- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The 2013 Super Rugby season continues with the Queensland Reds taking on the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium tonight. Join us from 7.40pm AEDT for live scores and commentary.
The Reds come into this one off a lacklustre 20-6 defeat at the hands of a Brumbies team that was full of running last Saturday night.
The 2011 champions never really got into the game, and the usual flair and pace provided by Quade Cooper was absent until the dying stages of the match.
The Reds will be hoping that the home crowd will give them the extra motivation they need this weekend if they are to stop a powerful Waratahs side looking to do big things this season.
This match also sees some interesting matchups with Wallabies implications, one being the battle between opensides Liam Gill for the Reds and new Waratahs recruit Michael Hooper. Their battle at the breakdown will certainly be one to watch.
This game also sees the return of a certain Mr Israel Folau. Folau played 38 times for the Brisbane Broncos and five times for Queensland in his NRL days and will be no stranger to running out to a packed Suncorp Stadium.
The utility back seems to be taking to Super Rugby very well, having scored twice and set up one try in his trial match debut against the Melbourne Rebels.
Prediction
The Reds will be wanting to put the Canberra loss behind them and start to pick up some early season momentum, while the Waratahs will be looking to set standards for themselves and try and change back to winning ways.
With a backline featuring the likes of Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner and of course Israel Folau, expect to see the Waratahs try and set a quick pace early on.
The Reds are still dependent on the guile and confidence of Quade Cooper, who showed little of both in the first round but is experienced enough to settle back into his creative groove.
Both sides have powerful forward packs, though I give the slight advantage to the Waratahs here who will be fielding an almost all-Wallaby pack.
If the Reds can deal with the pace and aggression that the Tahs set then this could be a cracker, with both teams not being afraid to throw the ball around.
I am calling a close one with the home advantage at Suncorp bringing the Reds home by less than five.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.