The Reds look to get their campaign back on the right track at home to the Stormers.
Last Week
The Reds suffered a shock loss last week to the tournament’s surprise package, the Lions. Prior to that they lost a tough away game to the table topping Shorks, meaning they came back from Africa with no points to show for their efforts. This leaves them 10th on the log overall and 4th in what is shaping up to be the most competitive Australian conference we’ve seen yet. A loss in this fixture and the Reds season will really start to look in trouble.
The Stormers have had a tough road trip through New Zealand and then a trip to the nation’s capital last week were they lost 25-15 to the Brumbies. Prior to that they lost all their matches in NZ, picking up just a bonus point from a loss to the Crusaders.
The Form
The Reds
In patches the Reds have shown some good form and some of the rugby that they are known for. The pack have given the halves the kind of ball they need in the last couple of games to threaten defences and I was impressed with the way the forwards and back interplayed in the first half against the Lions. James Slipper and Kev Horwill had really good outings in the loose and tight last week and will need to bring that form to Suncorp for this game. Rob Simmons (no, there is not a conspiracy directed from Matt to bag him in every article) offers a solid line out option and his scrummaging seems to be getting better as well. If he takes a few patented Scott Fardy angry pills and smashes some bodies out the way at ruck time, it’d really add to his game. Against a big Stormers pack, it’d be a welcome addition.
The weakness for me is in the Reds game is the centres, who are playing too lateral, aren’t really clicking and not scaring defences. They missed Chris Feauai-Sautia last week as he straightens the attack quite well and gives the outside players something to run off. If I were Dick Graham I’d show Benny Tapuai an article from before the Lions games which described the 23 year old as “former wallaby Ben Tapuai” and say, “go out and prove them wrong”. He’s a really good player when he’s on form and hopefully he can find some.
The Stormers
Well, they must wonder what they can do to catch a break. They’ve got injuries which mean each week seems to see new combinations in every area. They’ve certainly not been outclassed in any of their games on tour which were tough games against some of the big names, the Crusaders, the Chiefs and then the Brumbies – you wouldn’t be shocked to see any of those in the final. However, they’ve managed just one win all season, by one point at home to Canes who’ve not set the world on fire this year themselves.
Like we’ve seen in past seasons, they seem to struggle to score tries, sometimes despite a mountain a possession. That said, they did show in New Zealand that if it’s on, they might just have a crack and score some good long range tries. That aside, they currently sit 14th on the log, above the Cheetahs on points difference only. That doesn’t speak of a side in any kind of special form.
The Teams
The Reds lost Liam Gill for 6 weeks with a torn hammy last week so Beau Robinson comes in. He’s a nuggety bloke that tackles, makes a pest of himself at ruck time and leaves nothing on the pitch so the Reds don’t lose too much there. Aidan Toua is out for a long stretch with a chest injury so Lachie Turner slips over to 15 from the wing and Dom Shipperley gets a start on the wing. In the other change, Saia Fainga’a moves to the bench and James Hanson comes into the starting line. Chiba has looked good when he’s come off the bench recently so he’ll want to reward that faith.
The only other changes to the Reds are on the bench where Curtis Browning will cover the back row and Ben Lucas moves to take Shippers’ bench spot. If they get off the bench, Saia Fainga’a will get his 100th super cap and Ed O’Donoghue will get his 50th.
The Stormers make 7 changes. Dangerous Bok centre Juan de Jongh starts at 13 which means Bok Captain Jean DeVilliers reverts to inside centre. Jurie van Vuuren will make his first Super Rugby start in the second row. The 2 other changes in the pack see Deon Fourie start at hooker and Nizaam Carr come in at No.6.
Louis Schreuder is at scrumhalf, with Nic Groom dropping down to the bench after starting all the tour games this far. This was done as Groom has a mild injury and didn’t do all the training this week. In a final change to the backs division, Kobus van Wyk drops out of the match day 23 altogether after taking a knock to his knee against the Brumbies, with the popularly named Jaco Taute back on the bench after resting an injury last week.
Key Match Up
Quade Cooper vs Peter Grant. The 2 are very different types of players. Quade loves chancing his arm and plays it flat, fast and risky. That said, he took some good kicking options against the Lions and over the past little while has matured as a more rounded player. Against him is a more traditional South African fly half who stands deeper and kicks more. Grant is often behind a dominant pack but to me the back line the Stormers have put together in past seasons is often under-employed. Juan De Jongh is ballistically quick and Jean De Villiers is a veteran that always takes the right option. How much pill Grant lets them have will be interesting.
Fearless Prediction
The Reds are coming off a long flight, 2 losses and ought to be desperate to stay in touch with the Aussie conference leaders. The Stormers are loaded with injuries, not winning and might just have one foot in the departure lounge already. With home advantage, the Reds ought to win by 8.
The Teams
Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Dom Shipperley, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Ed Quirk, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O’Donoghue, 20 Curtis Browning, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Anthony Fainga’a, 23 Ben Lucas
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Damian de Allende 13. Juan de Jongh 12. Jean de Villiers (captain) 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau 10. Peter Grant 9. Louis Schreuder 8. Duane Vermeulen (vice-captain) 7. Siya Kolisi 6. Nizaam Carr 5. Michael Rhodes 4. Jurie van Vuuren 3. Frans Malherbe 2. Deon Fourie 1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16. Stephan Coetzee 17. Oliver Kebble 18. Brok Harris 19. Tazz Fuzani 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe21. Nic Groom 22. Demetri Catrakilis 23. Jaco Taute
Kick-off: 18:40
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Steve Walsh, Robin Hoffman (both Aus)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Aus)
