Rebels
19
Match Complete
Queensland Reds
44
| 76 |  | J. Flook | ||
| M. Wells | | 66 | ||
| 62 | | J. Campbell | ||
| 56 |  | J. O'Connor | ||
| 47 |  | J. O'Connor | ||
| 45 | | F. McReight | ||
| M. Toomua | | 35 | ||
| R. Hodge | | 35 | ||
| M. Toomua | | 30 | ||
| F. Lomani | | 29 | ||
| 18 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 16 | | T. Tupou | ||
| 11 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 5 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 4 | | H. Paisami | ||
| 3 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 2 | | T. Tupou |
| 3 | Tries | 6 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Rebels host the Reds Saturday evening at AAMI Park, Melbourne. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 7:45pm (AEDT).
The Reds are comfortably sitting on the top of the Super Rugby AU table, with the Rebels needing to fight for third place against the Force and the Waratahs. All their matches, except for their 2019 win against the Reds, have been very close including a tie last year.
Rebels matches this year had an aura of a quality splashed with control and solid game management. The exception was the two late tries leaked against the Waratahs in their last match. Their forwards are strong and well-drilled. The backs, though not as exciting as the Reds’, are starting to become point-scorers.
The Reds are on a big roll, having won all their games so far. They have won with large margins against the Waratahs, but have survived others by the skin of their teeth. Their attack is very good. Their defence is solid, not letting competition break 20 points with the exception of two teams. One of them was the Rebels.
The most exciting players from the Rebels are the front-rowers: Pone Fa’amausili and Cabous Eloff. Like the Reds, most of their opponents do not breach 20 points, except the Reds and the Brumbies. Their defensive line is held by the same players throughout the weeks, with the exception of Lachie Anderson who misses out this week.
We should also expect Marika Koroibete to be great again. The Reds players across all positions will be guarding him very closely because he tends to break tackles and lines against all types of defensive structures.
The Reds have selected experienced outside backs this week, knowing their competition is more deadly. Playmakers Hegarty and Jock Campbell are fullback and wing, complemented by Hamish Stewart playing inside centre, which indicates a more dynamic attacking intent. Whilst their backrowers continue to lack some lateral mobility, their powerful forwards will aim to scrum the Rebels into submission. I think this combat will be close, again.
Regarding matchups, you should look out for the “Tongan Thor vs Pone” show, with over 250 kg of power and muscle running into each other at speed. Glorious. The other matchup is the two fly-halves from Queensland: James O’Connor and Matt Toomua. I think the Rebels’ backrowers have a better mix of power and mobility. But the Reds are well-drilled. So this will also be an excellent romp.
Prediction
It’s going to be close. The bookies favour the Reds, which is hard to argue against. The difference between the two will be the bench, and the Reds have a distinct advantage. But I think the Rebels has a good chance to win if they improve even more today.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 7:45pm (AEDT).
Game information
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Live stream: Nine, Stan Sport
Betting: Reds $1.45, Rebels $2.74 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Rebels
1. Cabous Eloff, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Pone Fa’amausili, 4. Steven Cummins, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Reece Hodge, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Frank Lomani, 15. Tom Pincus
Bench: 16. James Hanson, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Albert Anae, 19. Thomas Nowlan, 20. Robert Leota, 21. James Tuttle, 22. Lewis Holland, 23. Jeral Skelton
Reds
1. Feao Fotuaika, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Ryan Smith, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Jock Campbell, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Bryce Hegarty
Bench: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Richie Asiata, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Angus Blyth, 20. Seru Uru, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Joshua Flook, 23. Filipo Daugunu
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Bodger: Can't wait. Go the Reds!!!!!
Bodger
Roar Rookie
The game this weekend will be a cracker. I think the best game the Brumbies centres played was against the Force but apart from that they haven't been consistently good. Paisami has been excellent the last few games. The Reds coaches played their best game against the Rebels, picked apart their backs passing game and picked a back three with a good kicking game. The two best coached sides going up against each other this weekend. Does Wright come straight back in is the big question for the Reds and does Daugunu start.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
You can thank Cheika for that. Rennie had big ones to take over the basket case that was Australian rugby. In a land where IDing talent at any level on the rugby field is either not done at all or badly, it leaves us with a major job of rebuilding almost from a Hiroshima state. We and the media still get excited about a prop running 30m and don't care or don't understand what his main job is. By the way your view about Paisami is yours and others views but not sure he is outplaying every other centre, I think the Brumbies may have a thing or two say about that. Anyway, it is this Wallabies season that will show that up. Going from SR to playing the AB's is not called a Test for nothing!
