RECAP: Reds v Blues
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Round 17 between the Reds and Blues at Suncorp Stadium.
A link to the match report will appear here later.
Read all our Super Rugby previews for the weekend here.
Both teams require favours from other teams if they are to slip into the play-offs through the back door.
The Blues are 13th on the standings (with 28 points), one bonus-point win outside the top eight.
The Reds have a much tougher task, being 14th, with just 24 points.
However, they first have to win in Brisbane on Friday.
Reds assistant coach Jim McKay also said that “pride” will play a big motivation in their clash with the Blues.
Recent results:
2018: Blues won 39-16, Auckland
2017: Blues won 34-29, Apia
2016: Reds and Blues drew 25-all, Brisbane
2014: Blues won 44-14, Auckland
2013: Reds won 12-11, Brisbane
Prediction: The last eight Super Rugby matches between the Reds and Blues saw the Queensland side win the first four games, with the Auckland side undefeated in the last four. The Reds have lost their last two Super Rugby games on the bounce at home; the last time they went longer without a win at home was a five-game stretch across the 2015/16 campaigns. The Blues succumbed to a 26-21 defeat to the Brumbies in their last Super Rugby game in Australia, snapping a five-game winning streak in the country for the Auckland side. The Blues enjoy a success rate of 97% at the scrum this Super Rugby campaign, having lost just four scrums on their own feed thus far. The Reds’ Samu Kerevi has made the most carries (187), beaten the most defenders (58) and made the second most offloads (20) of any player in Super Rugby 2019.
Prediction: Blues
Margin: Three points
RECAP: Reds v Blues
Kick-off: 19.35 (local time); 09.35 SA time; 07.35 GMT
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Teams:
Reds: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi (captain), 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Matt McGahan, 9 Scott Malolua, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Gav Luka, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Hamish Stewart.
Blues: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Thomas Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Tanielu Tele’a, 10 Otere Black, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson (captain), 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Lua Li, 19 Tom Robinson, 20 Josh Goodhue, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Levi Aumua.
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
