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Waratahs v Reds, preview
April 12, 2007 - 3:38pm
Story by: Sportal
Venue & time
Aussie Stadium, Sydney. Saturday 19.40 (AEST).
Head to head
Played 11 (Super rugby): Reds 8, Waratahs 2, Drawn 1
Overall Played 286: Waratahs 182, Reds 92, Drawn 12. (Nice of them to add this bit)
Last time
February 11, 2006 (Brisbane). Waratahs 16-12 Reds.
Walking wounded and team changes
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has promoted feisty young flanker Beau Robinson to the starting side while the Tahs have another new centre pairing with Morgan Turinui at 12 and Ben Jacobs at outside centre. Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu also makes a welcome return to the squad from a hamstring injury.
Eddie Jones is yet to name his side but there shouldn't be too many major changes to last week's line-up except for the possibility of Reds utility back Andrew Walker, who trained lightly this week but is in doubt. Brando Va'aulu will be his replacement. There is also a chance Berrick Barnes may move back to flyhalf in place of teenager Quade Cooper with Andrew Brown to return at centre.
Form
Both sides are having a shocking year and can lay some blame upon injuries to key players. Neither has won since round one way back in February. Recently, the Waratahs were poor against the Bulls and Stormers then turned it around to almost beat the Crusaders before being outclassed by the Brumbies last week. They play patches of good rugby but it is all too rare.
The Reds were flogged last start by the Sharks but were somehow still in it at half-time. They were competitive against the Highlanders, Lions and Chiefs but still managed to lose. They have been experimenting with a young line-up who is unfamiliar with how to win.
Who's hot
Waratahs wingers Lote Tuqiri and Lachlan Turner continue to be the best of an underperforming bunch while the front row of hooker Adam Freier and props Benn Robinson and Al Baxter matched it with their Brumbies counterparts last start. David Lyons has been getting fitter and better each start.
Reds skipper John Roe has been a beacon of light in the Reds forwards this season while Croft always gives 100 per cent. Cooper is electric at times but mistake ridden, Walker is always dangerous, while Barnes is a quality player.
Teams
Waratahs:
1. Benn Robinson,
2. Adam Freier (c),
3. Al Baxter,
4. Ben Hand,
5. Will Caldwell,
6. Rocky Elsom,
7. Beau Robinson ,
8. David Lyons,
9. Josh Valentine,
10 .Sam Norton-Knight,
11. Lote Tuqiri,
12. Morgan Turinui [vc],
13. Ben Jacobs,
14. Lachie Turner,
15. Peter Hewat.
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau,
17. Matt Dunning,
18. Dean Mumm,
19. Wycliff Palu,
20. Josh Holmes,
21. Kurtley Beale,
22. Sam Harris.
Reds (Confirmed):
1. Tama Tuirirangi,
2. Stephen Moore,
3. David Te Moana,
4. Hugh McMeniman,
5. James Horwill,
6. Mitch Chapman,
7. David Croft,
8. John Roe, (c),
9. Nic Berry,
10. Berrick Barnes,
11. Peter Hynes,
12. Andrew Brown
13. Ben Tune,
14. Andrew Walker,
15. Clinton Schifcofske.
16. Sean Hardman,
17. Herman Hunt,
18. Ed O'Donoghue,
19. Tom McVerry,
20. Will Genia,
21. Lloyd Johansson,
22. Quade Cooper.
Last edited by Burgs; 12-04-07 at 21:17.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
gonna be close but i am going for and i think reds will get there first win for a while.
reds by 5
My soft spot for the Tahs must be well and truly gone cause I tend to agree and the only thing I'm thinking about is which one to tip.Originally Posted by jazza93
Which way are you gonna jump Gerry?![]()
Was there some late breaking news on Walker? I heard he wasn't playing and that Cooper was on the bench.Originally Posted by Burgs
I'm thinking the Reds; But Tahs in Sydney so...
Every forwards dream is to become a back...
I'm so far in front now Shasta it doesnt matter...Originally Posted by shasta
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Thats maybe a good thing we dont have to reveal our "2nd team" loyalties..
