Reds v Crusaders
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Reds
1 Feao Fotuaika – Souths
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sunnybank
3 Taniela Tupou – Brothers
4 Izack Rodda – Easts
5 Harry Hockings – University of Queensland
6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – Souths
7 Liam Wright – Easts
8 Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland
9 Moses Sorovi – Wests
10 Hamish Stewart – Bond University
11 Sefa Naivalu – TBC
12 Samu Kerevi (c) – Souths
13 Jordan Petaia – Wests
14 Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths
15 Bryce Hegarty – GPSReserves
16 Alex Mafi – Bond University
17 JP Smith – GPS
18 Ruan Smith – GPS
19 Caleb Timu – Souths
20 Scott Higginbotham – Wests
21 Tate McDermott – University of Queensland
22 Duncan Paia’aua – Norths
23 Isaac Lucas – Sunnybank.
The St.George Queensland Reds have made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday's clash against the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium. Harry Hockings will start at lock, as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shifts to blindside flanker for the Reds first home match of 2019. A reshuffle to the backrow sees Angus Scott-Young at number eight, with Caleb Timu on the bench. Timu will form a formidable backrow interchange pairing with Scott Higginbotham, who is set to play his first Super Rugby game of 2019 after missing last week's trip to Dunedin with a shoulder injury. Powerhouse frontrower JP Smith will also make his return from injury (knee) this weekend after being named alongside Higginbotham on the bench. After causing plenty of headaches for the Highlanders defence, Queensland's backline remains the same from last week.
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Interesting Crusaders team for this game
Jordan at fullback
Bateman at 2nd five
Saunders At 6
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Will Jordan, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Tim Bateman, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Matt Todd (c), Tom Sanders, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Andrew Makalio, Joe Moody
Reserves: Ben Funnell, Harry Allan, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Bryn Hall, Mitchell Hunt, David Havili
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I think this may well be the fixture of the round.
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@antipodean said in Reds v Crusaders:
I think this may well be the fixture of the round.
and who would have predicted that 3 weeks ago?
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@mariner4life said in Reds v Crusaders:
@antipodean said in Reds v Crusaders:
I think this may well be the fixture of the round.
and who would have predicted that 3 weeks ago?
Certainly not me, but then I've always been a dreadful tipper.
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@antipodean said in Reds v Crusaders:
@mariner4life said in Reds v Crusaders:
@antipodean said in Reds v Crusaders:
I think this may well be the fixture of the round.
and who would have predicted that 3 weeks ago?
Certainly not me, but then I've always been a dreadful tipper.
you are hardly alone there
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@Chris said in Reds v Crusaders:
Interesting Crusaders team for this game
Jordan at fullback
Bateman at 2nd five
Sanders At 6Considering the minutes they've played, this looks like a player management decision, by resting Crotty (mandated by ABs protocols) and moving Taufua and Havili to the bench. At the same time, a good opportunity to give other players a run. I'd expect something similar in a next non-derby game for Strange (when Whitelock is back), Todd (when Blackadder or Harmon return from injury) and Douglas (when Read is back).
Expect Scott Barrett and Mo'unga to be subbed early in the 2nd half, as they have already played 131 and 129 minutes, respectively.
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That Petaia looks like a hell of a talent. Or it could be that the Highlanders were rather shit. Either way BBBT appears to be creating something good with the Reds. Will definitely be going to some games this year and there is certainly a good vibe about the team which hasn't been there for years. Crusaders will probably still stuff them though.
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By the way, Codie Taylor only had a 2-week, mandatory extended break (unlike Whitelock and Read, who are on a 4-week extended break). It looks like Taylor will be taking one of his two mandatory days off.
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Completely devoid of research but how often would you see three whities (at least they all look it to me, but I stand to be corrected) in a NZ Super rugby team back three? There's pretty much always at least one bloke in there - if not all three - of polynesian extraction (and I'm not by any means saying that's a bad thing; am merely pointing out an anomoly!)
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@Stargazer I thought they may have rested the props ,Barrett and Mounga
At least to the bench.Your thinking on minutes will be spot on of course
I think the Crusaders have managed the minutes smartly.
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I am so excited to see Jordan play. I hope he can show something.
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@98blueandgold said in Reds v Crusaders:
I am so excited to see Jordan play. I hope he can show something.
He's been talked up as the second coming, mostly by @Chris-B, so I too am looking forward to seeing him play.
When you compare the Crusaders B team up against the Chiefs B team for this round it's like chalk and cheese. One team has uber depth, even if as @shark points out they're playing three white boys in the back three, while the other looks NPC at best. The Crusaders should walk this years Super comp in a canter unless one of the Aussie or Saffa teams can put up a decent fight.
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The trial vs Highlanders he looked like breaking the line almost every touch. So explosive.
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@shark said in Reds v Crusaders:
Completely devoid of research but how often would you see three whities (at least they all look it to me, but I stand to be corrected) in a NZ Super rugby team back three? There's pretty much always at least one bloke in there - if not all three - of polynesian extraction (and I'm not by any means saying that's a bad thing; am merely pointing out an anomoly!)
Only in Canterbury
I like this team (apart from sanders, wish we’d kept bedwell-Curtis instead)
Very excited to see Will Jordan, no doubt in my mind he’s a future long term all black
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There were a couple of times during the NPC I thought Jordan was out of position when it came to fielding kicks. Crossed my mind he might have been gun shy from his concussion. Hopefully I am wrong.
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@Crazy-Horse Apparently it wasn't a concussion, but an inner ear thing.
He certainly got caught out a few times, but I think it's part of his young guy learning curve and having a very attacking mindset.
He's doubtless still got some rough edges to be knocked off and some mistakes to be made, but he's going to be very good.
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@Chris-B now that you mention it I think I did read that a while ago and subsequently forgot. I am excited to see Jordan finally get a chance.
