The Reds must win against the Hurricanes if they are to live up to early season expectations, but they will have to get it done on the road as they travel to Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5.35pm (AEST).
Tonight’s game is crucial for the Reds if they are to have any chance of staying in check with the Australian conference, they are currently placed fourth on 16 points, equal with the Melbourne Rebels.
While the Hurricanes sit comfortably in third position in the New Zealand conference with 21 points and seventh overall.
In recent weeks, the Hurricanes have set the bar high for the Reds with three straight wins compared with the Reds who have only won one out of their previous three games.
Wellington have also scored more points and tries per game than any other side this season.
The Hurricanes and Reds have both made changes to their outfits, with the Reds making four significant changes while the Hurricanes have only brought in Ben Franks.
The changes the Reds’ coach Richard Graham announced included the returning of Ben Daley to loosehead and Saia Fainga’a who will be replacing James Hanson as the starting hooker. While changes to the backline includes returning Mike Harris to inside centre and Jamie-Jerry Taulagi to the wing.
Head-to-head the Hurricanes have won 11 out 15 games against the Reds.
However, the Reds have never won against the Hurricanes in Wellington, so if history prevails, a loss will be forthcoming tonight for the Reds.
Tip: At home, the Hurricanes will play a fast game and get over the line
Join The Roar at 5.35pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary, and be sure to have your say and join the debate below.
Mark
Guest
Another reason why this conference model is rubbish... It punishes NZ for being good... SA and Aus always have at least 2 poor sides... NZ rarely have any
Garth
Guest
He was Link's chosen and annointed one.
Firstxv
Guest
that explains why the Blues have lost all their matches then...Whew...thats a relief.
mapu
Guest
how is that getting lucky.Its called pressure
Coconut
Guest
Guys, there were many articles written and comments made about how badly the Kiwi's were doing at the start of the season, on both sides of the Tasman. Tane is quite correct in making this point. If he wants to have a bit of a dig at (apparently) fellow Kiwi posters who failed to 'stay the course', then who's business is it of anyone else? El Gamba I haven't come across you on this forum before but having just read thru your contributions above, I think you are being a little bit hypocritical about Tane's parochialism.... Your own comments betray you.
Coconut
Guest
Yeah this is always the issue with the Kiwi sides. The thing I am most pleased about however is how well all the Kiwi franchises (with exception of injury stricken Chiefs) are doing.... This bodes well for the international season, although as we all know, Super15 form isn't always the best indicator....
Paul
Guest
this is what occurred last year hence for the SA having 3 teams in the top 6. All came down to NZ teams cancelling each other out
Common Sense
Guest
Fair enough, our flyhalves must have been crap back then. Nowadays though a flyhalf isn't worth anything if they can't place kick.
Common Sense
Guest
More like the major hub of rugby talent yet perennially under performing, can't find a decent flyhalf.
ric
Guest
chiefs you mean
In Brief
Guest
They actually need a defence coach. Not defensive structure, but how how to tackle. From Horwill down they all grab with arms and nothing else. For the Hurricanes it was like running through a wall of fairy floss. Even Beauden Barrett ran straight over the entire reds pack.
stillmatic1
Guest
pick me pick me, el? point 1: every game is usually decided by the others mistakes! point 2: every team should win by more!! point 3: surely being able to make the computer work and write on blogs to complain about other bloggers opinions all the time, displays some modicum of intelligence!? but seriously, like many others (kiwi or not), im with you.
stillmatic1
Guest
orcs........
dahl
Guest
they're somewhere between mordor and the shire. Aren't they?
Kane
Roar Guru
Does that even the ledger on the inter conference matches between the NZ and Aus conference?
stillmatic1
Guest
listen tane. aussies barely know the game of rugby so how can we expect them to understand the basic geographical location of our teams............
Kane
Roar Guru
A decent 9 would be good
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
The Reds are on the fast track to becoming the Benny Hill Show twits that they were back in 2007. They badly need a quality prop, hooker, blindside, No. 8, outside centre (Tapuai back to 12) and fullback. A good coach wouldn't be bad either..
Jerry
Guest
Most likely, there's a bunch of in conference matches coming up. I suspect the NZ teams will share wins and losses without any one team getting enough points to haul in the Brumbies or Sharks for 1st or 2nd. An even conference doesn't necessarily bode well for an NZ team winning the comp.
Digby
Roar Guru
That is a concern