Rebels Sign Three More
The Melbourne Rebels have brought in three more players ahead of their first season in the Super 15 league.
The Rebels have been working very hard over recent times to attract the right sorts of players as they prepare for a first season of domestic action in Australia. The decision to create a franchised club caused quite a stir in the country so it's important that they demonstrate it's all worth it.
JP du Plessis, Nicholas Phipps and Hugh Pyle will join up with the likes of Danny Cipriani at the club as they are starting to look like a very exciting proposition ahead of the new season.
The extra signings will add depth to the squad and this will create a number of positives for the side as they try to win over uncertain fans. However, there will be a few problems which they have created for themselves that can't be ignored and need to be considered before you decide to fully back them.
The Positives
The positives of the new signings are numerous. Their arrival will create squad competition, which can only be a good thing for a side that have not competed in the Super 15 ever before. This will mean a bunch of determined players wanting to nail down a starting role in the side.
Extra players means an extra big squad and this means there will be more cover over the course of an extended season. This means if someone picks up a bad injury or gets suspended for a few games then the Rebels will have a quality replacement ready to come in and take over.
There seems to be a very good buzz and enthusiasm around this club when it could have been very easy for them to let nerves and pessimism get the better of them. This will win over fans who may not be sure whether they should support a franchise and it could convince others that this is the way of the future.
Dangers
There will be some dangers and worries in their first season that the Rebels just cannot ignore. They will get a tremendous amount of vocal abuse when they go and play away from home. However, you would imagine that the players have thick enough skin to be able to cope with this.
High profile players in the team will become targets for other opposition sides. The likes of du Plessis and Cipriani in the squad have very big profiles and they could be the focus of some poorly timed tackles and challenges. This increases the risk of them getting injured and decreases the chances of the side doing well.
This is a franchise being tested in the Super 15, there is still time and space for things to go wrong. There are not many franchises floating around in the global game and it could create some problems that Melbourne have not dealt with before as a club and this could have an impact on the team and other areas.
Betting Advice
Going with your instinct is the best option here and if you feel a buzz inside of yourself then back the team because they have all of the right players to do well in Super 15.
The new signings can all score points but if you want to be a little more cautious then maybe wait one or two games to see how they fit into the side and the impact they are likely to have. This will allow you to lay down more calculated bets over the course of a long and intense season.
Tags: