- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Queensland Reds and Auckland Blues will be hoping to keep their slim finals chances alive in what is virtually an elimination final for both sides. Join us here on The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:35pm AEST.
Tonight’s game will be Quade Cooper’s 100th Super Rugby match. Cooper debuted for the Reds as an 18-year-old in 2007, and is now in his eighth season of Super Rugby.
Both these sides have been disappointing in 2014, but with this year’s Super Rugby tournament evenly matched they are both still a mathematical possibility of playing finals football.
WATCH THIS GAME LIVE ON FOXTEL PLAY
The Blues had their most impressive win of the year when they were able to defeat a frustrated Waratahs last week, keeping star fullback Israel Folau tryless in the 21-13 win on Anzac Day.
Their fortunes were vastly different to the Reds, who were dominated by an ever-improving Hurricanes side. The Reds will be happy to welcome back Wallaby Liam Gill, who was sorely missed in last week’s loss.
The Reds have also made a few positional changes with Mike Harris moved back to fullback, while Anthony Fainga’a will play the No. 12 role – no easy task considering the form Ma’a Nonu is in for the Auckland side.
One of last week’s try scorers Ben Lucas has been dropped, and young winger Jamie-Jerry Taulagi is also missing this match. The Reds have recalled Rod Davies, who scored a hat trick of tries against the Blues in the 2011 Super Rugby semi-final.
The Blues’ only change is the loss of captain Luke Braid, who will be replaced at openside flanker by Brendon O’Connor. Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said it was a good opportunity for the young Blue.
The Reds have dominated recent matches between the two sides, winning four of the past five encounters. Last year’s match was a heartbreaker for the Blues, who lost 12-11 in a low-scoring affair in Queensland.
The Blues finally found some form last week, though, and despite losing Luke Braid they will win this match by a fair margin.
Blues by 12
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.