The first game of the weekend sees the Reds travel to Auckland to take on the Blues, a game which many will feel the Blues might just actually win, but with the Reds hitting some form in recent weeks, it will in all likelihood end up being another close game.
The Blues have only won one match so far this season, and that at Loftus of all places, and with the team still without Keven Mealamu, Luke Braid will captain the side. The centre combination of Ma’a Nonu and Rene Ranger could wreak havoc should they get some decent ball.
The Reds have another flyhalf this weekend, with the return of Ben Lucas to the starting line-up following the season ending injury to Sam Lane. We also see the long awaited return of Anthony Faingaa to the bench, where he is sure to see a few minutes later in the game.
Blues: 15. Hadleigh Parkes, 14. George Moala, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Daniel Braid, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Filo Paulo, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Tom McCartney, 1. Tevita Mailau
Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Liaki Moli, 19. Chris Lowrey, 20. Alby Mathewson, 21. Michael Hobbs, 22. Benson Stanley
Reds: 15. Luke Morahan, 14. Dom Shipperley, 13. Digby Ioane, 12. Mike Harris, 11. Rod Davies, 10. Ben Lucas, 9. Will Genia, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 7. Liam Gill, 6. Beau Robinson, 5. James Horwill (Captain), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. James Slipper, 2. James Hanson, 1. Ben Daley
Replacements: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Ed Quirk, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Anthony Faingaa
Tweet
Blues to end their losing run. My LMS life (line) depends on it.
Go Reds!!! 😈
LMS picks Round 10:
Blues 10
DHL Stormers 9
Brumbies 4
Highlanders 2
Crusaders 2
MTN Lions 1
Chiefs 1
BYE 12
This game should be a bit of a scrap.
The team with the name of a color will win this game. 🙂
Reds try! Digby over.
Ioane try! Playing in his 50th game.
Harris misses the conversion from the touchline.
Blues 0 – 5 Reds
3 mins
Another Reds try. Morahan.
Blues defence nowhere!
Harris nails the conversion. 5m from touch.
Blues 0 – 12 Reds
8 mins
@Ben (Comment 11) : Eish.
Reds penalty. Harris going for goal. Misses.
Blues losing 2 lineouts in the 1st 10 mins
Think I am just gonna give up on Superbru this year…Come ON! Blues…
Redss getting away with a bit…
Nonu has smashed Digby twice in tackles now! Big hits.
Blues lose another lineout.
Nonu playing out of his skin…Blues finally winning a penalty
Blues finally get some go forward ball and crash into the Reds 22. Only to be blown up for holding on.
Joubert def got red contacts on…
Blues penalty inside the Reds 22. Going for touch.
Blues try. Luke Braid over the line from the Maul.
Blues try! Whoo hoo
Blue missed conversion;
Reds 12 Blues 5. 26 mins
Anscombe misses the conversion.
Blues 5 – 12 Reds
26 mins
Blues look like they are finally deciding to take part in the game…
Blues lineout inside the Reds 22.
Go Rooies!!! 😛
Blues penalty in front of the Reds poles.
Going for goal. Over
Blues 8 – 12 Reds
32 mins
Blues penalty in front of posts… Reds 12 Blues 8. 32 mins
Reds scrum inside Blues 22. They lose it and get pinned for being offside.
@JarsonX (Comment 29) : eye eye…someone has woken up…welcome..
REds 15 Blues 8. 36 mins
Reds penalty. Approx 44m on the angle. Harris going for goal. Over.
Blues 8 – 15 Reds
36 mins
Blues lineouts are a mess.
@lostfish (Comment 37) : Disastrous.
Blues on attack on the Reds 22. They knock it on.
Half Time
Blues 8 – 15 Reds
Half time Reds 15 Blues 8
The 10 on LMS who picked the Blues must be rather nervous right now…
@lostfish (Comment 42) : Something smells a bit
@JarsonX (Comment 43) : Wasn’t me! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 44) : 😀
2nd half under way.
Reds try in the corner. Dom Shipperley.
Reds try early in 2nd half
Harris misses the conversion.
Blues 8 – 20 Reds
45 mins
Reds 20 Blues 8 … 3 trys to reds
Blues lineout just outside the Reds 22.
Blues inside the Reds 22. Knocks on after 11 phases.
Blues scrum them off the ball. Blues with the ball, 10m out.
Blues messing it up…10mtrs from try line..
Blues’ play reminds me of the Sharks.
Unimaginative on attack, and sending in single runners into gang tackles.
They just ship the ball from left to right with no variation in depth, angle or speed.
Reds get the penalty. Blues holding on. Harris doesn’t find touch with the kick.
@Big Fish (Comment 55) : and sucky line outs..
Anthony Faingaa on, Rob Davies off.
@Big Fish (Comment 55) : Spot on!
@Big Fish (Comment 55) : Agreed.
So much potential on paper but nowhere on the field. . . 👿
Anscombe slots a PK.
Blues 11 – 20 Reds
56 mins
Another Blues penalty. Approx 43m on the angle. Going for goal. Misses
Blues miss pen kick..4core still Reds 20 Blues 11. 60 mins
Reds lose their lineout inside their own 22. Blues on attack.
Reds turn it over again and kicks it away.
Can’t believe Blues took Nonu off the field…
Benson Stanley with a line break. Reds defence recover just in time.
Blues work their way into the Reds 22 and get blown up again for holding on!
Come on Reds…
Keep the Lions off the bottom 😉
@Hmmm (Comment 69) :
Only God can change the natural order of things to such a degree.
Just a matter of time.
Reds penalty inside the Blues 22 after mauling the ball for 20m.
Blues not doing a whole lot right night 🙁
Going for goal. Harris slots it.
Blues 11 – 23 Reds
75 mins
Reds penalty: Reds 23 Blues 11. 74 mins
@Big Fish (Comment 70) :
The way things are going lately the Sharks should be nervous about that spot too 😛
Blues penalty. They go for touch. Lineout inside the Reds 22.
Blues bundled into touch. Time almost up.
FULL TIME
Blues 11 – 23 Reds
*tears* *tears*
Sorry to the guys who picked the Blues on LMS 😉
Thank you Reds!!!
Well done Reds, going to be an interesting weekend
Yeah REDS!!!!!
The one lame thing is that there are 3 South African sides ahead of the best Australian side…and the 3rd South African side does not qualify for the play-off’s currently cause SANZAR committed to helping Australia make the play-off’s and have a chance at winning…
Now I just need to hope the Stormers can do the job.
10 Blues picks for this game.
0 Reds picks for this game.
Before this game.
175 teams entered the game:
11 still alive with a lifeline.
30 still alive with no lifeline.
134 out of the game.
After this game.
175 teams entered the game:
9 still alive with a lifeline.
24 still alive with no lifeline.
142 out of the game.
So 2 lifelines lost and 8 eliminations
@KSA Shark © (Comment 86) :