S15 Rd 1 - Brumbies v Reds, Friday 13th February

[Scoey]

Yeah you nailed it Thierry. Underwhelmed. But if the other guys aren't fit/ready yet then that's all there is to it.
Korcyck will be fine but Beau must surely be injured if he's not on the bench.

 

[TOCC]

I worry about the defence of the centre pairing


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[Scoey]

I worry about the defence of the centre pairing


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This. I can see some clean breaks for the Ponies through our midfield. I just hope those two boys have been working their arses off on the preseason on their defence and decision making.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Shatz and Gill better be prepared to do a fair bit of cover up in the mid field.

Where the fuck is Thomson and JOC (James O'Connor) ??????? And Beau ???????

New blokes will bring a heap of enthusiasm - hope thats enough

 

[TheBigDog]

I'm surprised Korczyk is on the bench but it makes sense for the set piece. The Reds are probably hoping for lineout ascendancy and Korczyk provides a good target.

I'm a bit surprised about the center pairing. I'm guessing its experimental and will change once JOC (James O'Connor) and Taps are both ready to play. Can't see a whole lot of passing happening in the back line.

 

[MarkJ]

Ita Vaea to be named on the bench for the Brumbies

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...n-brumbies-play-the-reds-20150211-13bp7m.html

 

[Scrubber2050]

The Brums backline will be quite awesome. Ours a bit untested. Fuck I hope we move up quickly and cut the ball off before it gets to big Henry.

 

[Brumby Runner]

So it looks like the pack might be Sio, Mann-Rea, Alexander, Carter, Arnold, Fardy, Pocock, Butler, and the reserves Moore, Smith, Smith, Enever (or Smiler), Vaea. Looks strong with 6 starting Wallabies and one on the bench.

The backline is pretty much settled I would think. Only question will be who makes the bench.

 

[fatprop]

It will be interesting to see how the Reds scrum holds up

 

[Brumby Runner]

Brumbies
1. Scott Sio
2. Josh Mann-Rea
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock (c)
8. Jarrad Butler
9. Nic White (vc)
10. Matt To'omua
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Robbie Coleman

Replacements
16. Stephen Moore
17. JP Smith
18. Ruan Smith
19. Jordan Smiler
20. Ita Vaea
21. Michael Dowsett
22. James Dargaville
23. Lausii Taliauli

 

[Brumby Runner]

It will be interesting to see how the Reds scrum holds up

I'm sure their scrum will hold up quite well. They've had a particularly efficient scrum over the past year or two and their trial form showed they are strong again this year even with novices in the front row.

A lot of credit must go to Nick Stiles.

 

[Godfrey]

I agree with the defensive worries for the new centre pairing, but I am also pretty excited. Kerevi mainly played 12 in the NRC* and was very, very good at absorbing a number of defenders then getting an offload away.


*yes, I know Super Rugby is different.

 

[Brendan Hume]

Absolutely pumped for the game. Particularly keen for Magnay and Kotze at the Reds.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'm a bit worried about the Reds backline in this one. They should be fine in attack but it's an untested centre pairing against a very good Brumbies backline together with Lachie Turner on the wing who hasn't played a single trial to my knowledge which is a cause for concern.

Interestingly, JJT seems to be the least of the Reds worries. After a strong NRC and a good performance in the trials, his woes of 2014 seem to be well and truly behind him.

 

[fatprop]

Who is doing the Reds defense this season, hopefully not the same guy who designed the disasters of last season

 

[BDA]

Man that Reds team is disappointing.

Why no Adam Thomson? He's by all accounts fit.

Also the absence of JOC (James O'Connor) and Ant is worrying. The Brumbies 10 to 14 looks solid as fuck. CFS is a worry; the bloke is struggling for form. Not sure if I can identify any area the Reds have an advantage. I would have thought putting Robinson on the bench might give the Reds a chance of dominating the breakdown in the second half (with an overweight Ita Vea picked by the brumbies).

My confidence has been dashed a bit. I'll change my prediction from Brumbies by 5 to Brumbies by 10.

IMO, the Reds' best chance is to try to outplay them in the tight five. They have a slightly better front row. Genia will also be a big factor for the Reds. If he plays like last week, the Reds will be a handful going forward.

 

[BDA]

It will be interesting to see how the Reds scrum holds up

?? probably the one area the Reds should have a clear advantage. The Reds front row has come a long way in the last three seasons. If Alexander hasn't found some form in the off season Slipper will likely dominate him.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Seeing the teams published, I'm now not so sure that this will be a 8 try+ game.

On paper, the Ponies may have an edge, but it should be a real ding dong scrap. I'm excited.

Looking forward to see how young Magnay goes off the bench for the Reds.

 

[Braveheart81]

Man that Reds team is disappointing.

Why no Adam Thomson? He's by all accounts fit.

Whose account?

I don't think he played the tail end of the Japanese season.

 

[fatprop]

?? probably the one area the Reds should have a clear advantage. The Reds front row has come a long way in the last three seasons. If Alexander hasn't found some form in the off season Slipper will likely dominate him.

Alexander has always been solid at S15 level, it was more a comment on Sia and Talakai

The other question for me is how the Reds plan to exit their half, the ponies will kick the leather off the ball as usual and a back three of Lachie Turner, Chris Kuridrani & Jamie-Jerry Taulagi is "untried", I expect Genia to do a lot of sitting back