Reds vs Hurricanes
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I know it’s only Monday but pretty wrapped with the performance on Friday against the Force.
I think there will be a few changes this week. I’d like to see Tevita Mafileo get a run at prop, potentially starting alongside Aumua and Lomax. I’d also like to see TK Howden get a run at 6 for the injured Devan Flanders (presuming he is anyway after he went off with a shoulder niggle). Howden was very good in pre season and deserves a trot before Shields comes back into the fray.
The other likely change to the starting side is that Roigard will most likely start at 9 and despite Vijoen having a ripper at 9, he’ll probs make way for the returning Perenara.
I’m also not too sure around the status on Kirifi, they might be keen to give him time off the pine after he looked pretty sore on Friday night, doing a post match interview on crutches.
With all that said I’m picking the following 23 for the Reds but we obviously won’t know until Wednesday arvo.
- T Mafileo
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- C Delany
- I Walker-Leawere
- T Howden
- P Lakai
- B Iose
- C Roigard
- B Cameron
- K Naholo
- J Barrett
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- R Love
- J O’Reilly
- X Numia
- P Tosi
- J Sangster
- D Kirifi
- T Perenara
- R Higgins
- S Rayasi
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Holland and Gibbes policy seemed to be that no matter how well a non regular player played he wouldn't start the next week.
I wonder if a change is needed here. I thought Viljoen played well enough to deserve another start. I'm not saying he should start week after week but a good performance should be at least a little rewarded.
I would also keep the team like it is but for injuries for the first three games. So, maybe TJ can wait until week 4. Leave Lakai at 8 and start Iosi at 7. And Mafileo can wait too. Reward a good team performance without dropping players.
If Kirifi is out. Who replaces to cover 7 and 8?
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@Winger I think other players also deserve an opportunity to shine, especially if they've played well in the pre season. I think Howden will definitely be in the 23 with Flanders injured. Roigard is almost certain to start after his season last year, he deserves to as he's the incumbent. I wouldn't mind Vijoen off the bench though, Perenara can wait until the team returns from Aus IMO. If Kirifi is out it won't be Iose that moves to 7, it will be Lakai. Lakai played 7 in the pre season.
You also have to remember that we have the Blues and then Crusaders when we return to New Zealand so giving other players a crack against a weaker team like the Reds is vital for squad moral. I'm not saying wholesale changes but there are a few guys that deserve an opportunity to also put their hand up.
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@Canes4life said in Reds vs Hurricanes:
You also have to remember that we have the Blues and then Crusaders when we return to New Zealand so giving other players a crack against a weaker team like the Reds is vital for squad moral.
And if they lose?
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@antipodean the changes I've included above should mean we don't lose anything in performance. Howden will be an enforced change, Roigard is an AB so should be starting and Mafileo don't forget was called into the ABs as cover last year so he isn't a mug.
I'd personally love Vijoen to come off the bench but Perenara will definitely get that slot if they send him over to Melbourne.
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1 Xavier Numia
2 Asafo Aumua (cc)
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Caleb Delany
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 TK Howden
7 Peter Lakai
8 Brayden Iose
9 Cam Roigard
10 Brett Cameron
11 Kini Naholo
12 Jordie Barrett (cc) (100th game)
13 Billy Proctor
14 Josh Moorby
15 Ruben Love16 James O’Reilly
17 Pouri Rakete-Stones
18 Pasilio Tosi
19 Justin Sangster
20 Veveni Lasaqa (Debut)
21 Jordi Viljoen
22 Riley Higgins
23 Salesi Rayasi -
@Duluth bloody strong lineup. No Kirifi and no Flanders this week.
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Queensland Reds name team to face Hurricanes in Super Round
The return of 2022 Wallaby Jock Campbell is the single change to the Queensland Reds’ starting side for Sunday afternoon’s clash against the Hurricanes in Melbourne.
Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lyngah, Jock Campbell, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suli Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia
Reserves: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa'agase, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Mac Grealy
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It's a bigly improvement for sure naming the teams early
And once again I've no complaints at all with this team of 23. I would've kept Viljoen and Tosi starting but can see why this has been done. To prepare for the next 2 big games. But at least both will likely get some game time
Barrett 100 games is a surprise to me. As is his age at 27. I thought he was younger still. But I hope if the game is won, they take him off and give Riley and run this week. He has a long season ahead and its pointless especially when he has a head knock and the game appears safe to keep him on.
I expect a good Canes win but have been full of confidence before ...
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@Canes4life Impressive nearly 100% predicting the team. I find it interesting that he we don’t have any other loosies in the region and have given Lasaqa the bench spot. Yes I know he was in preseason etc but just find it odd that no one has else was brought in.
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@mikey07 pretty close to picking the side, I thought Mafileo may have been involved in some capacity but can’t complain with the props selected. I wonder if Mafileo is going to the Blues next year and has therefore fallen out of favour. I saw on Insta at the beginning of the year that he brought a house in Auckland so I wonder how long he can do long distance for.
I suppose having Shields, Flanders and Kirifi out, there aren’t too many options that haven’t gone elsewhere / overseas to the MLR.
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@Canes4life What about the likes of Cooper Flanders who surely seems like he is going to a Cane at some stage in the future.
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Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry, Damon Murphy
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Canes fans might be happy this isn't being played at Suncorp
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@antipodean why's that?
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@Canes4life said in Reds vs Hurricanes:
@antipodean why's that?
Hometown advantage might have been enough for the Reds to win IMO.
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@antipodean please, we spanked pretty much the same team in Townsville last year.
I'm confident we'll comfortably get the job done against the Reds. I think we've won our last 8 against them so I'm sure our lads will be hugely confident.
Jordie Barrett set to play 100th match for the Hurricanes
Veveni LASAQA profile and stats
