Reds vs Bulls

[TOCC]

1 Greg Holmes (Sunnybank)
2 Sean Hardman (Brothers)
3 Dayna Edwards (Sunnybank)
4 Van Humphries (Souths)
5 Adam Byrnes (University)
6 Scott Higginbotham (Wests)
7 Daniel Braid (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
8 Leroy Houston (Norths)
9 Ben Lucas (Sunnybank)
10 Quade Cooper (Souths)
11 Brando Va'aulu (University)
12 Berrick Barnes (c) (Wests)
13 Charlie Fetoai (Sunnybank)
14 Digby Ioane (Sunnybank)
15 Peter Hynes (GPS)

Reserves:
16 Saia Faingaa (Souths)
17 Laurie Weeks (University)
18 Robert Simmons (Sunybank)
19 Poutasi Luafutu (Wests)
20 Will Genia (Norths)
21 Anthony Faingaa (Souths)
22 Mark McLinden (Sunnybank)

Hugh McMenimen returned home due to a family illness and Turinui is out with a shoulder injury, Fetoia will replace Turinui at 13 which, not much of a loss considering Fetoia played in the centres last year against the Bulls.

Bulls

15. Zane Kirchner
14. Bryan Habana
13. Jaco Pretorius
12. Wynand Olivier
11. Akona Ndungane
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Pierre Spies
7. Dewald Potgieter
6. Deon Stegmann
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. Werner Kruger
2. Derick Kuün
1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Replacements:
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Frik Kirsten
18. Danie Rossouw
19. Pedrie Wannenburg
20. JP Nel
21. Burton Francis
22. Heini Adams.

Bulls, arguably one of the best lineout partnerships in the world, Victor Matfield returning to the Bulls will inspire those around him. Bryan Habana had a distinctly crap season in 2008, for the Bulls to really fire, they need Habana to get back to form, with Fourie Du Preez playing scrum half, he will play havoc around the ruck and cause headaches for the wings and fullbacks with the box kicks.

I like the centre pairing of Fetoia and Barnes, all in all this is probably the best backline they could have on the field defensively, apart from Cooper at 5/8 the rest are very strong defenders.

The Bulls will probably recognise this and in hand with there set piece strength they will play percentage football and try and camp in the Reds half. Barnes and Cooper will be busy keeping the Reds out of there own half, but also have the problem of deciding whether to go to touch where they are at a disadvantage or kicking to the speed merchangts of Habana or Ndungane.

[AndyS]

I quite like the look of that team...thank God for recording devices.

[TOCC]

the Bulls forward pack will be a massive task, whether they have adapted to ELV's yet will be the difference, the Bulls backs were pretty lacklustre in 2008, it will be interesting to see if Habana can recapture his form.

[pieter blackie]

The Bulls will win at Home

[Burgs]

Dunno how the Reds will go but I reckon Sunnybank have the Premieship for the taking!

Some good WA blood at Blindside there for you TOCC.

Big lose with McMenimen on top of Horwill and Turinui...well he has a great Rugby brain...

Houston will need to step up here and throughout the season, time to turn promise and disappointment into success.

My biggest problem here is the bench, if they were at home I'd go for the upset (as it still would be) but I have to go for the Bulls on this one.
Should be close though.

[TOCC]

is Higginbotham from WA is he?

his form in the pre-season was pretty impressive

[TOCC]

I updated the team lists with Bulls added, Du Preez may be out with a hand injury(fingers crossed)

Dunno how the Reds will go but I reckon Sunnybank have the Premieship for the taking!

Sunnybank, they are the shining light in Brisbane club rugby, they do have the benefit of been only 1 of only 2 Premier Grade teams on the southside of Brisbane, which includes the large polynesian suburbs of Logan.

[lara93]

bulls for a win

[lmaag]

The reds will enter the Bull Ring like Matadors and play with the Bulls a bit before plunging swords into their limp corpses.

The female Bull supporters will then exclaim "¡la calidad yo, los rojos es caliente cagado y los Boers hediondos apenas están cagados!"

[chiselhead]

"¡la calidad yo, los rojos es caliente cagado y los Boers hediondos apenas están cagados!"

como? no comprende. No habla!
If you write that in English, will Joondalup Dave report you to the mods?

[zimeric]

The female Bull supporters will then exclaim "¡la calidad yo, los rojos es caliente cagado y los Boers hediondos apenas están cagados!"

no they'll more than likely say " Agg onse blou balle manne is alles kak vol!! seis man onse sal immigrasse van oorstraaalia toe!" or something to that effect!

[chiselhead]

and give the reds a snotklap