SUPER RUGBY AU - PREDICTIONS AND TEAMS: ROUND TWO
FORCEFUL RETURN: After getting the Super Rugby boot in 2017, the Western Force make their return with a vengeance.
The Perth’s franchise will kick off their return to top-flight competition against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, July 11.
Melbourne Rebels tackle the Queensland Reds in the other Australian fixture on Friday.
While the Brumbies have a bye in Round two.
The Force’s reintroduction into the one-off domestic competition has been met with great enthusiasm by the players, as they’re set to reignite their rivalry with the Waratahs, who they coincidentally played in their last Super Rugby clash on an emotionally charged night in Perth three years ago.
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“The team can’t wait,” Force head coach Tim Sampson said.
“The excitement has been building for a long time to play against the Australian clubs again. It’s been brewing since the new form Super Rugby structure was first mooted and we’re here now in the midst of game week, prepared and determined for the challenge.”
After the players take on the Waratahs on Saturday, they’ll be getting acquainted with their hub in the Hunter Valley, an arrangement Sampson is very thankful for.
“We’re delighted to be back in the Hunter Valley region after a great experience here during pre-season when we had a practice match in front of a big crowd,” he said.
Sampson believes the team is primed and ready to compete in what is a historic time for the club.
“I’m stoked for the players. For them to have the opportunity to go and play in a competition like this in front of Wallabies selectors is brilliant,” he said.
“We have the utmost belief that we can perform in this competition, as there are individuals in our team that can certainly attract the attention of the right people for national selection. I’m just rapt the players get this opportunity and the loyal Sea of Blue get to witness them play at this level again.”
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Battle for the Wallabies No.10 jersey
After an almost four-month wait, the long-awaited Super Rugby AU return saw Queensland Reds snapped a seven-year drought against the NSW Waratahs, winning 32-26 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
It was a very intense match as the Reds blew hot and cold, but in the end, did enough to secure the win.
James O’Connor was an instrumental part in the victory. O’Connor kicked a match-winning pair of penalties as the Reds ended a seven-year, 11-game losing streak against the NSW Waratahs.
Armed with a new mindset since his return to Australia, he had given him a further chance to reflect on his career, according to captain Liam Wright.
“From what I watched growing up of James O’Connor he’s a completely different person,” Wright said.
“He’s a really good fellow to be around. He’s a leader in our group.
“He just invests a lot into himself, into this team and I think the results are starting to show really well.”
This week the Wallaby face a tough opponent in the form of Rebels playmaker Matt Toomua.
The Reds head coach Brad Thorn is very wary of Rebels No.10 and had warned his side to vigilant of Toomua’s smart attacking prowess.
Toomua’s reliable boot and savvy game management will test a Reds side that has shown immense potential but failed to capitalise so far this year.
“This is game two for us and we’re focused on improving our game and knowing we’ve got a really tough opposition,” Thorn said.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for the Rebels. They’re a really good defensive side – good line-speed.
“Smart man at 10 therewith [Matt] Toomua. They’ve got a good set-piece – they’ve really stepped up in their scrummaging, good line-out … they’re a strong side and that’s how we’re approaching it.”
Super Rugby AU will culminate in a two-week finals series starting on September 12.
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This week’s predictions
Friday, July 10
Rebels v Reds
(Brookvale Oval, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.05 (09.06 GMT)
The Rebels have won five of their last seven Super Rugby games against the Reds, including their last two on the bounce; they have never won more than two consecutive games against the Queensland side.
The Rebels have won only one of their nine Super Rugby games in New South Wales (L8) and have lost their last three games in the state by an average margin of 18
points per game.
After their opening round win the Reds will be hunting for back-to-back wins against Australian opposition in Super Rugby for the first time since May 2015 – which included
a 46-29 win over the Rebels.
The Rebels have scored the opening try of the game in five of their last eight Super Rugby meetings against the Reds, after having never previously done so.
Tate McDermott has been directly involved in 11 tries in his last five starts for the Reds (6 tries, 5 try assists); although, he is yet to be directly involved in a try against the Rebels.
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Reds by 5 points.
Teams
Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (captain), 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Michael Stolberg, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Pone Fa’amausili, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Matt Gibbon.
Replacements: 16 Efitusi Ma’afu, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Trevor Hosea, 20 Esei Haangana, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Rob Leota, 23 Reece Hodge.
Reds: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Hunter Paisaimi, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Josh Nasser, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 23 Josh Flook.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Nic Berry & Jordan Way
TMO: George Ayoub
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Saturday, July 11
Waratahs v Force
(Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.15 (09.15 GMT)
The Force have won four of their last six Super Rugby games against the NSW Waratahs, including a 40-11 triumph in their last meeting (Rd 17, 2017).
The NSW Waratahs have lost their last four consecutive Super Rugby games against fellow Australian opponents; a fifth consecutive defeat would mark their longest ever losing streak against their countrymen.
The Force are set to compete in their 13th Super Rugby campaign; only once in their last 12 appearances in the tournament have they opened their sea
son with a win(def. NSW Waratahs, 25-13 in 2015).
The Force have scored the opening try of the game in five of their last six Super Rugby games against the NSW Waratahs, including a try to Alex Newsome after just 49 seconds in their most recent encounter in July 2017.
Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs) has made 10+ carries and 10+ tackles in each of his last two Super Rugby games; the last and only previous time he managed to do so in more consecutive games for the NSW Waratahs was a three-game stretch in March 2015.
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Waratahs by 15 points
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Will Harris, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachie Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Jack Demspey, 20 Michael McDonald, 21 Ben Donaldson/Tepai Moeroa, 22 Karmichael Hunt.
Western Force: 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Nick Jooste, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ian Prior (captain), 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Tevin Ferris, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Angus Wagner.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Johan Bardoul, 20 Ollie Callen, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Henry Taefu, 23 Kyle Godwin.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett & James Quinn
TMO: James Leckie
Compiled by Leezil Hendricks
@leezil07
@rugby365com
Additional source: AAP
* Stats provided by Opta Sports
