Reds v Blues
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<p>Rieko Ioane to debut on the right wing. Nice move - good match for him to debut in my opinion. Sounds like Ranger isn't injured.</p>
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<p>Josh Bekhuis 100th game.</p>
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<p>Blues:</p>
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<p>Ofa Tuúngafasi, James Parsons, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Bekhuis, Jerome Kaino, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua, Bryn Hall, Ihaia West, Tevita Li, George Moala, Male Saú, Rieko Ioane, Lolagi Visinia.</p>
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<p>Bench - Quentin MacDonald, Nick Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Hoani Matenga, Kara Pryor, Akira Ioane, Billy Guyton, Matt McGahan</p> -
<p>That should easily account for the Reds.</p>
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<p>A six forwards/two backs split on the bench.</p>
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<p><strong>Reds</strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">1. Sef Fa’agase 2. Andrew Ready 3. Greg Holmes 4. Cadeyrn Neville 5. Rob Simmons (c) 6. Hendrik Tui 7. Waita Setu 8. Jake Schatz</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">9. Nick Frisby 10. Jake McIntyre 11. Eto Nabuli 12. Anthony Fainga’a 13. Samu Kerevi 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia 15. Karmichael Hunt</span></p>
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<p><em><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">Reserves</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">16. Matt Mafi 17. Pettowa Paraka 18. Sam Talakai 19. Ben Matwijow 20. Curtis Browning 21. Scott Gale 22. Sam Greene 23. Ayumu Goromaru</span></p>
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<p>Injury news: Reds prop Ben Daley has been ruled out of the next four months, after undergoing pectoral surgery this week</p> -
<p>Big call to drop Ranger, but hopefully he takes it well and comes out firing when he comes back in.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<p>If we lose this, the players may as well not come back into the country.</p>
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<p>Yeah this is really a must win for the Blues. </p>
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<p>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'. </p>
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<p>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.</p> -
Big game for the Blues IMO,<br><br>if they are disappointing here, it really will feel like its more of the same
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<p>Why do we always have to make things so fucken hard for ourselves!!!</p>
