I've been thinking about the City vs Spirit games a bit, given the teams are pretty close in players I think we should be playing to the advantages we had there. In particular the scrum. We dominated their scrum in the NRC Final, and in terms of scrummaging the additions we have compared to that game are significantly better than theirs. With the predicted rain there should be plenty of scrums from the get go. If we actually make use of the advantage (something the Tahs failed to do with their poor kicking game and short distance place kicker) we should be well placed. Baring injury, this is the team I want to see from the Reds:
1. Slipper
2. FTS
3. Talakai
4. McDuling
5. Kotze
6. Thomson
7. Gill
8. Browning
9. Genia
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Turner
12. FTA
13. Kerevi
14. Kurindrani
15. Hunt
16. Hanson
17. Paraka
18. Faagase
19. Horwill
20. Schatz
21. Robinson
22. Frisby
23. CFS
If FTA is injured than maybe Hunt to ic (if they've trained it), Turner to 15 and CFS on the wing with Magnay coming onto the bench. I feel like it'd be more balanced a centre pairing than last week but if they haven't prepared it then it might not be worth moving Hunt around so much.
A line ball call between Browning and Schatz to the bench but Browning's ruck work was great against the crusaders and the Force are really going to push us there. Horwill to the bench after his disgraceful run last week, though he could possibly convince otherwise during training.
Paraka in for Daley, I like Daley but his scrummaging is becoming a liability. Though ideally whoever it is won't be on until late in the game, Slipper should be playing more than 57 minutes. 6-2 split because this going to be a hard graft forwards game. I'm not certain on Beau's fitness, so if he's not an option it's probably between EOD, Fakaosilea and Korczyk. I'd be tempted to play Ben Adams from QLD Country, if the can get him up to speed, I thought he was at least as impressive as Korczyk in the NRC and seemed a bit more settled, otherwise probably Korczyk because the others discipline is too suspect right now. Buchanan is probably also an option.
Mostly I hope Stiles plays a larger role, he coached city to victory over spirit twice and was a big part of the Forces most recent move to becoming one of our harder opponents to beat. The more I think about this game the more I feel a loss will end Graham, even if it takes a few weeks for the axe to connect.