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Paisami got one pass to the right wrong yes but this is a work on and something he can improve fix. He was one of the best players on the field though, and outplayed Hodge and Toomua. Paisami and these guys will get better, Toomua is as good as he gets and will get slower. Paisami is probably the biggest improver the last year and why folks like Nick wants to focus on one negative when he continues to outplay every other centre is a head scratcher for me. Toomua might be a good back up for the tournament but we can’t be in the same position as the last one when after 4 years we still had no idea what our backline looked like.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Danny, by that logic the last century saw a wonderful period of world peace (except for a few years of massacring world war). And calling a well known professional sportsman a dhead from an anonymous cheap seat says more about the booer than the booee. Cue the Q boos, still booing 10 years on.
Rugby wizard
Guest
"Too slow for top level" If that's the case then why is Dulin,who is actually slower than Jock playing top level? I will answer that for you,because he does the basics well,has quick feet,is good in the air and identifies space,therefore always making the correct decision when a decision has to be made to kick or attack,I see similar traits in Jock. DHP and Banks attack when there isn't space and kicks when there is.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Bodger: I think we are saying roughly the same thing. The Wallabies need a young IC and both of the reds candidates are options. It was obvious from the game that Paisami has an issue passing left to right which Stewart does not have. I am saying that Toomua is the best for this season’s tests agree he won’t be there next season, it depends on who Rennie has on the bench and how they perform, should be very interesting to watch. How the young players improve for 2023 is critical and the final team needs plenty of game time to jell and become a potent force. I’m looking forward to the rebuilding of the Wallabies but not like the Tahs are trying to do it or the Reds did it for that matter, we don’t have that much time.
mused6
Roar Rookie
I’ll admit there were some confusing breakdown and scrum calls. Your Rebels looked a bit low on energy though TWAS. Unexpected for a home game.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Grey is a master in ‘Musical chairs defence theory’. The problem was always those old wallaby legs. U20s should be sweet.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Kiwis don’t count that one because it was a fluke... they still seem to suffer from some sort of QC hatred brain cloud condition.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Not god like status. More of a cautious optimism.
Danny
Roar Pro
By "nearly two decades" I mean ~20 out of ~23 years. That said, 2011 was more statistical fluke than the beginning of a medium term climb back to where this premier franchise should be. MacKenzie left, Cooper couldn't keep playing a limited amount of half decent rugby and being a d-head at the same time, and the thing fell to pieces. Queue the Q-fans :laughing:
Bodger
Roar Rookie
We know what Toomua brings but he is slowing up that is no doubt. What's his play going to be like in two years and will he keep up with the speed of international rugby. Stewart was great last night but so was Paisami. Paisami has had a few excellent games in a row, JP is the one not on form at the moment. Paisami is only in his second year of SR, just at the start of his career and look how much he has improved in that short time. Paisami should be starting at 12 for me but I doubt there is a better defensive 12 in Oz SR than Stewart and again only 23, how good will he be in 2 more years. The Reds are where they are because they brought on these young guys, the Wallabies have to do the same. O'Connor is getting better at 10 but Pup isn't.
James GC
Roar Rookie
Wells has some speed on him hey.
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Gee, what do the Reds have to do to gain some respect? They are undefeated after seven rounds. Have belted the Tahs twice, belted the Rebels, closed out tight games against the Rebels and Force. And came from behind to win against the Brumbies. Yet many consider it luck, excuse the Brumbies for having third string props (the Reds started with a third stringer last night). They are a good team. Maybe not great. But what is a great team anyway? Many would call the Crusaders great but they’ve lost more this season than the Reds. So maybe a great team is one that keeps on winning? Yes, the Brumbies are clinical, but so too are this Reds team. Last night they came out of the gate with lots of points, fell off for a bit when the Rebels fired up and got into the game, then put 20 more points on them to win 44-19. Is that not clinical?
MaxP
Roar Rookie
To be fair, things were pretty bleak either side of 2011
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Yes, it was. But top speed is a secondary consideration for a full back. Campbell is good under the high ball, good defender, good counter attacker and good positional player. He is not a winger, but a good fullback
Quarry
Guest
Or is Wells too quick for an eight man? :laughing:
Rugby wizard
Guest
I like Uru but wont start him,will use him from the bench the way the Springboks used Louw. ASY if not starting is a good bench player as well,infact I would have ASY and Uru on the bench. ASY is probably the best player to bring on if the Wallabies are leading and Uru if the Wallabies are trailing.
30mm tags
Roar Rookie
Two decades? SR champion 2011.