Reds v Blues

Milk

That's a pretty fantastic achievement from Bekhuis. Good on him.

? Offline

A six forwards/two backs split on the bench.

Crucial

Hoping the Blues can turn it on with that lineup. Could make for some good watching.

Stargazer

Reds
 
1. Sef Faâ€™agase 2. Andrew Ready 3. Greg Holmes 4. Cadeyrn Neville 5. Rob Simmons (c) 6. Hendrik Tui 7. Waita Setu 8. Jake Schatz
9. Nick Frisby 10. Jake McIntyre 11. Eto Nabuli 12. Anthony Faingaâ€™a 13. Samu Kerevi 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia 15. Karmichael Hunt
 
Reserves
16. Matt Mafi 17. Pettowa Paraka 18. Sam Talakai 19. Ben Matwijow 20. Curtis Browning 21. Scott Gale 22. Sam Greene 23. Ayumu Goromaru
 
 
Injury news: Reds prop Ben Daley has been ruled out of the next four months, after undergoing pectoral surgery this week

Dice

Big call to drop Ranger, but hopefully he takes it well and comes out firing when he comes back in.
 
Moore said Akira might be asked to cover wing with the short back bench. If we're well ahead, I wouldn't mind seeing how he goes out there. Someone should give him Isaac Ross' number, so he can ask him for some tips.
 
It seems Bekhuis is off to France after this season. If one of Luatua or Tuipulotu pick up line-out calling, we could see them pairing up at lock next season. I would've liked to have seen those two pair up when we were chasing the game last week, but I think their lack of line-out calling experience is a big reason why it can't happen at the moment, and why Bekhuis has to play 80 minutes every game. Matenga can probably relieve Bekhuis in this game, because he's probably the only other trusted line-out caller in our team.

African Monkey

If we lose this, the players may as well not come back into the country.

KiwiMurph

Yeah this is really a must win for the Blues. 
 
They haven't won an away game since 2014 and if they get tipped up this weekend it's going to feel like "here we go again". Whereas if they get that away win, they'll then be sitting 2-2 going into the bye which is a good spot and they'll at least be 'in the mix'. 
 
In addition, in the weeks after the Reds, they have a tough stretch with a bye, followed by Jaguares (at North Harbour where they never win), Chiefs away (who they haven't beaten in years) and Sharks at Eden Park followed by another bye.

Gunner

If anyone watching this game kindly wants to post some updates, that'd be much appreciated.

kiwiinmelb

Big game for the Blues IMO, if they are disappointing here, it really will feel like its more of the same

mimic

west with a short ball to reiko ioane to bust the line and then pass back to west to go under the posts.. blues 7-0 after 11 mins

mimic

sautia beats tevita li in the air.. and burns luatua on the outside to score for the reds in the corner..
 
blues 7-7 reds after 13 mins

mimic

west converts a penalty from almost in front
 
blues 10-7

mimic

visinia holds the ball in two hands and sets up hall for a try in the corner.. looked like another forward pass lol
 
blues 15-7 after 19 mins

mimic

hunt with some fancy footwork to elude tevita li on his return..
and then ofa gets a turnover penalty after the reds were hot on attack

Gunner

Seems to be a lot of attacking play early on - what's the defense looking like?

African Monkey

Why do we always have to make things so fucken hard for ourselves!!!

Unite

Passing through the Blues backline is bloody ordinary. Lots of reaching above above heads for balls.

Unite

Blues on a team warning now by the looks.

antipodean

Fuck the Blues are ill-disciplined.

Siam

cripple fight really. poor basics all round

The Silver Fern

Reds v Blues