Reds v Waratahs - Sat 15th Mar - Suncorp

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lets get it started then.

Hopefully all in SEQ are going alright and no doubt explains some silence on this game.

Some key injuries to affect both sides but should be a good build up with both sides going as well as they could be I reckon.

Reds go in as favourites in my eyes coming back home after a disappointing performance. I expect a bounce back against a Tahs team that face their first away game

 

[Dctarget]

'Tahs have some big outs no? Reds at home, shamed after a pantsing. I think Reds should have too much, Reds by 10+

 

[Sword of Justice]

Who are the Tahs outs?

I believe Lynagh is back for the Reds but do we have any other returns in the backs? Depth has been tested severely already this season.

 

[Tomthumb]

Tahs win big if the Reds try that candy floss touch rugby nonsense they dished up vs the Crusaders

 

[Wilson]

Gordon and Sua'ali'i confirmed out, Gleeson still up in the air.

 

[Derpus]

I think it depends who the Reds have coming back. If its the same team as last week then I think we are in with a shot.

 

[Strewthcobber]

From rugby.com.au yesterday

Test centre Hunter Paisami is available after serving a two-game suspension for a dangerous tackle.

Steadying flyhalf Tom Lynagh, who copped a head knock against the Western Force last week, should also be fit after being a late scratching against the Crusaders.

The Reds are also without injured Test aspirants Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Flook, Jock Campbell and Seru Uru.

 

[Wilson]

Lynagh and Paisami back, Uru a possibility. Not sure about others like Mason Gordon, Isaac Henry, or Will McCulloch but they could be a chance. Don't think Campbell and Flook are back though.

 

[Adam84]

would be good if Reds could actually provide details/update on the Uru, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Campbell and Flook injuries to the same standard that other Super Rugby teams are.

 

[Wilson]

It would be, but at the same time I'm just happy to get consistent information on who is available week to week. I don't expect it'll change this year, but hopefully they push forward with this at a competition level next year, requiring the more detailed reporting we've seen from some.

 

[Derpus]

Uru is a big loss for the Reds IMO. He was massive against the Force.

And Campbell being out gives us a pretty obvious target in the backfield.

 

[JRugby2]

Yeah but equally Canham was immense for us last week against the Saders.

Lynagh will be a big in, so will Hunter - though looks like we'll be sticking with Murray (can't imagine even if Mason Gordon is fit, that he'd start).

Reds by 30

 

[Adam84]

I do feel a bit bad for Murray, he is been asked to play a position he isn't familiar with, he is a winger not a fullback.. That doesn't make up for the shitty 50/50 passes, but maybe it's a confidence thing.. been asked to play out of position and on debut in super rugby

 

[Wilson]

Not quite super debut (he had 2 starts and a bench appearance for the Crusaders), but I agree. He was in very good form on the wing for the Reds in Japan and the UK so I can see why they pulled him in, but the responsibility seems like too much for him right now. Feels like we'd be better with McLaughlin-Phillips or Anderson back there, though they may have plenty of the same issues. Gibbs is the other option, he doesn't appear to be injured right now, but he has had far and away the least time with the team, so they may not think he's ready yet.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Yeah definitely would have HMP at 15. Murray needs a reset in his own position down a level. If Mason is fit I’d have him on the bench. There’s no silver bullet for this problem but that seems least bad.

 

[JRugby2]

I'm not against HMP at 15 but honestly I wouldn't expect him to go any better there than Murray. Putting him there out of position isn't solving the problem, if anything it's just trying the same formula that didn't work with Murray and crossing our fingers it'll work this time.

 

[Agent]

I didn't watch the Crusaders game and he made a couple of glaring mistakes against the Force but I also thought he had some really good touches against the Force where he looked very impressive.

 

[Adam84]

he runs good lines and is pretty strong in contact(suited for a winger), but his positional play on kick receipt and passing/kick options on counter attack are pretty average. This along with HMP's limited range off his boot meant the Reds struggled to get out of their own half against the Crusaders.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Definitely not solving the problem long term but I don’t think we actually can solve it any time soon. There’s just not really any options. Maybe Daugunu can bail us out there but it’s deck chairs on the titanic for the short term.

 

[Wilson]

Would depend on how much he has trained there. I suggest him because I assume they've been building him out to offer that utility (it seems reasonable and he's spent some time on the wing), but I don't know for sure one way or the other. I do think his skill set would help with a few of the issues we're seeing from Murray, though it only works if he's not coming in completely fresh to the position.