Reds now confirmed.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I wasn't referring to your ravenous VCash appetite Mr VBookie.Originally Posted by travelling_gerry
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Iwas referring to this:
11 shasta 45 84 3 4 5 5 4 4 5 3 3 6 6
You are ranked 11 out of 2,444 tippers in the 2007 Super 14 home and away season.
As compared to........
61 travelling_gerry 43 80 1 5 3 5 5 3 6 4 3 5 4
and........
62 RUGBYWA 43 82 1 3 5 3 5 5 5 3 3 6 5
![]()
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PS please don't do any calculations as you may be able to embarrass me on the score of team loyalty![]()
Probably stating the obvious but if Waugh was playing then I would go for the Tahs but their forwrads just don't seem to fire without him. Although if I back the Reds then the Tahs have a fare chance of winning based on my previous tipping on the Tahs games.
Good team, shame about the shirt and the fans.
Oops, forgot about Tuqiri....the biggest waste of money on this gods earth.![]()
Last edited by The EnForcer; 13-04-07 at 09:56. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Just happy to be here
no sailor was the biggest waste of money and lote is the 2nd
no calculations requird - that little 6 at the end says it allOriginally Posted by shasta
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Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Waugh and Vickerman are unfortunately the equivilent of half our team. Guys like Mumm and Caldwell have done ok in the lineouts but we used to be dominant there. We also used to be able to slow the ball down, possibly half the reason we're letting more tries in (the other half simply being poor defense).
Who knows, at the end of the day this season was a write off apart from being able to blood a few people. Putting $20 on the Reds by 13+ wouldn't be a bad buy (12/1) but I think the Tahs are gonna do this one.
Ok, ok.........if I win I'll watch replays of the Crusaders demolition on new my giant plasma adorned with sack cloth and ashes for a weekOriginally Posted by Coach
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Was interested as to how much the League comparison of State of Origin applies, not much it seems.
May be why all the calls for hatred and death or glory kinda fall on deaf ears now days?
Waratahs:
1. Benn Robinson, Sydney, NSW
2. Adam Freier (c), Sydney, NSW
3. Al Baxter, Canberra, ACT
4. Ben Hand, Sydney, NSW
5. Will Caldwell, Young, NSW
6. Rocky Elsom, Melbourne, VIC (via Nudgee Gerry)
7. Beau Robinson , Alice Springs, NT
8. David Lyons, Orange, NSW
9. Josh Valentine, Newcastle, NSW
10 .Sam Norton-Knight, Canberra, ACT
11. Lote Tuqiri, Suva, Fiji
12. Morgan Turinui [vc], Sydney, NSW
13. Ben Jacobs, Sydney, NSW
14. Lachie Turner, Sydney, NSW
15. Peter Hewat. Inverell, NSW (also via Nudgee - edit Gerry)
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sydney, NSW
17. Matt Dunning, Calgary, Canada
18. Dean Mumm, Auckland, NZ
19. Wycliff Palu, Sydney, NSW
20. Josh Holmes, Sydney, NSW
21. Kurtley Beale, Sydney, NSW
22. Sam Harris. Auckland NZ
Reds:
1. Tama Tuirirangi, Taranaki, NZ
2. Stephen Moore, Khamis, Saudi Arabia
3. David Te Moana, Opotiki, NZ
4. Hugh McMeniman, Brisbane, Qld
5. James Horwill, Brisbane, Qld
6. Mitch Chapman, Sydney, NSW
7. David Croft, Brisbane, Qld
8. John Roe, (c), Brisbane, Qld
9. Nic Berry, Brisbane, Qld
10. Berrick Barnes, Brisbane, Qld
11. Peter Hynes, Brisbane, Qld
12. Andrew Brown Rockhampton, Qld
13. Ben Tune, Brisbane, Qld
14. Andrew Walker, Shoalhaven, NSW
15. Clinton Schifcofske. Moranbah, Qld
16. Sean Hardman, Brisbane, Qld
17. Herman Hunt, Auckland, NZ
18. Ed O'Donoghue, London, England
19. Tom McVerry, Melbourne, VIC
20. Will Genia, PNG
21. Lloyd Johansson, Melbourne, VIC
22. Quade Cooper Waikato, NZ
Last edited by travelling_gerry; 14-04-07 at 07:04.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.