After a rather, um, trying game last week for the Sharks they have come north to see if they can take a bite out of a resurgent Reds team.
After what could be described as their best performance of the season, the Reds have managed a fairly stable team from last week. The big missing is Lachie Turner, who has had to take a rest due to concussion concerns bringing Chris Kuridrani straight back into the the starting XV on the wing. This is the only change. This is also the first time (I think) this season when there has only been one change. If this is the influence of Knuckles….. I am happy to keep him. Knuckles that is.
The other big news, or not so big news whichever way you look at it, is that Quade is not in the side despite being allegedly passed fit. I, for one, am glad that the selectors are showing some faith in McIntyre after a better debut than a lot of others have had, and some sense in not rushing Cooper back into a game that can be expected to be rough, tough and physical.
With as little shuffling as this there should be an improved performance from the Reds and they are going to need it. The Sharks are going to be smarting from the loss to the Waratahs last week due to, what many have seen, as a diabolical display of officiating. I am sure they will be wanting to take something away from their sojourn to Australia other than a nice tan & some good memories of the Coogee Hotel.
The big news in the Sharks side is Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira returning to the front row with Chadwick dropping back to the bench and Matt Stevens being pushed out of the 23. One other change sees Mouritz Botha move onto the bench at the expense of Lubabalo Mtyanda.
The Sharks have had a season very much like the Reds with their performances falling flat and rumours off field issues are impacting the performance of the team. Both teams will be out to salvage some pride from 2015.
Key matchups
The Forwards – 1 through 8
The Reds are about to be tested. Correct me if I am wrong, but is the front row of Mtawarira and Du Plessis squared not one of the strongest, if not THE strongest in Super Rugby?
As I, and many Reds supporters, have been saying all season, the Reds forward pack has been a shining light in an otherwise dark and dismal season. As with all games, it is going to be these forwards who will determine if the game is won or lost. They are going to have to bring their A game to match it with the Sharks and not get drawn into any of the niggle that can be expected on and off the ball. With the result of such niggle possibly being Frans Steyn or JOC stepping up to the tee both sides will want to be on the right side of the ref’s whistle. Let’s just hope that it is not said whistle that determines which side has the better night.
Jake McIntyre v The Sharks
Following a solid debut last week I hope that the coaches have been preparing young Jake by running every forward, ex-forward and any spare backs straight at him during every training session they have had. And at a few random times during the day – like on his way to lunch for example.Why you may ask?
Well, this is what the Sharks are likely to do. Like all good South Africian teams, (and despite their current table position they are still a good team), they know how to sniff out the soft underbelly of a side and target the inexperienced members. With Jake falling back to a sweeper role in defence you can be sure that when he is there he will be peppered with high balls and have some aggressive defenders headed straight in his direction. How he handles this in his second Super Rugby game will be telling.
I am expecting a tough night at the office for him and hope that he comes out with both his head and reputation somewhat intact.
The Benches
In the Reds game last week the bench was emptied onto the field at around the 70 min mark and it was at this point that the newly form combinations fell apart and the Rebels started a come back. Although the home side will be better for the run the risk is still there and punishment of lose play and errors in defence can be expected to be higher than what the Rebels handed out last weekend.
Prediction
Must I? This game has the potential to be close. Very close. The winner is going to be the one that can bring physicality to the park and not the blown out of the contest by the man holding the whistle. I honestly don’t think that I have ever in the past thought that a game will hinge so much on what the officals do before a whistle is blown in anger. It will either be a draw, the Reds by heaps or the Sharks by plenty…….
Offically – Reds/Sharks by 1-15
Yeah, the splinters do hurt.
Teams
Reds v Sharks
 |  | 
|
| James Slipper (C) | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira |
| James Hanson | 2 | Bismarck du Plessis |
| Greg Holmes | 3 | Jannie du Plessis |
| Rob Simmons (VC) | 4 | Stephan Lewies |
| James Horwill | 5 | Marco Wentzel (Captain) |
| Adam Thomson | 6 | Marcell Coetzee |
| Liam Gill | 7 | Willem Alberts |
| Jake Schatz | 8 | Renaldo Bothma |
| Will Genia | 9 | Stefan Ungerer |
| Jake McIntyre | 10 | Lionel Cronje |
| Chris Kuridrani | 11 | Sbura Sithole |
| Samu Kerevi | 12 | Francois Steyn |
| Karmichael Hunt | 13 | JP Pietersen |
| Chris Feauai-Sautia | 14 | Odwa Ndungane |
| James OConnor | 15 | Lwazi Mvovo |
| Reserves | ||
| Andrew Ready | 16 | Franco Marais |
| Pettowa Paraka | 17 | Dale Chadwick |
| Sam Talakai | 18 | Lourens Adriaanse |
| Ed ODonoghue | 19 | Mouritz Botha |
| Lolo Fakaosilea | 20 | Etienne Oosthuizen |
| Nick Frisby | 21 | Conrad Hoffmann |
| Sam Greene | 22 | Fred Zeilinga |
| Ben Tapuai | 23 | André Esterhuizen |
| Location: | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | |
| Kickoff: | Fri 22 May 19:40 | |
| Referee: | Angus Gardner | |
| Assistant Ref 1: | Matt O'Brien | |
| Assistant Ref 2: | Damien Mitchelmore | |
| TMO : | Peter Marshall |
