@Duluth With Albert Anae playing hooker, the Blues will want to pressure his throws. It looks like the Reds have picked the heaviest, tallest pack available to them. They will miss Wilson at 8 though. That backline has plenty of pace and looks much stronger with O'Connor and Paisami back this week.
Edit - I just realised that Fraser McReight is also out. They will miss him too, he has been outstanding for them.
Referee:Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 1:Angus Mabey
Assistant Ref 2:Jono Bredin
TMO: Aaron Paterson
@Nogusta said in Blues v Reds:
I wonder too how patient Corey Evans will be stuck behind RTS.
He's welcome to head south if Havili doesn't decide to go further south...
@FakatavaFuture said in Blues v Reds:
@Bones think realistic.. Plummer in Dunners
Plummer would be a great get for the Highlanders.
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
@Duluth said in Blues v Reds:
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
I'm liking that team a lot. Glad they are giving Vikena another run, and I like Robinson at lock.
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@Duluth said in Blues v Reds:
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
I'm liking that team a lot. Glad they are giving Vikena another run, and I like Robinson at lock.
I do against the Reds; if the Saffers were still in the comp, I'd hate it. You need some power against those boys
@nzzp said in Blues v Reds:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@Duluth said in Blues v Reds:
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
I'm liking that team a lot. Glad they are giving Vikena another run, and I like Robinson at lock.
I do against the Reds; if the Saffers were still in the comp, I'd hate it. You need some power against those boys
Where are we losing power? Robinson? He's not small, and Romano is on the bench anyway.
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp said in Blues v Reds:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@Duluth said in Blues v Reds:
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
I'm liking that team a lot. Glad they are giving Vikena another run, and I like Robinson at lock.
I do against the Reds; if the Saffers were still in the comp, I'd hate it. You need some power against those boys
Where are we losing power? Robinson? He's not small, and Romano is on the bench anyway.
Robinson seems short and light for a lock to me. He's fine at Super, and against most packs, but he isn't a Patrick T/Brodie Retallick.
Happy to be corrected if there are proper stats, but to me he looks light
@nzzp said in Blues v Reds:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp said in Blues v Reds:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Reds:
@Duluth said in Blues v Reds:
Not on the Blues site yet, but this is on the official Aussie rugby site:
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soana Vikena, Jordan Lay, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan
I'm liking that team a lot. Glad they are giving Vikena another run, and I like Robinson at lock.
I do against the Reds; if the Saffers were still in the comp, I'd hate it. You need some power against those boys
Where are we losing power? Robinson? He's not small, and Romano is on the bench anyway.
Robinson seems short and light for a lock to me. He's fine at Super, and against most packs, but he isn't a Patrick T/Brodie Retallick.
Happy to be corrected if there are proper stats, but to me he looks light
He seems to be five kgs lighter than the other lock options, but pretty much the same height as Tucker and Romano.
Strong side on paper.
Not convinced they have the 10 and 15 around the right way on 2022 form.
@Kirwan possibly more like 10-15kg against locks of the same height.
I think Robinson is superb, but I'd be concerned about him being considered a front line lock. He's a great tall 6, or a stopgap lock for bench cover.
Anyway, strong side, hope the Blues follow up with another strong performance.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Reds:
Strong side on paper.
Not convinced they have the 10 and 15 around the right way on 2022 form.
Perofeta has been good this year going forward, but BB has led the team well in the tougher matches. That contribution is being massively underated on the Fern.
The team is confirmed on the Blues site now
Only injured players are Plummer & Goodhue
@Frank said in Blues v Reds:
For all the talk of Zarn Sullivan - it seems he plays 2nd string to Perofeta at fullback.
Perofeta's playing really good rugby at the moment. But yeah - a bit surprised to see Zarn struggling to break into the side.
