Round 5 : Force v Reds - Perth

[TSR]

Reds are on a roll and Force struggling with injuries depleting their squad. Reds travelling to Melbourne and now across to Perth so travel could be a factor.

Reds need to make sure they need to keep momentum while the Force just want a win in front of their fans. Getting White back will help for the Force but it would be a pretty big turn around in form.

From a Reds point of view I’d like to see Lynagh back in and I presume Paisami will come back in at 12. Selection of the back 3 will be interesting as Grealy has been going well and I think Petaia’s form was a bit off before his head knock. As for the forwards - wind em up, let Van the Man give them a pre-game pep talk and send them out again.

 

[dru]

Time for some rotation? How far away is JOC (James O'Connor)?

 

[LeCheese]

Time for some rotation? How far away is JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)?

At least two more weeks according to Les last week, so not yet. Creighton might be likely though

 

[Sword of Justice]

Reds are on a roll

 

[Yoda]

Reds should be way too strong for the Force…. Although…. If the Force can reduce their penalty count, it would definitely help their chances of a massive upset… I do like the way they are playing in attack…

 

[Wilson]

Reds should have this one comfortably on form but it's important we maintain our focus and control this game for the 80. We've been guilty of second half switch offs to varying degrees every game this year and it's important to put that to bed before the Brumbies game next week. The Force are not without weapons out there and will hurt us if we let them, but with their injuries that'll likely only happen if we open the door for them first.

 

[TSR]

There have been periods this year when the Force have looked very good. They’ve just had trouble maintaining it for 80. Last weekend was pretty ugly - but a week can be a long time in footy.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah. This is more a banana skin game for us than the Rebels game. We SHOULD win but the Force could well be absolutely firing after their dire game last week. Cron should have them absolutely juiced and ready to go. They won’t be caught by surprise as to the speed of the game like the Rebels were. The likes of Tizzano, Horton, Stewart, Anstee will help slow the ruck down more. That could be enough to throw off the Reds.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Some admirable efforts here by Reds fans to talk up the Force and try to acquire the underdog label. A full strength Reds side should put 30 - 40 points on the Force the way they are playing atm. A half-strength side should win by 20 - 30.

 

[TSR]

The Force have brought us unstuck plenty of times in the past. And they normally ambush at least one team a year at home. I agree Reds should be healthy favourites but we’ve seen enough times in the past if you get ahead of yourself or treat an opposition without the due respect it bites you in the arse.

 

[Yoda]

Some admirable efforts here by Reds fans to talk up the Force and try to acquire the underdog label. A full strength Reds side should put 30 - 40 points on the Force the way they are playing atm. A half-strength side should win by 20 - 30.

Correct. If they are as good as they look so far. Good sides though won’t use travel, unlucky or just an off night though if they happen to get beaten. They let the Rebels come back at them last week…. Still … Reds by 20.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

From a force perspective hoping to see Moli
on the bench, hopefully White back and starting. Keep Anstee at 6, Kiwi guy on bench and Wells still out

Spink back hopefully but go with a 5/3 split and put Kuenzle on the bench to cover 10/12/13 with IFL and O’Donnell also on bench.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'm more than a bit scared about what the Reds might do to us this weekend.

 

[redstragic]

I'm more than a bit scared about what the Reds might do to us this weekend.

I am nervous we are going to Perth. We have lost games in the past we should have won over there. I watch that Rolled video when we are going badly to cheer myself up. Never seen us play like that in Perth though.

 

[Wilson]

I am nervous we are going to Perth. We have lost games in the past we should have won over there. I watch that Rolled video when we are going badly to cheer myself up. Never seen us play like that in Perth though.

Our last visit to Perth, while not perfect, was pretty good:

Force had there patches in that game but we won with a bonus point in the end. O'Connor played one of his best games, effectively ending Godwin's Wallaby aspirations by repeatedly slicing through his channel with ease. Only a few days after the 22 floods too, I remember it feeling like a pretty special performance at the time as a result.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Think a game in 2023 may have slipped your mind Wilson (edit - it hadn't)

The Force have the best record against the Reds compared to any other Australian team

Reds - Played 25 won 10
Tahs - Played 25 won 8
Rebels - Played 22 won 7
Brumbies - Played 27, won 5

Although the Reds have put 184 points through the Force away (edit - not just in Perth!) over the last 4 games

 

[Wilson]

Think a game in 2023 may have slipped your mind Wilson

The Force have the best record against the Reds compared to any other Australian team

Reds - Played 25 won 10
Tahs - Played 25 won 8
Rebels - Played 22 won 7
Brumbies - Played 27, won 5

Although the Reds have put 184 points through the Force in Perth over the last 4 games

Bold of you to think I would forget a Reds game so recent - there wasn't one in Perth for the Reds in 2023. There were a couple of other victories though.

A bonus point win in Melbourne for Super Round:

And a solid victory at Suncorp later in the season:

 

[Strewthcobber]

Bold of you to think I would forget a Reds game so recent - there wasn't one in Perth for the Reds in 2023. There were a couple of other victories though.

Stupid Magic Round stuffing up stats and making me look like an idiot......

 

[Wilson]

Reds:
1. Peni Ravai – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji
2. Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar School – USQ Saints 

3. Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – The Southport School – Gold Coast Eagles
4. Seru Uru – Wests – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli Rugby Club, Fiji
5. Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
6. Liam Wright (cc) – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School - Easts
7. Fraser McReight – Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Tate McDermott (cc) University of Queensland – Sunshine Coast Grammar School – Flinders Rugby Club
10. Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland- Epsom College, England – Richmond Rugby Club
11. Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Downlands College – Souths Toowoomba
12. Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland
13. Josh Flook – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College - Brothers
14. Suliasi Vunivalu – Wests – Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
15. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders 


Reserves: 

16. Josh Nasser – University of Queensland – St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace-Easts
17. George Blake - Bond University - The Southport School - Fasi Maufanga Eels, Tonga
18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths - Wellington College, NZ
19. Cormac Daly - Norths – Ul Riada, Ireland – North Kildare/Kilcock GAA, Ireland
20. John Bryant - Souths - St Laurence’s College - Souths
21. Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland – Ipswich Grammar School - Souths
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Souths – Brisbane Boys’ College – Gunnedah Red Devils
23. Taj Annan – Souths – Brisbane Boys College – Merewether Carlton

Queensland Reds announce team to play Western Force in Round 5

The return of 24-Test Wallaby Hunter Paisami is timely for the Queensland Reds as they approach Saturday night’s clash against the Western Force in Perth in Super Rugby Pacific.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[Wilson]

FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Thomas Franklin, Jeremy Williams (c), Tim Anstee, Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter

RESERVES: Ben Funnell, Josh Bartlett, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman