[2017 Super Rugby] Round 1: Reds vs. Sharks (24/02/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Time: 11:00 (CAT, GMT+2)​

Teams

Reds: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 George Smith, 6 Adam Korczyk, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Jake McIntyre, 23 Izaia Perese

Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie (captain), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Clement Poitrenaud

 

[unrated]

I cant remember a Super rugby season where The Sharks only had a two game tour of Australasia to contend with! This is great. Hoping for a win against the bottom feeding reds to build some momentum for the more difficult Brumbies. If we can get through this tour looking good the we only have to fly to Argentina and Honk Kong ( or Singapore) as our other 1 match tours later in the season.
The rest of the games are in South Africa either at home or other local cities. Traveling fatigue should not be bad at all this year.
We got destroyed by the Hurricanes last year and those scars will remain they have to make up for it this year.

 

[unrated]

This is what our squad could have looked like if the South African currency was better and we could stop players from being lured overseas.
Players in Bold is still with the sharks for the 2017 season

15. Willie le Roux
14. JP Pietersen
13. Paul Jordaan
12. Francois Steyn
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Pat Lambie
9. Cobus Reinach
8.Willem Alberts
7. Jean Luc du Preez
6. Marcel Coetzee
5. Pieter Steph du Toit
4. Etienne Oosthuizen
3. Tendai beast Mtawarira
2. Bismarc du Plessis
1.Jannie du Plessis/ Thomas du Toit

16.Dan du Preez
17.P. Van der Walt
18. Stephan Lewies
19. Andre Esterhuizen
20.Franco Marais
21. Jeremy Ward
22. Curwin Bosch

 

[Jaguares]

Hoping for a win against the bottom feeding reds to build some momentum for the more difficult Brumbies.

I'm not sure if the Brumbies are better than Reds this season. They have lost many top players like: Pocock, Toomua, Moore, Lea'aliifano, Ita Vaea, Tomane and Cubelli. Meanwhile Reds has bought many top class players like George Smith, Stephen Moore, Quade Cooper and Higginbotham

 

[Millsy]

The Reds recruitment this past off-season has been superb to say the least. Whilst they may have lost a few players along the way, they brought in some key players like Quade Cooper, Stephen Moore, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith and Leroy Houston. On top of this they have re-signed Samu Kerevi and still have the likes of Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, James Slipper and Nick Frisby in the squad and hopefully the Reds will see a fit and firing Karmichael Hunt this season. I would honestly expect the Reds to make a push for the top of the Australian conference.

 

[JohnKA]

This will not be a easy game for the Sharks at all the Reds have a lot of fire power .

 

[JohnKA]

Think the Sharks will line up as follow :
1.Beast
2.Franco
3.Coenie
4.Ettiene
5.Ruan
6.Phillip
7.Jean-Luc
8.Tera
9.Cobus
10.Lambie
11.Mvovo
12.Andre
13.Am
14.Kobus
15.Curwin

 

[JohnKA]

Sharks team announced http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2017/02/22/mvovo-to-earn-100th-super-rugby-cap-in-brisbane/

 

[JohnKA]

Reds team announced http://m.sport24.co.za/sport24/Rugby/SuperRugby/reds-starts-for-cooper-smith-moore-20170222

 

[JohnKA]

Key match ups for me -

Halfback match up

Cobus vs Nick
Lambie vs Cooper

 

[User1245]

I'll be at the game this Friday. The Sharks line up looks exciting but as we know the hard work needs to be done upfront first and I think that we have the type of pack that can do that for us.

 

[Jaguares]

Reds starting XV:

1. James Slipper ©, 2. Stephen Moore ,3. Sam Talakai,4. Rob Simmons ,5. Kane Douglas ,6. Adam Korczyk ,7. George Smith (Queensland debut), 8. Scott Higginbotham ,9. Nick Frisby ,10. Quade Cooper ,11. Eto Nabuli ,12. Duncan Paia’aua ,13. Samu Kerevi,14. Chris Kuridrani ,15. Karmichael Hunt


Replacements:

16. Andrew Ready ,17. Markus Vanzati (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut), 18. Sef Fa’agase ,19. Izack Rodda (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 20. Hendrik Tui ,21. James Tuttle ,22. Jake McIntyre ,23. Izaia Perese (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)

 

[JohnKA]

The Sharks have a decent pack but that Reds pack is loaded with experience

 

[unrated]

Touring in Super Rugby is always difficult but you cant make the playoffs by only winning at home. The Sharks needs to win the next two to be taken seriously.
Hoping for no injuries so soon into the tournament. Lambie and Reinach is key for our success. Also hoping for a big game from Curwin Bosch
Sharks to win by 7

 

[JohnKA]

I hope Coenie also makes a statement on tighthead he will be key going forward , excited to see what Ward can offer when he comes on

 

[Jaguares]

The Reds have bought very good players but so far they only beat a poor Rebels side, so they are a mistery. They could be the top Aussie team or nothing, I can't wait to see them playing against top rivals

 

[unrated]

Good game so far. Could go anyway the sharks needs to keep more possession, if they don't then I fear they will run out of steam towards the end. What really grinds my gears is watching these games with the clearly biased Aussie commentators seeing stuff that is clearly not happening.

 

[SomeOke]

Good game so far. Could go anyway the sharks needs to keep more possession, if they don't then I fear they will run out of steam towards the end. What really grinds my gears is watching these games with the clearly biased Aussie commentators seeing stuff that is clearly not happening.

I actually think the Sharks look very composed and quite good in the few passages of attack they have had.
You aren't running the ball from your half though, so it doesn't look like you're going to be too focused on an expansive game this year.

Lambie looks sharp, both with the tee and in distribution.

 

[Red Al]

Great game so far.

 

[unrated]

Bitterly disappointed with the loss. But a very great game. Came so close to winning it at the end but still proud of The Sharks . If they can keep up this play then I have good hopes for the season. Now to regroup for the Brumbies and take 1 win out of 2 on tour. The reds had good composure to close it out like that they seem like contenders for the Aussie conference this year.