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Cipriani out of Highlanders clash
ESPNscrum Staff
March 27, 2012
Danny Cipriani in action for the Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne Rebels v Blues, AAMI Park stadium, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2011
Danny Cipriani injured his hamstring against the Western Force © Getty Images
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Fly-half Danny Cipriani will miss the Rebels' clash with the Highlanders on Friday night with a hamstring injury.

The Sale Sharks-bound No.10 pulled up during the Rebels' 30-29 victory over the Western Force last Friday and has failed to recovery sufficiently to face the New Zealand outfit. He is set to be replaced at fly-half by James O'Connor who has recovered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Force clash.

Fullback Kurtley Beale will also return for the Rebels in Melbourne after overcoming a calf injury and coach Damien Hill is delighted to have the dynamic duo back.

"They definitely bring that to the team but our reserves have done really well coming off the bench and really added something," Hill told AAP. "Particularly in a high contact game against a team like the Highlanders you can't underestimate fresh legs and our reserves will definitely get a run this week as well."

Along with Cipriani, former Australia skipper Stirling Mortlock remains on the sidelines while Richard Kingi is also out.

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