Shaggy
First XV
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Should be an interesting match ... The Crusaders have found some form in recent weeks, but have a number of players out with injury ... Kieran Read will miss this match as he is still having concussion issues http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=42444#.U2llUSgXJPc , form openside flanker, Matt Todd and Centre Kieran Fonotia, are both out for a month, and utility back, Tom Taylor is also in doubt, due to injuries sustained in last week's match against the Brumbies http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2014/rugby/story/224123.html. This will probably mean that Luke Whitelock will retain the Number 8 starting spot, Jordan Taufua will start at Blindside Flanker, and that new guy (what's his name), who started on the Blindside, but moved to open last week ... oh yeah ... Richie McCaw , will start at Openside Flanker.
The injuries at Centre may see that little winger Nemani Nadolo, start at Centre, where he spent some time last week, and as played for Fiji before.
It's fair to say that the Reds haven't had the season up to the standards they have set in recent seasons, and they have injury concerns of their own with Chris Feauai-Sautia (gone for the season/six months), Liam Gill (5 weeks), and Ed Quirk (2 weeks) http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12567/9299064/super-15-queensland-reds-lose-trio-injury.
They also have prop James Slipper serving a two match suspension for a dangerous tackle he made in the match against the Blues. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-05/reds-lose-slipper-for-two-matches/5431622
Despite the loss of key personnel on both sides, I know the Reds are a much better side at home, so I'm predicting a close match (and hoping for a Crusaders win).
Crusaders named (www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_9300552,00.html):
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty (c), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Rey Lee-Lo gets the nod at Centre over Nadolo (Tom Taylor ruled out due to the head knock last week), Taufua starts on the Blindside Flank, Luke Romano starts in place of Bird, who I see isn't even on the bench ... is he injured?
Reds team named http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_9300552,00.html
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O'Donoghue, 20 Dave McDuling, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Lucas, 23 Rod Davies.
... I don't know anything about Curtis Browning named on the Blindside Flank - I had read that they were talking about shifting Rob Simmons to Six, but they've obviosly shelved that idea
The injuries at Centre may see that little winger Nemani Nadolo, start at Centre, where he spent some time last week, and as played for Fiji before.
It's fair to say that the Reds haven't had the season up to the standards they have set in recent seasons, and they have injury concerns of their own with Chris Feauai-Sautia (gone for the season/six months), Liam Gill (5 weeks), and Ed Quirk (2 weeks) http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12567/9299064/super-15-queensland-reds-lose-trio-injury.
They also have prop James Slipper serving a two match suspension for a dangerous tackle he made in the match against the Blues. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-05/reds-lose-slipper-for-two-matches/5431622
Despite the loss of key personnel on both sides, I know the Reds are a much better side at home, so I'm predicting a close match (and hoping for a Crusaders win).
Crusaders named (www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_9300552,00.html):
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty (c), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 George Whitelock, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Rey Lee-Lo gets the nod at Centre over Nadolo (Tom Taylor ruled out due to the head knock last week), Taufua starts on the Blindside Flank, Luke Romano starts in place of Bird, who I see isn't even on the bench ... is he injured?
Reds team named http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_9300552,00.html
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O'Donoghue, 20 Dave McDuling, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Lucas, 23 Rod Davies.
... I don't know anything about Curtis Browning named on the Blindside Flank - I had read that they were talking about shifting Rob Simmons to Six, but they've obviosly shelved that idea
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