O'Connor to playmaker for rugby's Rebels March 5, 2013 - 2:23PM Melbourne Rebels stand-in captain James O'Connor has been switched to five-eighth in place of the injured Kurtley Beale for Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Queensland Reds. With O'Connor taking over the playmaker role from Beale, who has a broken hand, uncapped utility Angus Roberts gets his chance at fullback for the Rebels in the match at AAMI Park. O'Connor impressed at five-eighth for the Wallabies when tried there on the 2011 European tour and he will go head-to-head with Reds star Quade Cooper, who is bidding to win the Test No.10 jersey back from incumbent Beale. South Australian-born Alex Rokobaro returns to the starting team on the wing with Rory Sidey dropping to the bench. Melbourne Rebels: Angus Roberts, Richard Kingi, Mitch Inman, Lachlan Mitchell, Alex Rokobaro, James O'Connor (capt), Nick Phipps, Scott Higginbotham, Scott Fuglistaller, Luke Jones, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Jordy Reid, Jarrod Saffy, Nic Stirzaker, Rory Sidey, Tom English.