Well, it’s not really a proper round, is it? Still, I guess we’d better do this.
Game 1: Rebels v Force (Friday, 10h40 SA time)
An Aussie derby. Between the two weaker Aussie sides. This is what we get out of bed for. Not. The Force are kak and the Rebels slightly less so. Also, the Rebels are at home. This will be a low-scoring, error-strewn affair which the Rebels will win by around 6 points.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 Richard Kingi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (captain) 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Cadeyrn Neville, 19 Jarrod Saffy, 20 Nic Stirzaker, 21 Alex Rokobaro, 22 Tom English.
Western Force: 15 Will Tupou, 14 Patrick Dellit, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Toby Lynn, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan (captain).
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Phoenix Battye, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Mick Snowden, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Junior Rasolea.
Game 2: Brumbies v Reds (Saturday 10h40 SA time)
The Reds are playing mind games and haven’t even picked a match 22 yet; that said, their group of 23 contains a smattering of experienced men, but also a load of players I’ve frankly never heard of before. They have a new captain in James Slipper, but their enigma play-maker Quade Cooper is there, even if his more reliable foil, Will Genia, is not. The Brumbies have good old Clyde back in their ranks, but on the whole look a more settled combination this early in the season. Another pretty dull game, which the Brumbies will win by 3.
Bring on the real rugby next weekend!
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (captain),
7 David Pocock, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Colby Faingaa, 19 Fotu Auelua, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Joseph Tomane, 22 Robbie Coleman.
Reds:15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Aidan Toua, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 3 James Slipper (c), 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 James Hanson, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Jono Lance, 22 Chris F’Sautia
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Theses 1st predictions are the worst! I have Force and Brumbies…
Looked at the western force teamsheet and the only name I recognised was sias. I agree with you – WF to end bottom of the log this season and rebels to pip them by one place … Brumbies I think will take it … Me thinks it depends on if quade remembers how to play rugby or if he still thinks he’s dancing around a boxing ring
“Theses” first comment is the worst (grammatically speaking).
sias on the bench so the grass is not greener on the other side lol
Still no Reds team line up?
Can you confirm that James Horwill will not be playing?
@FerrisWJ (Comment 5) :
Reds match squad: (Run on team will only be announced 24 hours before the game)
Forwards: Nigel Ah Wong, Albert Anae, Jarrad Butler, Saia Faingaa, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Ed O’Donoghue, Eddie Quirk, Jake Schatz, Rob Simmons, James Slipper (captain), Adam Wallace-Harrison
Backs: Quade Cooper, Chris F’Sautia, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane, Jono Lance, Ben Lucas, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Aidan Toua.
@FerrisWJ (Comment 5) : he’s not in the announced squad so yes I can.
Test
Reds team announced:
15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Aidan Toua, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 3 James Slipper (c), 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 James Hanson, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Jono Lance, 22 Chris F’Sautia
@Baylion (Comment 9) : awesome – thanks
@Baylion (Comment 9) : and I was so looking forward to “Nigel Ah Wong” getting a run 🙁 Crushed
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Pleasure.