1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2 Soane Vikena
3 Angus Ta’avao
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
5 Sam Darry
6 Anton Segner
7 Dalton Papali’i
8 Hoskins Sotutu
9 Taufa Funaki
10 Harry Plummer
11 Mark Tele’a
12 Bryce Heem
13 Rieko Ioane
14 AJ Lam
15 Cole Forbes

16 Kurt Eklund
17 Joshua Fusitu’a
18 Marcel Renata
19 Laghlan McWhannell
20 James Thompson*
21 Sam Nock
22 Corey Evans
23 Caleb Clarke

Players not considered: Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Finlay Christie (groin), Zarn Sullivan (knee), Rob Rush (calf), Cam Suafoa (sickness), Akira Ioane (paternity leave)

Cool, a small amount of rotation

A big chance for Vikena to move up the pecking order

Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Liam Wright (c), John Bryant, Harry Wilson, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell

RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa'agase, Connor Vest, Joe Brial, Louis Werchon, Lawson Creighton, Floyd Aubrey

A few former Auckland players in that Reds lineup.

Is this Brial's SR debut? NZ links, of course.

@Bovidae

He was on the bench last week. I think that was his debut

@Duluth OK, I only watched the 1st half of that game.

Referee: James Doleman

Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon

Taufa Funaki continues to be the big mover. I hadn't been that impressed with him over the last 2 seasons, but since pre season, has looked every bit a SR rugby player. Don't know if he's in the ABs plans or anything, but he wouldn't look out of place as the 3rd choice on current form. Reminds me of the late former Blues halfback Taniela Moa talent wise, but I hope he works harder off the field than Moa, which held his career back with us.

Akira is a loss, but other than that, it's a good looking starting line up.

@African-Monkey

Funaki seems like a different player now. His pre season form compared to last years NPC is huge. Maybe getting overlooked for Thomas last year gave him a kick up the arse?

He also had a slow start to his career. Made the NZ u20's back in 2019 but then because of covid lockdowns and an injury (leg I think?) didn't play enough rugby

@Duluth Yeah covid held him back with the 2021 NPC being cancelled which held his progress back a bit.

I think also being given trust by Cotter has helped him too. Usually he was in for one week, out for 4 then rinse and repeat. Now, he knows he's at the very least, in the 23 every week and with Christie out, know he'll have a decent run of starts.

@African-Monkey said in Reds v Blues:

Reminds me of the late former Blues halfback Taniela Moa talent wise, but I hope he works harder off the field than Moa, which held his career back with us.

Was interesting to hear Plummer say after the game last week how hard Funaki has been working - first to arrive last to leave sort of stuff.

The player Funaki reminds me a bit of is TKB.

@African-Monkey blessing in disguise with Christie being out.

@KiwiMurph agree. Great lines on support. We’ve got some great support runners in our halves atm with him Ratima and TJ. Cam R is excellent at this too.

VPN won’t work on this hotel wifi, and I can’t get Sky go to load video. So will need to rely on fern play by play.

@Duluth cough, cough.

@Kirwan VIP box?

Hotel kicks me off wifi when I enable vpn.

If SkyGo would just work outside NZ I’d be fine.

@Kirwan protocol related? Maybe try something obfuscated like shadowsocks?

Funaki/Plummer axis looked good last week. Be interesting to see how it goes this game.