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Reds name side as they prepare for ‘different kettle of fish’ in Blues

(Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Josh Flook is back as one of three changes to the Reds’ starting side as the Queenslanders prepare for a “different kettle of fish” against the Blues in Brisbane on Saturday evening.

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Flook will line up in the midfield along with Wallaby Hunter Paisami, while experienced lock Angus Blyth comes into the run-on side as a replacement for the injured Cormac Daly.

2023 Junior Wallabies speedster Tim Ryan is in line to make his first starting appearance of the season with coach Les Kiss opting to rest regular winger Mac Grealy this weekend.

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The Queensland Reds will be full of confidence and belief after an utterly dominant 31-nil shutout win over the Highlanders last time out. But the Blues present their own challenge.

“We know the task ahead of us on Saturday. We’ve got to put forward our best team performance because the Blues were fairly compelling with what they did to the Brumbies last weekend,” coach Les Kiss said in a statement.

“I know Suncorp Stadium means a lot to our boys. They love it and occasions like this.

“Obviously, being an ANZAC weekend round game makes it special. The boys love the jersey that has been created.

“There is depth of understanding from our squad of something bigger than the game with the people who put lives on the line for us. We’re privileged we get to recognise them with that we put out on the field.

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“The Blues are a very good team. The fact we’ve done OK against a couple of New Zealand teams this season is good but this is a different kettle of fish.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
29
38
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
40%

Former Blues and All Blacks prop Alex Hodgman gets another start in the No.1 jersey along with Matt Faessler and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen in the front row.

In-form Ryan Smith joins Angus Blyth in the middle row, while captain Liam Wright lines up alongside John Bryant and Harry Wilson for the second match in a row.

Without Wallabies Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott, Kalanai Thomas will start at halfback once again. Thomas joins rising star Tom Lynagh in the halves.

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Paisami and Flook are the Reds’ midfielders with Jordan Petaia set to miss the rest of the season through injury. Tim Ryan, Wallaby Suliasi Vunivalu and Kock Campbell are the outside backs.

On the bench, Floyd Aubrey is in line to potentially make his Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut in the No.23 jersey.

This match at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 7:35 pm AEST on Saturday evening.

Queensland Reds to take on Blues

  1. Alex Hodgman
  2. Matt Faessler
  3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
  4. Ryan Smith
  5. Angus Blyth
  6. Liam Wright (c)
  7. John Bryant
  8. Harry Wilson
  9. Kalani Thomas
  10. Tom Lynagh
  11. Tim Ryan
  12. Hunter Paisami
  13. Josh Flook
  14. Suliasi Vunivalu
  15. Jock Campbell

Replacements

  1. Josh Nasser
  2. Peni Ravai
  3. Sef Fa’agase
  4. Connor Vest
  5. Joe Brial
  6. Louis Werchon
  7. Lawson Creighton
  8. Floyd Aubrey*

*Potential Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut

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J
JW 44 minutes ago
Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

Yeah nar, but that’s kinda the thing, I don’t think the old approach was working either!


You might have it right though, leading up, in all rugby/competitions mean, to the last WC it did feel like there had been better discipline/less than the normal amount of cards. Well, at least a certain demographic of teams improved at least, but not so much NZ ones is my point.


I bet you also think going harsher would be the best way to go reducing head contact and the frequency of concussions?


I would hate to have your theory tested as it requires subjective thinking from the officials but..

AI Overview

In Super Rugby Pacific, a red card means the player is sent off for the rest of the match, but with a 20-minute red card, the team can replace the player after 20 minutes of playing with 14 men. If the foul play is deemed deliberate and with a high degree of danger, a full red card is issued, and the player cannot be replaced. A second yellow card also results in a 20-minute red card with a replacement allowed. 

is there to stop that from happening. The whole subjective thing is why we have 20min cards, and I worry that the same leniency that stopped them from red carding a player who ran 30 meters and still didn’t get his head low enough would stop them straight redn them too.


Back to the real topic though, right after that WC we saw those same angles getting red carded all over the show. So do some players actually have control over their actions enough to avoid head collisions (and didn’t gaf after the WC?), or was it pure luck or an imaginary period of good discipline?


So without a crystal ball to know the truth of it I think you’ll find it an immeasurably better product with 20m red cards, there just does not appear to be any appropriate amount of discipline added to the back end, the suspensions (likely controlled by WR), yet.

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