New arrivals not worrying Cipriani - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

New arrivals not worrying Cipriani

Melissa Woods 18/06/2011 04:12:52 PM Comments (0)

Far from looking for a new rugby club, wayward English five-eighth Danny Cipriani says he's looking forward to the arrival of Wallabies stars James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale at the Melbourne Rebels.

The Rebels on Saturday officially unveiled O'Connor, who they lured across on a two-year deal from the Western Force.

O'Connor missed what would have been his last match for the Force - a 27-24 win in the last round of the Super Rugby competition over the Rebels at Melbourne's AAMI Park.

It was their ninth successive loss, which came after an encouraging 3-4 win-loss record to start their inaugural season.

Cipriani, who was sidelined for more than a month during the year after off-field disciplinary breaches, could now be surplus to the Rebels' needs.

However the 23-year-old says he's now determined to see out the final year of his two-year contract and form part of the most exciting backline in the competition.

The club is delighted with the new attitude of Cipriani, who's played seven Tests for England, and believe he's in a "good place".

A mercurial talent, he was one of Melbourne's best in the loss to the Force and the line-up is far sharper and innovative when he's on the field.

Too often during the season, the Rebels were left to a rue a final dropped ball, which O'Connor or Beale would likely finish off in style.

Coach Rod Macqueen said the side let itself down by its inability to convert pressure into points.

"Once again we got into positions we should have scored tries from but we didn't, it has been a characteristic of the side," Macqueen said.

"I think there was some good things in that game again, we came back from two tries down to get back into the game, could have won it and only missed out on the bell."

Macqueen will next year take over a director of coaching and hand the day to day duties to his assistant this year Damien Hill.

He believed the Rebels had laid the foundations for a bright future.

"I can see only good things happening for this side," Macqueen said.

"Whilst I'm sad in some ways that I'm not involved in the day-to-day coaching, I'm buoyed the team's got a good and long future in Melbourne."

The club has also farewelled its high performance manager Troy Thomson, who came to them from the Storm.

Thomson will link back up with former Storm assistant Michael Maguire, who will take over as head coach of Souths NRL team in 2012.

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