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.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Harry you must have missed the tahs game, hooper was fantastic and has to be there to get the go forward our pack needs. Pocock can be the 6. Izzy was awesome as well has to be the 15.
Harry Jones
Expert
If I were Cheika, I'd 1. Pick Gill as the bench loosie 2. Start Pocock; drop Hooper 3. Find a place for JOC (15?); AAC 4. Take a chance on Skelton 5. Test Holmes vs ARG
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Yep. Hunt's execution was perfect. You couldn't ask for a better immediate release, get to feet and then go at the ball. Penalised on suspicion that something must have been wrong.
toa
Guest
The Hunt penalty I thought was tough as well, It appears K defensive technique was far to quick for Heerdenor to pick up that he had made the tackle, release & stay on his feet…..maybe K's just not expected to do that!!!….other than that, agree, good game by the match officials.
RobC
Roar Guru
I dont think many of Reds kickers were aiming for a chase. Just send the ball downtown. prefering distance or kicking it over the touchline (for LO), and keep their D intact None of Cheetahs were able to break the line significantly, and ended up playing into this tactic.
Handles
Roar Guru
Agreed Harry. I would pick Gill, but I know Cheika won't. His only chance is injury. I don't think Cheika will pick Holmes, either, but live in hope. But I don't think Frisby is even on the radar. Kerevi might be a bolter, but there isn't much room in a RWC squad for development players. And K. Hunt hasn't shown a thing to justify all the hype yet. But I live in (more) hope.
Handles
Roar Guru
Well, I was sitting in Brisbane watching on TV, and I knew when Genia was kicking, why didn't the Reds chasers? Thompson was noticeable in that he was the only one that chased hard. One of Turner, O'Connor or Kerevi needs to go harder. AAC made himself indispensable to the Wallabies with his kick chase. Take a lesson boys.
Handles
Roar Guru
Korczyk is a local product, Brisbane State High into the Reds A squad. He played really well last night, and it was interesting that he came right into the number 2 jumper spot and won a lot of lineout ball, in his first game. He looked really good, which is some much needed positive news for the Reds on the list front.
RobC
Roar Guru
I think Sanchez played consistently like Frisby Turner and K: - Play the ball in the Cheetahs half . TO their LO - Avoid counter attacks ie win the collisions, no push passes - else kick and defend / LO Gill is BACK: - Wins a TO in the 1st minute - Harassing the Cheetahs attacking rucks - Solid tackles - Piercing pick / gos. He was #1 in 2013 - The 2nd try was sparked by a Gill pick off the ruck into the redzone
Taylorman
Guest
Good to see JOC being talked about more. Could be returning to form at just the right time.
RobC
Roar Guru
Hard to be a Cheetahs defender. - You've got JOC in front of you. Who takes a couple to tackle - You got Kerevi to his left, who takes 3 guys to tackle - Then you got a backrow to his right. Its hard to defend on the front foot
RobC
Roar Guru
Scrum was excellent! Its a thing of beauty when the front row pushes through the middle of their opposing scrum... all the way passed their backrow. Owned. Maul D and attack was pretty bad though. Kev ended up on the side on several occassions, but thankfully was able to avoid being pinged Was looking forward to the Brussow / Gill battle, but was not meant to be.
Adsa
Guest
Horwill did a lot of carries but he lacks the leg drive in contact he had prior to injury so he made very few metres. The set piece was very good for the Reds and Korcyk was a revelation, where did the Reds get him from?
RobC
Roar Guru
yes mate. All the games today where either close, or upsets. Some are close upsets
RobC
Roar Guru
wooo hoooo!!!!
RobC
Roar Guru
Kepu still better. Reds pack is 30 kegs heavier, and they scrummaged like it. Just like the Tahs pack was 30 kegs heavier than the Reds. And smashed us I look forward to the next Qld/NSW contest with Holmes in it!
RobC
Roar Guru
77' LO TO was actually a Cheetahs infringement - pulling on Kotze's arm as he caught a two handed win. It was pretty obvious. The following penalty against Thompson for holding onto the ball was tough, as the SA commentators mentioned. Otherwise the refs had a good game
Boomeranga
Guest
Thanks Redsback. Is Korczyk still eligible for the U20s?
Harry
Guest
Agree Holmes, Agree Gill, Frisby is nowhere near a Wallaby jersey at 9 or 10, agree on RG, Kerevi still needs an enormous amount of work before he can be considered a test player - the benchmarks of this type of 12 are JdV and Nonu - and yes JOC should be kicking better - get Ben Perkins down to Reds training this week.
Harry
Guest
Refereeing rant follows ... in the 78th minute and the last lineout of the game the Cheetahs committed a blatant foul on the Reds jumper by grabbing his arm in the air - strictly against the rules. Very obvious. Completely missed or ignored by the referee and his assistant. Of course those who have seen the replay know what eventuated - the Cheetahs won possession from the spilled one arm Reds jumper catch attempt and than a penalty right in front of the sticks which should have won them the game. Justice fortunately prevailed when the ball hit the bar preventing what would have been an unjustified win. But seriously what gives. Incompetent at best and a classic example of hometown ref bias. Until they have neutral refs SuperRugby is continually degraded.