Reds
32
Match Complete
NSW Waratahs
40
| 80 |  | B. Foley | ||
| 76 | | B. Foley | ||
| 67 | | B. Foley | ||
| A. Mafi |  | 64 | ||
| 59 | | B. Foley | ||
| 54 |  | B. Foley | ||
| 53 | | M. Wells | ||
| B. Hegarty | | 48 | ||
| 45 | | B. Foley | ||
| 44 | | A. Newsome | ||
| B. Hegarty | | 42 | ||
| B. Hegarty | | 40 | ||
| S. Naivalu | | 27 | ||
| 21 | | B. Foley | ||
| 20 | | M. Wells | ||
| J. Campbell | | 13 | ||
| A. Blyth | | 9 | ||
| 5 | | B. Foley | ||
| 3 | | B. Foley |
| 6 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 4 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Reds and Waratahs will hopefully give Australian rugby fans something to cheer about after the off-field distractions of the past few weeks when they go head to head in Round 14 in Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of this exciting match starting from 7:45pm AEST on Saturday.
At this stage in the season, games start to mean a lot more and both these sides know they are running out of chances to make the finals.
Neither of them have had great seasons but with five rounds left they both can still make the knockout stages if they start to win, and keep winning.
For the Waratahs it’s been a challenging few weeks on and off the field.
With the fallout from Israel Folau and Rugby Australia’s legal battles never far from the newspapers, no one will want to draw a line underneath everything more than the Tahs.
Perhaps this game, this classic State of Origin derby, could provide a turning point for the men from NSW.
They have a pretty stable side which could be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing considering they’ve only won one game in the past five rounds.
As further motivation, the Tahs will be celebrating Adam Ashley-Cooper’s 150th Super Rugby game on Saturday and he’ll be hoping to mark the game with a win.
In other positive news the Tahs welcome back Tom Robertson after a long time out as he had his knee reconstructed.
For the Queenslanders this season could yet still deliver Finals rugby. They’re six points off the first placed Brumbies in the Australian conference and a win on Saturday will be very useful.
The challenge for Brad Thorn’s men got a little bit harder when Thorn had to drop Hamish Stewart because of injury and bring in debutant Matt McGahan to fill the full back spot.
Isaac Lucas is also missing – he is on Junior Wallabies duty.
Thorn has also put Scott Higginbotham on the bench and has another potential debutant – Seb Wileman – sitting alongside Higginbotham.
One point of note – seven of the starting eight players for the Reds pack come from the team’s U20 side.
Now that means little if the team lose but it could be a sign that good things are to come in the future years in Queensland.
Prediction
This is going to be a close one. Both sides have had discipline issues and both have struggled for consistent form. The Reds are at home and that’s going to help but in the end it feels like the Tahs are just going to sneak by.
Waratahs to win by 3.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST on Saturday.
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Saturday 18th May 2019
When: 7:45pm AEST
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Reds $1.99, Waratahs $1.82
Reds
15 Matt McGahan
14 Jock Campbell
13 Chris Feauai-Sautia
12 Samu Kerevi (c)
11 Sefa Naivalu
10 Bryce Hegarty
9 Tate McDermott
8 Angus Scott-Young
7 Liam Wright
6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Angus Blyth
4 Izack Rodda
3 Taniela Tupou
2 Alex Mafi
1 JP Smith
Replacements
16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
17 Harry Hoopert
18 Ruan Smith
19 Scott Higginbotham
20 Caleb Timu
21 Moses Sorovi
22 Duncan Paia’aua
23 Seb Wileman
Waratahs
15 Kurtley Beale
14 Alex Newsome
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
12 Karmichael Hunt
11 Cam Clark
10 Bernard Foley
9 Nick Phipps
8 Michael Wells
7 Michael Hooper (c)
6 Lachlan Swinton
5 Rob Simmons
4 Ned Hanigan
3 Sekope Kepu
2 Damien Fitzpatrick
1 Tom Robertson
Replacements
16 Tolu Latu
17 Harry Johnson-Holmes
18 Chris Talakai
19 Tom Staniforth
20 Will Miller
21 Jake Gordon
22 Lalakai Foketi
23 Curtis Rona
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref: Angus Gardner and Damon Murphy
TMO: James Leckie
2019 Form (last 5 games)
Reds – LWBWL
Waratahs – BWLLL
Played 31
Reds won 13
Waratahs won 17
Drawn 1
Locky
Guest
Thorn it is time to fall on your sword, you cannot coach. You have brought no defensive sting or discipline to the reds as you promised. Clean out your locker and pi$$ off.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
I use WiTopia. https://www.personalvpn.com/ Everything except Roar videos works. Go figure!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I watch on Rugbypass via vpn. All online, all games available on demand
riddler
Roar Rookie
where have you got a replay paul? i am watching the english destroy again the pakistanis in the cricket.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Watching a replay now. Not nearly enough credit out there for Tom Robertson nullifying Tupou. So many pundits lick their lips at the thought of the Tahs scrum crumbling and yet the Reds biggest weapon was limp. Was it Ned Hanigan locking in behind Robertson too?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Which article are you referring to? I think that's definitely true, but I also think that it's fair to say that there's a difference between potentially coming second (or even first) again out of the Aussie teams, and potentially coming last out of the Aussie teams again, and with Australia's best player sadly heading overseas.
rebel
Roar Guru
Plenty were judging after 2 matches, there's a whole article. Don't think either are where they would want to be.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Not to detract from your point, but the Tahs didnt beat the Saders in CCH. That match was in Sydney.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Who is judging anything after two matches? Thorn and Wessels have both been head coaches of their respective teams for almost two seasons now.
rebel
Roar Guru
Sure, we all have opinions, some are valid, some aren't. Personally I'm happy to give people a longer opportunity than others. Sometimes you get a Cheika, other times you get a Joseph. I think we can all agree two matches is a bit short.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
The third placed Aussie team is within 6 points of the top South African team. Aside from the Crusaders and Hurricanes who are a long way ahead of points, virtually every other team is competitive with each other.
rebel
Roar Guru
Not a 'Thorn fan', but I suggest that they have not won as much as other sides. Usually how it works. Hardly Robinson Crusoe.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think the problem is the assumption that the Board necessarily knows best. After watching many of the decision making bodies in Australian rugby over the last decade, I think it's reasonable to question them.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
No Australian team have won more than they have lost. If that's good enough for you then hoorah, mediocrity rules.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Since when has having possession = scoring tries and winning games? I don't think it ever has, at least in the professional level. Often the inverse is true. The Rebels' forwards are really doing nothing right now and inversely the Tahs have played well. That said, I think they have only won similar numbers of matches over the last 4-5 round. Lealiifano has probably had the best form of the Aussie 10s for the last month, but he won't even get a look in because of the style of 10 he is.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
No, I have been asking for two seasons. No answers from you I see. A complete and utter failure? Or is that being too kind.
rebel
Roar Guru
I see positives from both, and also work ons.
AJ
Guest
Hurts to lose but after what the Bulls did to Rebels I cant see the Reds doing much damage if they snuck into the finals anyway. Question though...if the Reds scored one more try (making it 7 tries to 4) and still lost, do they get a 3 + try bonus point?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah, maybe. But Rebels are currently coming second in the conference, and came second last year.
rebel
Roar Guru
I knowrids, apparently it's too confusing to understand. I follow the chiefs so not sure what agenda I have, but I do know what a poor season looks like.