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Super Rugby Round One: Reds vs Waratahs. Suncorp Feb 24

Wilson

David Codey (61)
i don’t see the reds carrying specialist flyhalfs on the bench / just to get some game time. It’s either lynagh or HMP.

Jock and Petaia was a tough call probably for Les, but jock can play fb, wings and flyhalf so he probably 1 of 2 or 1 of 3 backs in a bench of 8.

what worries me about Petaia/Vunivalu in the back 3 is Max Jorgenson, cover D isn’t exactly their forte (more explosive weapons on attack) need Grearly on the other wing as he has ticker to chase down Jorgenson.
Same article has Walton getting picked at fullback, with Jorgensen coming off the bench, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I expect Campbell might still be starting just wing over Grealy, then the bench backs (in a 5-3) will be Werchon/Thomas, McLaughlin-Phillips and Grealy, though I could see Creighton over McLaughlin-Phillips as 12 coverage. I'll be pretty surprised if there aren't 2 specialist 10s in the 23 though.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
1. Angus Bell (Sydney University)
2. Mahe Vailanu (Gordon)
3. Harry Johnson-Holmes (Sydney University)
4. Jed Holloway (Southern Districts)
5. Miles Amatosero (Eastern Suburbs) *
6. Fergus Lee-Warner (Eastern Suburbs) *
7. Charlie Gamble (Eastern Suburbs)
8. Langi Gleeson (Manly)
9. Jake Gordon © (Sydney University)
10. Tane Edmed (Eastwood)
11. Dylan Pietsch (Randwick)
12. Lalakai Foketi (Manly)
13. Izaia Perese (Randwick)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (Eastwood)
15. Joey Walton (Gordon)

Reserves
16. Theo Fourie (Randwick) **
17. Hayden Thompson-Stringer (Manly) **
18. Daniel Botha (Sydney University)
19. Sam Thomson (Warringah) **
20. Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs)
21. Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)
22. Harry Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)
23. Max Jorgensen (Randwick)

** Debut
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Reds:

1. Alex Hodgman** - Sunnybank – Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland – Suburbs Rugby Football Club, Auckland
2. Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar School – USQ Saints
3. Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – The Southport School – Gold Coast Eagles
4. Seru Uru – Wests – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli Rugby Club, Fiji
5. Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
6. Liam Wright (cc) – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School - Easts
7. Fraser McReight – Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Tate McDermott (cc) University of Queensland – Sunshine Coast Grammar School – Flinders Rugby Club
10. Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland – Epsom College, England – Richmond Rugby Club
11. Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Downlands College – Souths Toowoomba
12. Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland
13. Josh Flook – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College - Brothers
14. Suliasi Vunivalu – Wests – Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
15. Jordan Petaia – Wests – Brisbane State High School

Reserves:
16. Josh Nasser – University of Queensland – St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace-Easts
17. Peni Ravai – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji
18. Sef Fa’agase – Sunnybank – Shailer Park State High School – Beaudesert Warriors
19. Cormac Daly* - Norths – Ul Riada, Ireland – North Kildare/Kilcock GAA, Ireland
20. John Bryant* - Souths - St Laurence’s College - Souths
21. Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland – Ipswich Grammar School - Souths
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips* - Souths – Brisbane Boy’ College – Gunnedah Red Devils
23. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders

 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Not surprised to see Hodgman start, should help strengthen the scrum. As I said before I'd prefer Campbell at starting fullback but I expect he'll get a good stint there still. Bryant on the bench a surprise for me, I had thought Brial would be ahead of him. Good prospect though.

Tahs bench looking very skinny, a lot of 3rd of 4th choices rather than 2nd.
 
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The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
Very thin.

