Semifinal 1: Reds V Blues

[Set piece magic]

I browsed through looking for a thread on this and couldn't find one, so apologies if there is one already.

Thought it is time to get the semifinal hype started, Brisbane has gone rugby mad and 8000 tickets where sold in the first ten minutes of sales for the Reds semifinal this morning.

Teams, Weather, gameplan, winner, who they will actually play, the lot. Let's get excited!

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Bought my tix this morning.

 

[tigerland12]

Much rather play the Blues or Sharks. Simply because even though the Tahs are depleted player wise, they are a bogey side. Then again I'd love nothing more then beating them in the semi

 

[Jets]

I am not that fussed who the Reds play. I think that the boys have the capability to beat any team.

Our reserve Prop is the major area of concern for me.

 

[No4918]

Our reserve Prop is the major area of concern for me.

Agree.

This looks like it will be a sell out again, incredible that it could be twice and probably 3 times in a season. I've got a feeling the Sharks could get up tomorrow so am expecting them or the Blues.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

if the tahs make it through tonight the missus and I will be coming up. Hope there will be some sort of ticket allocation left...

 

[Ruggo]

I am not that fussed who the Reds play. I think that the boys have the capability to beat any team.

Our reserve Prop is the major area of concern for me.

I presume Jets you mean the reserve for the reserve as Holmes is good value but after him I don't know. How have Shep and Anea been going in premier rugby?

I agree as if we are serious about winning it, our next opponant is irrelivent.

 

[Jets]

Anae hasn't been playing for the last couple of week at the bank but is back to take on Easts tomorrow.

 

[mark_s]

This will be one hell of a game given the Reds will be playing 3 teams at once. Can't wait to see how Cooper finds his way through 45 defenders.

 

[drewprint]

Blues 26 defeat Waratahs 13. Good result for the Reds.

 

[tigerland12]

Both Blues and Tahs looked poor to be honest, quietly confident about playing Auckland or the Sharks

 

[Sully]

That will be enough of that Tiger!

 

[No4918]

Both Blues and Tahs looked poor to be honest, quietly confident about playing Auckland or the Sharks

Tough marking given the conditions.

 

[ChargerWA]

How far away are Ranger and Toeava?

Be a different Blues team if those two are fit.

 

[Bullrush]

Tough marking given the conditions.

Agreed. The Blues gave the Reds a good run if not for the first 20-25min this year (much like the start to tonight's game actually) as well as beating the Crusaders and then narrowly losing to them a couple of weeks back.

I'd much rather play the Reds then the Stormers - if the Blues forward pack starts strongly, I think they can put the Reds away. I think they sorely missed Kaino in their reds match-up in the first game - he is a big factor for the Blues IMO and was huge tonight.

 

[Bullrush]

How far away are Ranger and Toeava?

Be a different Blues team if those two are fit.

Both out for the rest of the Super season....if they were back then I'd put the Blues in as favourites against the Reds.

 

[TOCC]

Bullrush, I tend to think that the minor-premiers at home in front of a sell-out crowd would still be favourites....

 

[Bullrush]

Bullrush, I tend to think that the minor-premiers at home in front of a sell-out crowd would still be favourites....

I meant my favorites

Without Toeava and Ranger, the Blues lose so much in the backline. Toeava was the form 15 in NZ and maybe the tournament before his injury and Ranger has the ability to single-handedly turn a game around. Brett and McAllister in the backline together are a scary prospect when facing and attacking unit like the Reds.....I mean, did you see that Tom Carter try tonite??

The Blues can still win BUT they will have so much less room for error - they can't start like they did last time against the Reds or even like they did tonite.

 

[ChargerWA]

Bullrush, I tend to think that the minor-premiers at home in front of a sell-out crowd would still be favourites....

Shhhh, he's stealing the favourite tag. Give it to him. Talk the Blues up.

 

[Set piece magic]

The blues will be missing Toeva and Ranger... that's a serious absence in strike power out wide, that's not to say they won't come into the game with an attacking mindset, they still have some midfield stars available. In fact, It's actually quite a tough decision for Pat Lamb to approach this game, and I would be very interested to hear what everyone thinks the Blues tactics are going to be.

One thing is for sure, the Reds forwards are going to be fired up in a big way, and that combined with home ground advantage, a full house, me, and the Reds backline should make them very difficult to beat. Problem is that they could get complacent.