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‘I can’t wait’: Wallaby great tips blockbuster derby as game of the round
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan has highlighted this weekend’s clash between the Reds and Brumbies as the game to watch in the sixth round of Super Rugby Pacific.
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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will practically be counting down the days until the Aussie derby in Brisbane with a number of Test candidates set to go head-to-head at Suncorp Stadium.
With the influence of their A-list backrow and a talented backline spurring them on, the Reds emerged as the form Australian side across the opening four rounds of the season.
The Reds sat second on the ladder while the Brumbies flew under the radar just a couple of spots back. It was a different story after a stunning upset last time out, though.
Queensland were shocked by the Force and are now 3-2 for the season. But with so much riding on their next match, there’s a reason Tim Horan picked it as a must-watch fixture in round six.
“I always usually go with a Crusaders-Chiefs game, a New Zealand game early on, but I reckon the Reds-Brumbies. That’s the big one for Joe Schmidt, the Wallaby coach, to look at,” Horan said on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven.
“There’s so many start players, so many good matchups.
“Of course the Queensland Reds slip out of the top four, the Brumbies slip in there. I can’t wait for that one on Saturday night. There’s stars right across the field.”
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The Reds’ trio of co-captain Liam Wright, openside flanker Fraser McReight and No. 8 Harry Wilson is arguably the best backrow in the competition, but they’ll be up against it this week.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
19
24
First try wins
20%
Home team wins
60%
Brumbies enforcer Rob Valetini is the reigning John Eales Medallist, which is awarded to the best rugby player in Australia.
While a lot of the Reds’ attention and praise has gone to Fraser McReight after a stunning start to the season, this weekend’s derby looms as a major marker for Harry Wilson.
Wilson hasn’t played Test rugby in quite some time, and while the Queenslander has started the season with a series of strong performances, Wallaby coach Schmidt will want to see the backrower stand up against Australia’s best.
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“I think it’s probably the biggest challenge in the last two or three years for Harry Wilson,” Horan explained.
“If he wants to get a second shot in the gold jersey in 2024 he’s really gonna have to roll up the sleeves again this weekend against the Brumbies when you’ve got Rob Valetini – he’s the best player in Australia.
“When you go one-on-one with those sort of players that’s when Joe Schmidt stands up and goes, ‘Okay, I can see you can go to the next level.’
“Super Rugby suits Harry Wilson (but) what Rob Valetini can do really well, he can play Super Rugby, he can get away with a few things, but then when he goes to Test match level he really tightens up and doesn’t make any mistakes. That’s the challenge for Harry Wilson.
“If (Wilson) wants to go to that next step and pull on another gold jersey, eh has to have a massive game this weekend.
“It’s going to be one of the biggest clashes to watch: Harry Wilson up against Rob Valetini this Saturday night.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments