," Macqueen said.

"But it's shown us the issues we'll have to address."

The Rebels could also be without powerful league recruit Cooper Vuna at AAMI Park after the inside centre also copped a nasty knock to his shoulder, but will give him until Wednesday to prove his fitness.

France star may save Rebels

Would be a very big signing for the Rebels!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could be interesting!

 

[Barbarian Horde]

France star may save Rebels

Would be a very big signing for the Rebels!

Michalak's leaving Toulouse again? The money can't be that muchbetter so the injury situation must have made Toulouse a bit nervous... The French Rugby Union can't be happy with this.

 

[TRF_RC]

Wait, wait, wait!
Michalak would NOT be able to save the rebels!
The team played their first game and got a comprehensive hammering when you look at the scoreboard. But it was the ugliest 43-0 win i've ever seen.
What was the Rebels main problems? They were lacking in composure when in attack. They were going through the phases but they weren't getting anywhere. No one was offering themselves to Cipriani, there were no runners, to many people were commiting themselves to the ruck.
Then you look at their defence which wasn't the best (they conceded 43 points, i don't think anyone would argue with that statement), but they were against a very dangerous Waratahs. When you've got attackers with speed like Kurtley Beale has then a structured defence is needed and they were just too sloppy when it came down to it.

From what i've established here, can Michalak do anything about that?
Does Michalak have that general inside him where he will control and make - what was a static attack - a composed, flowing attack?
Does he lead his teams in defence, leading the way by example?

No, Michelak would not save the Rebels. They just need more time to gel, to work on the basics together and become more effective.

That's my opinion, anyway.

 

[dan the man]

I don't think that the Rebels are lacking the players... It will just take a while for them to gel as a team

 

[T-Raz]

Cipriani and Michalak in the same outfit...do i need anymore reason to dislike the rebel?!