Queensland Reds
23
Match Complete
Melbourne Rebels
5
| J. Campbell |  | 79 | ||
| H. Wilson | | 48 | ||
| J. O'Connor |  | 38 | ||
| 33 | | B. Wilkin | ||
| J. O'Connor | | 32 | ||
| J. O'Connor |  | 14 | ||
| T. Tupou | | 13 |
| 3 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Super Rugby Pacific opening weekend returns to Australian soil as the Queensland Reds take on the Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45 pm (AEDT).
Both these teams will have different expectations from the upcoming season. The Rebels will really be trying their best to avoid the wooden spoon while the Reds will be wanting to show that their fantastic domestic form in 2021 wasn’t just a one season wonder.
Reds coach, Brad Thorn, has made some eye-catching selection decisions with star players Hunter Paisami and Fraser McReight starting their seasons on the bench. Instead Thorn has gone with Hamish Stewart and Josh Flook in the centres and a back row of Angus Scott-Young, Liam Wright and Harry Wilson.
The key halves partnership of James O’Connor and Tate McDermott will start together with JOC making his 100th Super Rugby appearance. These two were in fine form last year and the Reds need them to find that sort of form again if they hope to go deep in the competition. JOC looked out of sorts when he came back from injury in 2021 and fans will be hoping that he just needed some time to get back into the swing of things.
The Rebels have lost some key players with Dane Haylett-Petty having to retire from the game in 2021 due to ongoing issues with concussion and Marika Koroibete playing in Japan.
When you look through their team sheet, the Rebels look like they could be in for a very difficult season. Many fans’ hopes will be pinned on fly half Carter Gordon who knows the Red side well having been part of their development system for a number of years. He’ll have the experienced Matt Toomua providing plenty of support from inside centre and Toomua will need to have a very good game if the Rebels stand a chance.
The Rebels will miss Wallabies Andrew Kellaway and Rob Leota who are likely to re join the team after three to four weeks as they recover from injury.
Prediction
Having lost to the Fijian Drua in a pre season trial game, confidence levels might be a bit low in Melbourne heading into this clash and it’s hard to see them improving much.
Reds by 14.
Game information
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT), Saturday 19th February 2022
Live stream: Stan Sports
Betting: Queensland Reds $1.16, Melbourne Rebels $5.30 – odds via PlayUp
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referee: Damon Murphy, Nic Berry
Teams
Queensland Reds
1 Dane Zander, 2 Alex Mafi, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Liam Wright (c), 8 Harry Wilson, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 10 James O’Connor, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Josh Flook, 14 Jordan Petaia, 15 Jock Campbell
Replacements:
16 Josh Nasser, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Fraser McReigh, 21 Spencer Jeans, 22 Hunter Paisami, 23 Lawson Creighton
Melbourne Rebels
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Jordan Uelese, 3 Cabous Eboff, 4 Matt Philip, 5 Ross Haylett-Petty, 6 Sam Wallis, 7 Brad Wilkin, 8 Michael Wells, 9 Joe Powell, 10 Carter Gordon, 11 Glen Vaihu, 12 Matt To’omua, 13 Stacey Ili, 14 Lachie Anderson, 15 Reece Hodge
Replacements:
16 Matt Gibbon, 17 James Hanson, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Thomas Nowlan, 20 Tamati Ioane, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Raymond Nu’u, 23 Young Tonumaipea
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
The Dean brothers. One of whom was known as Happy! And Joh didn't care if greenies were chained to it.
Matt Cleary
Expert
Who were those brothers in demolition, who Joh would send in overnight to knock down a building before the Greenies could chain themselves to it.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Too true! I think that the players would have found the rain pleasing in regards to the temperature. I think that being game 1 they were over keen at times, but their discipline should improve in the next game.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah Brisbane is much friendlier for rugby outside the tropical months. Ironically I think the rain made it bearable for the players, temp-wise. But we have to improve our discipline. A better opposition will exploit that.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Congratulations RR, on the win. Tough conditions for an opening round match.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
When you look back the scoreboard only gives you scores, no comment on the playing conditions or how a team went about playing, ie ugly, tight etc. Can’t be as good as I thought if I have to explain it. :shocked: :stoked:
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Agree with that too Tight-Head. Hodge offers a lot, more than Banks, without being spectacular. He can make unforced errors which an be costly, but overall, I think to date he has been under-utilised and possibly not developed to his full potential.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Ahh the siren call of Mr Walker. Has lured many a man into the rocks!
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
G’day BF sorry not getting you question re comments/scoreboard. Yep Stewart had a decent game too. I’m not the biggest fan of his attack (I think Henry will come back in when fit) but his D is often weaponised.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Dunno Tez. Agree ASY is hard to drop, as someone else commented he’s rocks and diamonds but mostly diamonds (did SSY play in the Oldies v Tonga game?) All options are reasonable. The one thing I wouldn’t do is select the starting team based on who is/isn’t a co-capt.
jameswm
Roar Guru
NSW have 3 young 10s. Seems like one should be let go to another team that needs a young 10. I know one of them so am biased and won’t comment on which one! They are all very promising though.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Very "average" game. The standouts for the Reds were Harry Wilson, Tate and Jock and in that order. Taniela dropped ball and seemed to give away as many scrum penalties, as he got (nor sure on numbers). Plus a Yellow. But he dud score an easy try ( are they ever really eaay) so many in here would give him MOTM. Carter G was not to standard. Reckon Liam Wright will struggle to make the run on side each week.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day RR. Home from the game and happy with the win. Can someone show me, where on the scoreboard, the comments column is? Ugly, pretty, expansive, tight, who cares? Both teams had the same conditions. A win is a win! On another topic, I said to my son during the game that Queensland have the two most under-rated players in Aus SR, they being Jock Campbell, mentioned many times here following on from last year, and Hamish Stewart. He tackled everything that came his way tonight and was a steadying influence in attack. A 12 to JOC as Lynagh was to Ella. I don’t know that he could become another Lynagh (and I don’t know that a young Lynagh could become another Lynagh) but he is such a solid player that he can and will enable his outside men to accomplish what their talents will bring. I said yesterday that I thought Hodge should be given all season and the internationals to establish himself as the Wallaby 15. Not easy tonight for any player but I thought his anticipation and positioning were great. Anyone can have a bad night with their hands in those conditions. But if not him, forget the old experience and the pretenders, you can rely on JC.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Only if Joh had a brown paper bag attached to the contract bids
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Great call about the balance. Wells and Wallis probably too like for like at 6 and 8
Tez
Roar Rookie
Well Liam was pretty pedestrian at 7 and SSY was pretty good at 6 .... so does your co captain go to the bench?
Tez
Roar Rookie
What an absolute crap game of rugby. Is either side Super Rugby standard? Cameron Orr best for the Rebs and Harry Wilson best for the Reds. Thats about all I can say. Except, Matt Tomoua go play second division in either France or Japan cos you are no longer good enough for top flight rugby.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
RR, do not count on my wisdom too much! I give credit to my mate, Good old Johnny Walker. :happy:
Tight-Head
Roar Rookie
If we go to the strategy of picking a solid rather than exciting 15 he has to show more upside than Hodge at test level. Tonight was a good start.
Tight-Head
Roar Rookie
If he keeps outperforming hodge and banks I’d say he’s a decent shot - kurtley is still there as well, but his strength is the experience to slot in quickly rather than outright ability