After the disappointment of being robbed of a win against our oldest enemy it’s a little daunting to turn around and looked towards this weekends game against the Chiefs. Their eight to one win records looks pretty phat next to the Reds two and seven and the 0-15 win record for Aussies sides doesn’t help build confidence.
So here then, are the key matchups.
Duh: Cruden v Cooper
So Aaron Cruden didn’t win World Rugby’s Player of the year and maybe he’s not the best flyhalf in New Zealand But he’s damned close. With 106 Super Rugby caps and 47 for the All Blacks you can see he’s been around for a long and played at a high standard for a lot of it.
Quade Cooper looks like he’s half a leg short of a two good ones and is struggling to make an impact because of it. It looks like it’s effecting his top speed and his lateral movement. Hopefully the leg is getting better but if it won’t respond with out rest or repair there is no way he can win this contest.
As an aside, it’s a sad indictment of Australia rugby players skills development when Coopers ability to kick off both feet with a pretty bad knee injury is still the best in the country. (that I’ve seen)
The battle for the thin air: Retallick vs Tui
Look I’m under no illusions here. Brodie Retallick will run away with this contest but, I want to see if the 20 year old Lukhan Tui will respond to the all black cornerstones challenge and take another step forward. We’ve been crying out for a world class lock for a long time and the Red to the bone giant might be the guy we’ve been looking for.
Fearless Prediction
The Reds have moved forward in a few areas and the had no worries unlocking the Tahs defence seemingly at will but, it was the things that haven’t improved that are holding them back. Defence and penalties are killing their season. The Chiefs are a well oiled machine and should win this in a canter.
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Reds
1. Sef Fa’agase – UQ
2. Stephen Moore – UQ
3. Sam Talakai – Brothers
4. Rob Simmons – Sunnybank
5. Lukhan Tui – Souths
6. Hendrik Tui – Norths
7. George Smith – Brothers
8. Scott Higginbotham – Wests
9. James Tuttle – GPS
10. Quade Cooper – Souths
11. Eto Nabuli – GPS
12. Samu Kerevi (C) – Souths
13. Campbell Magnay – GPS
14. Izaia Perese – Easts
15. Duncan Paia’aua – Norths
16. Alex Mafi – Bond
17. Kirwan Sanday – Easts
18. Taniela Tupou – Brothers
19. Izack Rodda – Easts
20. Leroy Houston – Wests
21. Nick Frisby – GPS
22. Hamish Stewart – Bond
23. Chris Kuridrani – GPS
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Chiefs
1. Kane Hames
2. Hika Elliot
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Dominic Bird
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Mitchell Brown
7. Sam Cane
8. Michael Leitch
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Aaron Cruden
11. James Lowe
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Toni Pulu
15. Damian McKenzie
16. Natha Harris
17. Atu Moli
18. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
19. Taleni Seu
20. Liam Messam
21. Jonathan Taumateine
22. Sam McNicol
23. Shaun Stevenson
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