The Reds make their first stop in their tour of the Republic when they face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday morning AEST. Join The Roar for live scores from 3:10am AEST, and feel free to help us out by leaving a comment on the match in the section below.
Both sides have had disappointing Super Rugby campaigns so far.
The Cheetahs started promisingly, but their loss of personnel over the off-season has begun to take its toll, with them now on a three and five win/loss record.
The Reds have been hit badly by injury, necessitating all sorts of reshuffles in the backline. Today, Nick Frisby resumes the role he has had to fill for a majority of the season.
Karmichael Hunt takes the fullback spot, meaning Lachie Turner and James O’Connor will play on the wing.
Up front, the Reds simply haven’t been good enough. Getting Rob Simmons back will help, and he will join James Horwill who returns after a week’s suspension.
They have been further hit, however, with the loss of Ben Tapuai, Dave McDuling and Saia Faingaa. They have very able replacements in the aforementioned Simmons, Chris Feauai-Sautia and James Hanson, all of whom have donned Wallaby gold.
The big news out of the Cheetahs is that mercurial playmaker Willie Le Roux will be missing from the match-day 23. It will take some sting out of the Cheetahs attack, with BG Uys replacing Le Roux. Ryno Benjamin also remains on the bench with Raymond Rhule favoured, with Cornal Hendricks sure to get more ball in Le Roux’s absence.
It might be a battle of some of the lightweights of the competition, but both teams will be looking to play positive rugby, in the absence of any finals hope to keep them going.
Join us for live scores of the action from 3:10am AEST, and let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section below.