Tahs vs Reds (Super AUS), Narrabri 20/09/25 @ 5:45 pm

[Wilson]

Queensland Reds

1 Aidan Ross (vc) – Bond University
2 George Blake – Bond University
3 Massimo De Lutiis - Wests
4 Connor Vest - Souths
5 Seru Uru - Souths
6 Joe Brial – University of Queensland
7 Tom Robinson – University of Queensland
8 Vaiuta Latu - Brothers
9 Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland
10 Jock Campbell (c) – University of Queensland
11 Tim Ryan - Brothers
12 Dre Pakeho - Brothers
13 Isaac Henry – Wests
14 Lachie Anderson – University of Queensland
15 Heremaia Murray – Bond University

Reserves

16 Theo Fourie - Brothers
17 Sef Fa'agase – Sunnybank
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths
19 Hamish Muller - Brothers
20 Kohan Herbert - Souths
21 James Martens - GPS
22 Will Cartwright - Brothers
23 Xavier Rubens – Souths

McLaughlin-Phillips out on HIA protocols

Reds Team Announced as Brial Name Returns to Narrabri for Santos Festival of Rugby

reds.rugby

 

[Wilson]

NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS team to play Queensland Reds:

1. Isaac Kailea (Randwick)
2. Ethan Dobbins (Sydney University)
3. Daniel Botha (Sydney University)
4. Ben Grant (Sydney University)
5. Miles Amatosero (Eastern Suburbs)
6. Leafi Talataina (Sydney University)
7. Jamie Adamson (Eastern Suburbs)
8. Chlayton Frans (Warringah)
9. McDonald (Randwick)
10. Joey Fowler (Sydney University)
11. Sid Harvey (Eastern Suburbs)
12. Lawson Creighton (c) (Randwick)
13. Jackson Ropata (Warringah)
14. Leo Jacques (Eastern Suburbs)
15. James Hendren (Randwick)

Reserves:

16. Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Hunter Wildfires)
17. Tom Lambert (Sydney University)
18. Apolosi Ranawai (Northern Suburbs)
19. Clem Halaholo (Sydney University)
20. Austin Durbidge (Sydney University)
21. Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs)
22. Otto Serfontein (Eastern Suburbs)
23. James McGregor (Eastwood)

Matt Phillip suspended for 3 weeks

“Win the collisions, be patient” – Joey Fowler and the NSW Waratahs are set for Fowlers Hometown Fixture

waratahs.rugby

 

[Wilson]

Reds front row looking even stronger with Toomaga-Allen coming onto the bench and Fa'agase covering loose head instead of tight head. I don't love Blake at hooker, but given how the lineout performed last week Fourie and Hough aren't hard done by here. Brial joining Latu and Robinson in the back row could be absolutely lethal, at least while Latu's fitness holds up.

Campbell at 10 isn't ideal, but it's probably a good thing he's getting time there if we aren't going to pick up a 3rd 10 before next season. Anderson onto the wing and Murray at the back does keep the backline very strong and experienced, though it would've been good to see McCulloch at 15.

 

[Wilson]

Grant in for Phillip might actually be better cohesion, but it does limit the tahs ability to attack the Reds lineout across the 80, which was their one real weakness last week. It'll be good to see how Botha goes against a much more experienced front row after doing very well against the Force.

tahs backline looks like a bit of a mess with the changes. Raw players and players out of position could see a lot of holes open up.

 

[Red Runner]

Good wrap up. Botha v Ross will be brilliant. That Tahs backline is a bit of a mishmosh of players.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

This will be 48/12 to the Reds and I'm being kind. 60/0 is on the cards

NSW Backline once again spending the week getting to know each other and the bench is even less experienced.

I'd like to see a few individuals have good performances and put their hand up for selection in match day squads next season which seems to be what the Tahs can get out of this. Hendren showed good some good signs and got involved. Harvey has a ton of natural gifts and Ropata a lot of raw talent.

Still no word on Bowens injury? Played the Lions game then that was it.

19s should be a good game though. Look forward to that.

 

[dru]

This will be 48/12 to the Reds and I'm being kind. 60/0 is on the cards

Not sure I agree with the score predictions but definitely the two lineups look lop-sided to me. Let's see the Tahs make me look silly.

Reds front row looking even stronger with Toomaga-Allen coming onto the bench and Fa'agase covering loose head instead of tight head. I don't love Blake at hooker, but given how the lineout performed last week Fourie and Hough aren't hard done by here. Brial joining Latu and Robinson in the back row could be absolutely lethal, at least while Latu's fitness holds up.

