SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE
Rookie halfback Noah Notham will make his first start for the Crusaders when they rumble with the Reds in Brisbane on Friday night.
It will mark the highly touted halfback’s first game since he came off the bench against the Drua in Lautoka a few weeks ago, and made a costly mistake in the final minute,
The Reds have not beaten the Crusaders since the 2011 final. Coach Brad Thorn will be out to change that. The Crusaders have 16 players out at the moment with injuries, with Ethan Blackadder added to the list this week with a calf injury, which will put him out for six weeks.
A starter at No 8 last week, Sione Havili-Talitui will start in Blackadder’s place in the No 6 jersey, while Christian Lio-Willie will start at the back of the scrum. Winger Sevu Reece is out for the season, and the World Cup with a blow ACL, following a tackle in the Blues game. He was cleaned out by Blues centre Rieko Ioane in a ruck a fortnight ago. The incident did not prompt match officials to look at it closer. The officials thought it was ok, well I will tell you that is NOT ok. It was a grubby play by an All Black team mate who should have been cited. A high-ankle sprain to Macca Springer means Will Gualter will get another run off the bench.
Crusaders:
Fergus Burke, Pepesana Patafilo, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili-Talitui, Dom Gardiner, Scott Barrett (c), Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Corey Kellow, Willi Heinz, Will Gualter, Chay Fihaki.
Reds:
Jock Campbell, Suliasi Vunivalu, Josh Flook, Isaac Henry, Jordan Petaia, James O’Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Zane Nonggorr, Matt Faessler, Peni Ravai. Reserves: Richie Asiata, Dane Zander, Phransis Sula-Siaosi, Angus Blyth, Jake Upfield, Kalani Thomas, Taj Annan, Mac Grealy.
PREDICTION.
The Crusaders should win this even with all the injured players out at the moment. It will be hot and humid in Brisbane, so there will be mistakes made and which team handles the heat better will win. Crusaders need to be wary here as the Reds are dangerous at home and hungry for a win. I am going for the Crusaders to win by 7 points.
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