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Reds name side as they prepare for ‘different kettle of fish’ in Blues
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.
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
28
40
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
- 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
Replacements
- Josh Nasser
- Peni Ravai
- Sef Fa’agase
- Connor Vest
- Joe Brial
- Louis Werchon
- Lawson Creighton
- Floyd Aubrey*
*Potential Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut
Comments on RugbyPass
Yeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to comments