The ‘Festival of Hate’ is back for another year to kick off rugby in Sydney for 2012. This promises to be a cracker, with both sides having plenty to prove as they start their seasons. So let’s get into it:
The Teams
Tahs: 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper 14. Tom Kingston 13. Rob Horne 12. Tom Carter 11. Brackin Karauria-Henry 10. Daniel Halangahu (c) 9. Sarel Pretorius 8. Wycliff Palu 7. Chris Alcock 6. Dave Dennis 5. Dean Mumm 4. Kane Douglas 3. Sekope Kepu 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 1. Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick 17. Paddy Ryan 18. Lopeti Timani 19. Jono Jenkins 20. Brendan McKibbin 21. Bernard Foley 22. Nathan Trist
Barnes and McCutcheon are late withdrawls due to injury. Hangers comes in and takes the captaincy, despite not being a part of the 8-man leadership group.
Reds: 15. Luke Morahan, 14. Digby Ioane, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Dom Shipperley, 10. Mike Harris, 9. Will Genia, 8. Jake Schatz, 7. Beau Robinson, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. James Horwill ©, 4. Rob Simmons, 3. James Slipper, 2. James Hanson, 1. Ben Daley.
Reserves: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Van Humphries, 19. Radike Samo, 20. Liam Gill, 21. Ben Lucas, 22. Jono Lance.
Saia Faingaa is the only late scratching, with James Hanson an able replacement. Mike Harris assumes the 10 jersey in QC’s absence.
The Details
ANZ Stadium in Sydney, kick-off at 7:40pm EDST. Weather is predicted to be fine and the referee is Jaco Peyper. Get there at 5:30 to see the Caveman running around for Balmain against Petersham in the curtain-raiser. Also don’t be so fast to head to the bar at half-time as there will be a live performance by hot new artist Timomatic who will be playing his hit ‘Set it off’. Lee Grant has had his eye on this young bloke for a while and is tipping him for big things this season on the charts.
The Match-Up
This week it’s all about the halfbacks. Will Genia is riding high after being announced as the G&GR player of 2011, and will be looking to make a big statement at the start of 2012. With Quade Cooper gone for the first part of the competition there will be a lot of pressure on Genia who has been so reliable for them over the past few years. His management of forward runners around the ruck will be key, especially as there is no Saia Faingaa, Samo is on the bench and Higgers is coming off an injury and could be underdone.
He is facing off against new Waratahs recruit Sarel Pretorius, also known as Pretorius B.I.G. The nippy Saffer has been turning heads in the trials and looks to have lost nothing since being named South African Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2011. The big question mark over his game is defence, as he lead the competition missed tackle count last year. Without Berrick Barnes the pressure will be firmly on Pretorius to make things happen around the ruck.
The Game Breaker
You’d be an idiot if you thought this game was going to be an open, free-flowing game of high quality rugby. It’s a Reds/Tahs game for Christ’s sake, not to mention round 1! Expect a stodgy, knock-down drag-out contest where the game is decided on the floor at the tackle contest. It will come down to which forward pack is more willing to get down in the mud and fight for every ruck, every maul and every scrum. This is no place for seagulls, and only the ugliest of forwards will come out on top.
The Fearless Prediction
I am tipping the Reds to win by 6. They have had a great pre-season and should have a touch too much class for this injury-ravaged Tahs side. I am also predicting TPN to limp off injured after 27 minutes and be out for three weeks.
The Drinking Game
Get your friends around, fill your glasses and get stuck into this, my Reds vs Tahs drinking game:
Sip if:
– Clarkie mentions the Reds are without Quade Cooper
– The camera cuts to Link looking stony-faced
– Jaco Peyper blows a confusing ruck penalty
Drink if:
– A Waratah goes down injured
– The Waratahs go two plays WITHOUT an injury
– Scott Higginbotham kicks the ball
Finish your drink if:
– The Waratahs run out of players forcing Tah Man to come onto the wing
– The Reds score a pushover try
– You at any time hear the words ‘Carter’ and ‘exhilarating’ in the same sentence.
Who’s your tip for Saturday? Any additions to the drinking game?