Players unavailable for selection:
David Porecki - Achillies (Round 3-4)
Ned Hanigan - Hamstring (Round 2-3)
Will Harrison - Knee (Round 3)
Thomas Lambert - Knee (Season)
Archer Holz - Shoulder (Round 8-9)
Tom Ross - Calf (Round 2-3)
Mesu Kunavula – Knee (Season)
Sione Misiloi – Suspension (1 week)
Lachlan Swinton - Neck (Round 2+)
Triston Reilly - Ankle (Round 2-3)
Ned Slack-Smith - Neck (Round 2-3)
 

SouthernX

Peter Johnson (47)
Not surprised to see Hodgman start, should help strengthen the scrum. As I said before I'd prefer Campbell at starting fullback but I expect he'll get a good stint there still. Bryant the bench surprise for me, I had thought Brial would be ahead of him. Good prospect though.

Tahs bench looking very skinny, a lot of 3rd of 4th choices rather than 2nd.

good call on HMP on the bench.

personally I wouldn’t of gone with 2 young flyhalfs but I’m also not a professional coach
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
good call on HMP on the bench.

personally I wouldn’t of gone with 2 young flyhalfs but I’m also not a professional coach
I think it's a position you have to cover and I just don't think Campbell would be considered given he didn't have any time there during the trials.

That said the tahs have gone without 10 cover, even with Bowen available. Might not be an issue if Edmed doesn't get hurt/carded, but naming 4 centres and one fly half in the 23 wouldn't have been my first choice. I expect there might be a lot of traffic down his channel to pile the pressure on him.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
I like the Reds balance in the backline. A guy like Grealy on one Wing and Vunivalu on the other bring different skills to the game.

Tahs running out there skinny and some short of a run and maybe partially injured. Didn't Foketi have an issue? I also assume he's the cover for 10 if something were to happen. Reds have the ability to shift around multiple times with HMP and Campbell on the Bench. Will Harrison is becoming an absolute need for NSW.

I do like FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) getting the start. I think the only hope the Tahs have is trying to own the middle through Bell, Amatosero, Gleeson, FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner). Mahe and HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) have left a lot to be desired through the trials.
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
I like the Reds balance in the backline. A guy like Grealy on one Wing and Vunivalu on the other bring different skills to the game.

Tahs running out there skinny and some short of a run and maybe partially injured. Didn't Foketi have an issue? I also assume he's the cover for 10 if something were to happen. Reds have the ability to shift around multiple times with HMP and Campbell on the Bench. Will Harrison is becoming an absolute need for NSW.

I do like FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) (Fergus Lee-Warner) getting the start. I think the only hope the Tahs have is trying to own the middle through Bell, Amatosero, Gleeson, FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) (Fergus Lee-Warner). Mahe and HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) (Harry Johnson-Holmes) have left a lot to be desired through the trials.
Went for scans on his wrist a couple of weeks ago after the Roma trial. There was no reporting beyond that though, so it must have just been a bit of a knock or something and he pulled up fine. I don't expect it'll hamper him much if at all.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Andrew Slack (58)
He's essential. Also prone to those little injuries. So is Perese... I still hold hope Foketi can have a Ire Simone type rise which came from getting a lot of consistent games.
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
Not a fan of the Reds backs on the bench. I feel there isn't enough strike power there (and also a rookie) to close out the game.

In saying that, I think the forwards look strong in the whole 23 so hopefully we won't be relying on backs to save us in the final 5mins.
 

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
It pains me to say it, but the only hope the Tahs have is to adopt an England-style game plan and turn it into a tight-five war of attrition. Maybe the weather will help.
 

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
Surprised Campbell missed out - but I guess if Petaia got the nod at fullback then the reality is Campbell isn’t as good on the wing as he has been at 15. Otherwise though the Reds team looks pretty close to full strength. Off the top of my head only JOC (James O'Connor), Toomaga-Allen & Blyth missing.

Pretty strong looking Tahs team too, especially given their injuries.

Hopefully it’ll be a cracking game.
 

The Engine Room

Ward Prentice (10)
good call on HMP on the bench.

personally I wouldn’t of gone with 2 young flyhalfs but I’m also not a professional coach
I think the #10 position is still quite unclear and this game and possibly the next will used as a decider in many ways as to who will wear the 10 for the majority.
 
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