Campbell at 10 isn't ideal, but it's probably a good thing he's getting time there if we aren't going to pick up a 3rd 10 before next season. Anderson onto the wing and Murray at the back does keep the backline very strong and experienced, though it would've been good to see McCulloch at 15.

I'm fine with Blake at #2 but I'm not keen on swapping between loose head and hooker week on week. I quite like Campbell at 10 here - plenty have spoken about his ability to play make but I'd really like to see him spend time there to fully show it.

 

[Crashy]

i'd love to know status of Reilly. You'd think it would make sense for Schmidt to release at least some of his squad - keeping say 26 - or does he want 30 for 2 teams for live training games or something.

 

[Wilson]

Pretty sure they all have a bit of time off right now, the lack of release is more about injury risk than holding them back to train.

 

[Slim 293]

They also fly out to Auckland early on Sunday morning, so it's not ideal releasing those players to play in Narrabri and Perth on Saturday night...

 

[Major Tom]

Is Faessler injured?
Surely Gordon should play at least a half. They’re only flying to NZ which they do frequently for super rugby so I just don’t get it. Unless they’re thinking of starting Tate and feel Gordon can handle the bench without match fitness.

 

[Ignoto]

9. McDonald (Randwick)

Hell yeah!

 

[Wilson]

Is Faessler injured?

I think so, though he did just hit a bench PB of 180kgs.

Surely Gordon should play at least a half. They’re only flying to NZ which they do frequently for super rugby so I just don’t get it. Unless they’re thinking of starting Tate and feel Gordon can handle the bench without match fitness.

Games in Narrabri, that adds hours of travel before you can even get on a flight to NZ. It'd be good if someone like Gordon could play his way back in from injury in this comp, but he may not be ready to go yet.

In future years we'll probably see it better utilised for that, but first year up there are logistical hurdles to get passed.

 

[Major Tom]

I think so, though he did just hit a bench PB of 180kgs.


Games in Narrabri, that adds hours of travel before you can even get on a flight to NZ. It'd be good if someone like Gordon could play his way back in from injury in this comp, but he may not be ready to go yet.

In future years we'll probably see it better utilised for that, but first year up there are logistical hurdles to get passed.

He hasn’t played in 2 months though. So if he’s not right go by this weekend gonna be bloody hard to play the bledisloe imo. Need to find out if he’s body is right otherwise it’s lonergan that’s in. Understand it’s in Narrabri and the issue is around making the flight the next morning. But just fly separately on a later flight?
Doran was making it sound like Schmidt was giving fringe players the choice which is stupid. Is ross the only wallabies squad member playing?

 

[Wilson]

He hasn’t played in 2 months though. So if he’s not right go by this weekend gonna be bloody hard to play the bledisloe imo. Need to find out if he’s body is right otherwise it’s lonergan that’s in. Understand it’s in Narrabri and the issue is around making the flight the next morning. But just fly separately on a later flight?
Doran was making it sound like Schmidt was giving fringe players the choice which is stupid. Is ross the only wallabies squad member playing?

There are plenty of ways to do this without him playing Super Aus - a year ago we didn't have this comp, and even now it only runs 3-4 weeks. Ideally players would get game time in it coming back from injury, but it's hardly a problem if they don't.

The travel problems are also not nothing, and they significantly compound challenges around injury recovery and management, particularly for a player who might be on limited minutes. It's somewhat simpler a problem if we're talking about an otherwise fit player who just needs game time, but even then it's still just a nice to have.

 

[Major Tom]

There are plenty of ways to do this without him playing Super Aus - a year ago we didn't have this comp, and even now it only runs 3-4 weeks. Ideally players would get game time in it coming back from injury, but it's hardly a problem if they don't.

The travel problems are also not nothing, and they significantly compound challenges around injury recovery and management, particularly for a player who might be on limited minutes. It's somewhat simpler a problem if we're talking about an otherwise fit player who just needs game time, but even then it's still just a nice to have.

We obviously don’t have the facts regarding Gordon’s fitness. But it’s been 2 months after doing a hamstring. Would be very surprised if he’s not right to play. And if he’s not right to play this weekend I’m not sure why we would be playing him the following weekend in what’s probably the biggest game of the year. I get the recovery aspect (long drive and then flight to NZ) but 30mins to blow the cobwebs out is really not that big of a deal surely. It’s probably less about finding out if he’s body is up to it (which is what I originally said) and more about getting him up to speed because he will most likely be starting and starting slow has been a problem for us.