SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC, ROUND 11, MAY 6th ,2023, QUEENSLAND REDS v WARATAHS
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM,TOWNSVILLE
Townsville is the place for Super Rugby this week with Suncorp Stadium used for NRL Magic Round .
Reds coach Brad Thorn has recalled lock Ryan Smith in place of Seru Uru in the only change to his starting team to tackle the Waratahs.
“It’s great to have another chance to play in front of our North Queensland fans,” Thorn said.
“It’s always a special occasion when Queensland play NSW. We’re expecting a tough contest against the Waratahs.”
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has named an unchanged starting XV after beating the Highlanders in round 10.
“We’re happy with the result last week but are still searching for an 80-minute performance which we’ll need against a dangerous Reds outfit away in Queensland,” Coleman said.
“Our rivalry with the Reds is one of the oldest and fiercest in Australian sports and we can’t wait to get up to Townsville.
They’ve had the wood on us for the past couple of years and with the ladder as congested as it is, this match is almost worth double points so we’re definitely cognisant of the importance of this match.”
REDS (15-1): Jordan Petaia, Suliasi Vunivalu, Josh Flook, James O’Connor, Jock Campbell, Lawson Creighton, Tate McDermott (co-c), Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright (co-c), Ryan Smith, Connor Vest, Zane Nonggorr, Matt Faessler, Sef Fa’agase
Reserves: Richie Asiata, George Blake, Peni Ravai, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu
WARATAHS (15-1): Max Jorgensen, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Dylan Pietsch, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon (c), Langi Gleeson, Michael Hooper, Taleni Seu, Hugh Sinclair, Jed Holloway, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Dave Porecki, Te Tera Faulker
Reserves: Mahe Vailanu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Will Harris, Charlie Gamble, Harrison Goddard, Harry Wilson, Joey Walton
The Waratahs escaped with a last-minute 21-20 victory over the Highlanders last start to revive their flagging season.
But they’ve still won only three from nine so far this campaign.
Referee. Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees. Reuben Keane, David Conway
PREDICTION.
“The two nines are sharp, the forward battle and both teams have a bit of strike in their backs. This includes the battle of the number eights, with Langi Gleeson excited to test himself in the battle of the red headgears. Both teams need the win to try and reach the top eight play offs. For me, both teams have under achieved this year and this contest will be tight. I am going to pick the Reds by 2 points, but in realty either side could win this.
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