Super Rugby
Luke Burgess returns for Melbourne Rebels
ESPN Staff
June 25, 2014
Luke Burgess returns to feed the Rebels' scrum © Getty Images
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Luke Burgess has recovered from a knee injury to earn selection in Melbourne Rebels' starting side to face Queensland Reds at AAMI Park on Friday night, the Wallabies scrum-half one of three personnel changes to the run-on XV that lost to the Brumbies in Canberra in the last round before the June Test window.

Burgess sustained the knee injury in the Rebels' previous match against the Reds, at Suncorp Stadium in round 14, but only after he had scored two tries to set the team on the way to their first victory over Queensland. Fellow scrum-half Nic Stirzaker has also recovered from an ankle injury to be named as a replacement.

Australia Under-20 captain Sean McMahon also returns to the starting line-up at blindside flanker, after an extremely impressive campaign at the Junior World Championship in New Zealand, with Colby Fainga'a switching to openside. Jack Debreczeni, meanwhile, makes his first run-on start having played in the Rebels' previous two matches as a replacement, the fullback part of a backline shuffle that sees flyer Jason Woodward move to the right wing.

"Luke and Nic have both done a really good job for us this season, and this weekend Luke has the opportunity to start," Rebels coach Tony McGahan said. "Ben Meehan has done a great job for the last two games, but they come back in and we are confident in their ability to get the job done."

McGahan said the Rebels were raring to go after the June international break, with a good combination of players who have been on international duty and those who have been in Melbourne working hard, following a short break.

"I think everybody across the whole competition was looking for a bit of time off after a really hectic opening 16 rounds," McGahan said. "For us, to freshen up for both players and staff, and to plan out the last three games after a bit of a review, was very important.

"We've had some players featuring internationally for the Wallabies, Australia Under-20, Japan and Tonga over that period, and that's been really good to see. They've come back now and we can focus specifically for the Reds, and we are looking forward to hosting them at AAMI Park."

Rebels: Jack Debreczeni; Jason Woodward, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman , Tom English; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Scott Higginbotham (captain), Colby Fainga'a, Sean McMahon; Luke Jones, Cadeyrn Neville; Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith. Replacements: Shota Horie, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Hugh Pyle, Scott Fuglistaller, Nic Stirzaker, Telusa Veainu, Tom Kingston.

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