Reds v Cru Zzzzzz

[Grandmaster Flash]

Reds named:

Queensland: Quade Cooper, Brando Va'aulu, Charlie Fetoai, Anthony Fainga'a, Rodney Davies, Ben Lucas, Brendan McKibbin, Leroy Houston, Scott Higginbotham/Andrew Shaw, Ezra Taylor, Adam Byrnes, Van Humphries, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman (c), Ben Daley. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Greg Holmes, Robert Simmons, Higginbotham/Shaw, Richard Kingi, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Sauer.

Interesting to see how Lucas goes at 10, never seen him start there but remember the good things being said about him when Sunnybank were smashing all challengers in 2007.

Higginbottom bracketed at openside with Shaw. Houston and Taylor both to start.

 

[RugbyReg]

actually the team list is:

1. Ben Daley (Gold Coast)
2. Sean Hardman (Brothers) (c)
3. Laurie Weeks (University)
4. Van Humphries (Souths)
5. Adam Byrnes (University)
6. Ezra Taylor (University)
7. TBA
8. Leroy Houston (Norths)
9. Brendan McKibbin (Brothers)
10. Ben Lucas (Sunnybank)
11. Rodney Davies (GPS)
12. Anthony Fainga'a (Souths)
13. Charlie Fetoai (Souths)
14. Brando Va?aulu (University)
15. Quade Cooper (Souths)

16. Saia Fainga'a (Souths)
17. Greg Holmes (Sunnybank)
18. Robert Simmons (Sunnybank)
19. Scott Higginbotham (Wests) / Andrew Shaw (Brothers)
20. Richard Kingi (Sunnybank)
21. Ben Tapuai (Gold Coast Breakers)
22. Anthony Sauer (Brothers)

And all proper QLDers will know that "TBA" is actually Lote Tuqiri.

 

[Lindommer]

With Higginbotham in that's a handy looking forward pack. On paper that is. Has Houston done any fitness work the last few weeks?

 

[formeropenside]

Not a first choice player in the backline, unless you count Cooper at 15.

Still, they can't play worse than the Reds did against the Lions, Force and Brumbies.

 

[RugbyReg]

Not a first choice player in the backline, unless you count Cooper at 15.

Still, they can't play worse than the Reds did against the Lions, Force and Brumbies.

We are without:

15 Mark McLinden
14 Peter Hynes
13 Digby Ione
12 Morgan Turinui
11 Blair Connor
10 Berrick Barnes
9 Will Genia

as a backline.

 

[Sully]

Not a first choice player in the backline, unless you count Cooper at 15.

Still, they can't play worse than the Reds did against the Lions, Force and Brumbies.

yes they can!

 

[RugbyReg]

I should make comment on Ant Sauer on the bench. I think this selection is quite some way overdue.

I remember a few years ago, I assume it was still the Jeff Miller era, and the final spot in the squad came down to an outside back position. Effectively it was re-signing Henari Veratau or Sauer was another (the other?) option.

I thought they should have signed Sauer who was in excellent form with Brothers (as he is now and basically has been in the intermediate period). There was a trial game in October or something (perhaps v the Blues or a Jnr All Blacks team at Ballymore?). Sauer, I thought, played very well and looked dangerous but Veratau scored a couple of tries despite looking average. He got the contract.

So I'm glad for Sauer that he's there today. Good luck to him. I hope all our bench rookies get a run.

 

[steiner]

Reds named:

Queensland: Quade Cooper, Brando Va'aulu, Charlie Fetoai, Anthony Fainga'a, Rodney Davies, Ben Lucas, Brendan McKibbin, Leroy Houston, Scott Higginbotham/Andrew Shaw, Ezra Taylor, Adam Byrnes, Van Humphries, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman (c), Ben Daley. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Greg Holmes, Robert Simmons, Higginbotham/Shaw, Richard Kingi, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Sauer.

Interesting to see how Lucas goes at 10, never seen him start there but remember the good things being said about him when Sunnybank were smashing all challengers in 2007.

