Western Force
20
Match Complete
Queensland Reds
71
| 78 |  | J. O'Connor | ||
| 76 |  | J. Flook | ||
| 75 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 74 | | F. Daugunu | ||
| B. Hegarty | | 72 | ||
| J. Pugh | | 71 | ||
| 62 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 61 | | L. Wright | ||
| 56 | | J. O'Connor | ||
| 55 | | S. Vunivalu | ||
| 51 | | T. Lynagh | ||
| 50 | | F. Daugunu | ||
| 45 | | T. Lynagh | ||
| 45 | | M. Faessler | ||
| 37 | | T. Lynagh | ||
| 36 | | J. Flook | ||
| F. Fainga'a | | 30 | ||
| 23 | | H. Wilson | ||
| 17 |  | T. Lynagh | ||
| B. Hegarty | | 13 | ||
| Z. Kibirige | | 10 | ||
| 7 | | T. Lynagh | ||
| 6 | | J. Petaia | ||
| 6 | | T. Lynagh | ||
| 5 | | R. Smith |
| 3 | Tries | 10 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 9 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Queensland Reds have welcomed back four big guns for their match against the Western Force in Melbourne. .Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 4:30pm (AEDT).
The Reds have won four of their past five games against the Force but only enjoy a 12-10 win loss record with one draw. The Force have won their past three matches in the comp – the longest winning stretch since their five in a row back in 2014. The Force struggle outside WA – winning just three of their past 16 games elsewhere in Australia.
Co-captain Liam Wright will return to the side at blindside flanker after a week’s lay-off with concussion, while fellow Wallabies Suliasi Vunivalu, James O’Connor and Jock Campbell will also feature in their first matches of 2023 for the Reds.
Campbell is in line to play his 50th Queensland game off the bench.
Head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’re looking forward to getting down to Melbourne for Super Round. Having all 12 teams in the one city is a great spectacle for our game.
“The Force kicked off their season with a good win last week, they’ll be a tough contest as always.
“We’ll welcome back Liam, Suli, James and Jock. They’re all experienced players who will bring a lot to our team.”
Wright’s inclusion sees Seru Uru shift to lock where he’ll partner Ryan Smith, with Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight starting in the backrow.
Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a and Manasa Mataele return for the Force.
Fainga’a will start at hooker for the first time in the Force jersey. Consistent front rowers Robertson and Medrano add weight against a hard-hitting Reds uniform.
Mataele returns to the right wing after pulling up tight moments before the team was due to run on at HBF Park.
Fresh out of his short-lived retirement, comeback king Jeremy Thrush earns a start after securing the match-winning try in the final minutes of last week’s home game, partnering with Williams as the locking combination makes for an exciting duo.
Game information
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 4:30pm (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Force $2.90, Reds $1.42 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Force (1-15): Tom Robertson, Folau Fainga’a, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Williams, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Anstee, Ollie Callan, Michael Wells, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Bryce Hegarty, Zach Kibirige, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Manasa Mataele, Chase Tiatia.
Replacements: Tom Horton, Angus Wagner, Siosifa Amone, Felix Kalapu, Jackson Pugh, Ian Prior, George Poolman, Jake Strachan.https://www.theroar.com.au/robots.txt?upapi=trueADAdvertisement
Reds (1-15): Dane Zander, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru Liam Wright, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia
Replacements: Richie Asiata, Sef Fa’agase, Peni Ravai, Jake Upfield, Connor Anderson, Kalani Thomas, James O’Connor, Jock Campbell.
Referee: Paul Williams
‘We live to play another day’ Farmer Fran
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Cacked myself at the Sir Doc.
piru
Roar Rookie
Well that was almost English. You keep at it
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Cards can really affect the game with the new faster laws.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
After all that, I go with the theory "on the way to the game, Force team bus ran over a gypsy's black cat and all the bus's mirrors broke". Every time the Force rolled the dice, their number came up snake eyes.
Charlie Turner
Guest
They gave him a job not long ago Redbeard....i had to double my blood pressure dosage for a month.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
9,500 expected.
TC
Roar Rookie
Charlie I think he may Disappear with his comments for the next 10 Years or so
terrence
Roar Rookie
the force need to make a serious pitch to get pete samu or bobby v, or both, next year..you need those skillful uncompromising type of players to build your team around..the brumbies already have the systems and culture in place and can easily replace those two without missing a heartbeat..
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
And Blues fans.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Very poor performance from the Force. Need to have a good.hard look at themselves. They need to pick up some more size in the backline as well.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
So true CT! For services rendered ( to the Force) Sharpe should have his name scratched from the Ballymore Honour Boards!
Charlie Turner
Guest
It's fantastic to lap the bonus point marker, and shore up the for and against ledger. Where's that bloke who was death riding young Tommy Lynagh last week. Every supportive post was jumped on with obtuse derision.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Many of the Force players should go back to club rugby to gain more match practice. Too many dumb mistakes allowing the Reds to run all over and crushed them. Force showed lackadaisical display of rugby. Reds should not take too much from the game. It is a false sense of achievement because the Fircec didn’t come out to play after 10 minutes from the first whistle.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Flook my MoM. Good all round skilful player.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
A grievous error of judgement after the final hooter. Someone handed the microphone for the PA over to the "let's shout incoherently about budgie smugglers" cheer squad.
robel
Roar Pro
I've been member of the Force from the first day. So disappointed.
TC
Roar Rookie
Drunk Piru ..Wildcats??
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Good confidence boost for the Reds. Scrum and line out still need work. Not the Forces day with all the injuries.
mused6
Roar Rookie
Much better second half from the reds.