Reds Team To Play the Force

[Hoolly Doolly]

Well it hasnt been announced but theres confirmation that Anthony Faingaa, Ben Lucas and Digby Ioane are definitely out. Huge losses for the Queenslanders.
Reds and Tahds are going through a pretty horrific run of injuries at the wrong end of the season.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226069558291

[oxleymoron]

Beau Robinson and Mike Harris are also likely to miss the game. Genia had the flu for most of the week.

With the shortage of backs that the reds have available to choose from, wonder if an SOS has been sent to the U20s to bring Kimani Situati back, just like they did with Liam Gill as cover for Beau Robinson.

[Burgs]

Here we go, two in a row!!

[Hoolly Doolly]

Here we go, two in a row!!

hahaha!! no sympathy at all burgs! luv it!

[SinBin]

I think most of us have been remarkably upbeat about our own injuries during the season and we've certainly had our fair share and stayed competitive. We've unearthed some gems eg, KBomb, Chucky, Swany. The Reds reserves will also jump at the chance of stepping up next week so I'm not getting complacent. Still, definitely worth a wager on EWF!

[Hoolly Doolly]

I got called a window licker but some random on the link at the top of the page.....some people are so mean
Gotta love internet warriors.

[zimeric]

our injuries happened early and were the likely cause of our poor form then too... as with last year weve shown we can win big games with the cattle... and the last two have shown we actually do have depth when utilised in the right positions...

looking forward to next weekend

[zimeric]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226069937859

Higgenbotham to inside centre against Force??

"I've had a few thoughts on the matter," McKenzie said. "This may be an opportunity to try something creative."

Creative and secretive as well, because McKenzie hinted that he might not reveal his plan until match day, much as the Brumbies kept the switch of fullback Pat McCabe to inside centre and Christian Lealiifano to fullback under wraps until just before kickoff on Saturday.

It may be that his outside-the-box thinking is revolving around Higginbotham, who made his Test debut last November at No.8 against France in Paris and is widely being touted as a backrower in the Wallabies side to play Samoa next month.

At 195cm and 110kg, Higginbotham is almost off the charts as far as inside centres go, 15cm taller and 16kg heavier than O'Connor who is expected to bolster the Force midfield this week."


a novel idea and one not too unlikely given that Pocock was a Centre right up till he was signed by the Force..

[James]

I think that would be playing into our hands a bit. It would probably leave Quade Cooper as the only playmaker in the side. Now if we have enough dominance at the breakdown it would make him much easier to defend against knowing they can't really throw it to Ben Lucas or Mike Harris etc.

It's really no worse than facing up against SBW, which JO'C acquitted himself in, except that Higginbotham doesn't have nearly as much nous at 12 as SBW.

[Burgs]

You would have to think that if Link plays Higgers at #12, JO'C isn't heading to the Reds!

[shasta]

Getting a little cryptic there. But I like the way you're heading with it.

[James]

Link won't do it. Not with Ben Tapuai and Will Chambers fit. At most he'll play a 5 forward bench (Hanson, Holmes, AWH, Schatz, Gill) and move Higgers into the backline if things get pear shaped later on in the game.

[Rex Messup]

Pay back
Lets belt the bastards into the dust

[Emu]

Good to see Link looking forward that no need to rush someone special in, while south of the border woe is Waratahs they may have to look at a Shute Shield player just after they released Faulkner to the Force. What is wrong with Salesi Manu from last years U20

Reds backline okay just - Genia, Cooper, Davies, Tapaui, Chambers, Shipperly, Morahan Reserves Prior, Lance TBA (Kuridrani or Siginayvi have been mentioned maybe Mitchell Felsman or Murphy twins from Brothers)

I do not think they can go in with a 5 2 split as a precaution for Davies.

I noticed Steve Kefu and Shane Drahm were back playing Grade for Toutai's team Sunshine Coast

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226069696524

"The main thing now is to replace and continue on. There's time for a lot of guys to come back down the track but we have to get things right for the Force," McKenzie said.

That will likely mean uniting Ben Tapuai and lightly used Will Chambers as a centre pairing, switching Luke Morahan to fullback and employing Dom Shipperley and Davies as wingers.

A more radical idea will be using bullocking No.8 Radike Samo as wing back-up because he played that position early in his career.

Sevens regular Jono Lance is certain to come on to the bench as a backline utility while Chris Kuridrani, recently returned to rugby from a spell with the Broncos in the NRL's Toyota Cup

[BeeJay]

Is Genia fully fit?