Higginbottom bracketed at openside with Shaw. Houston and Taylor both to start.

Robbie Deans will be keen to have a look at Lucas at 10 too I think. Definitely has potential there.

Not too bad a side really, just that they've never played together before will be the main problem, in attack and defence. Lucas to 10, Cooper to 15, good moves even if there is no other choice. Always thought A Fainga'a would be up to Super standard, if no higher, so he gets a chance, though not under the best circumstances. Crusader haven't been overpowering in the forwards this year so the Reds pack may be a bit more competitive than people expect.

The Crusaders were looking bloody good in the second half last week though but will have jetlag to contend with. Maybe that will help the Reds a bit.

 

[Mainlander]

I hate games like this..... A team of unknowns with nothing to lose.

It should be a massacre but I won't be breathing easy until the fat lady sings.

Kiwipie has said That 100% of tippers have tipped the Sadders in the TSF rugby picking comp.

Oztips is giving the Reds a 17.5 point lead, somehow don't think that is enough as 95.41% are tipping the Sadders and they're only paying a $1.06.

Am forced to watch the game in Brisbane this weekend, anyone know a not to loud pub that has the game?

Normally go to the Tank but get no sound.

 

[Scarfman]

17.5 points won't be enough ...

cricket score coming up ...

 

[Biffo]

17.5 points won't be enough ...

cricket score coming up ...

3-over cricket?

 

[Mainlander]

Sadders did what they had to.
Scored the 4 tries for the bonus.
Then ran on all the reserves to give them some game time.
Ref felt sorry for Reds and tryed to help as much as possible by ignoring red offsides, hands in rucks, diliberate knock downs etc... Went to non contested scrums and thus let the Red win the last 20 minutes 12 to 5.
Sadders kept above the 17.5 winning margin so I get the oztips points, Sadders get 5 points.

So I'm Happy and a bit pissed.... riding the bike to my digs here could be fun.... :lmao:

 

[PaarlBok]

Muss you keep it cool, broer, dont want to miss you!

Congrats on your Saders! :thumb

 

[Scarfman]

17.5 points won't be enough ...

cricket score coming up ...

3-over cricket?

Touche. Last time I looked it was 27-0, 10 mins after half-time.

 

[Lindommer]

Considering the Reds' casualty ward this week, a 20 point margin is quite good. Well done to those Reds who played.

Isn't Cooper a goose? With the opportunities he's had the last EOYT I expected him to be a settling influence and to be one of the better Reds tonight. Not so. I don't think his wackier moments are ever going to go away.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Please remember you poachers from south, Taps is a Queenslander.

 

[disco]

Considering the Reds' casualty ward this week, a 20 point margin is quite good. Well done to those Reds who played.

Isn't Cooper a goose? With the opportunities he's had the last EOYT I expected him to be a settling influence and to be one of the better Reds tonight. Not so. I don't think his wackier moments are ever going to go away.

Yeah I was happy with a few of the youngsters last night I thought that Shaw had a good game but he'll need to bulk up if he wants to play week in week out, Kingi was good when he came on & McKibbon was also good.

Quade Cooper was actually one of our worst please drop him next week if Barnes is back.

 

[fatprop]

I think Cooper is fine, he just tries too hard, Deans got him to underplay his hand and not try to do the big play from every play.

With the Reds he just seems to think he has to do everything.


edt
The more I think about, the more I think he is playing still like a school kid star and not a team mate.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Well it wasn't as bad as we all thought it was going to be, but the Cru did drop a lot of ball.

Was really disappointed we didn't get to see Lucas at 10 to see if he could steer the team around the park in those conditions.

I thought Sauer Kingi and Tapaui looked good when they came on (it was quite late in the match when everyone was buggered tho) and Pieguts Houston got around very well for a 3 tonne behemoth, stealing some ruck ball and earning a few free-kicks.

Edit: I think Sauer did pull off one MASSIVE hit towards the end of the game tho

 

[spectator]

They were never going to win but it was a brave effort. Good to see a few of the young brigade get on the paddock.