Super Rugby AU Teams: All the lineups for round eight

[The InnFORCEr]

by Christy Doran


With just three rounds remaining Super Rugby AU has four teams firmly in the race for a top three finish.

There's just four points separating first-placed Brumbies and the fourth-placed Rebels, with the Reds second on 16 points and Waratahs third on 15.

Wallaby Nic White headlines the changes, with the Brumbies halfback to make his return to Super Rugby after a five-year absence from the competition.

Here is all your team news ahead of round eight of Super Rugby AU.


7:05pm - Western Force vs Queensland Reds at Cbus Super Stadium,

Western Force coach Tim Sampson has made minor changes to his side that was beaten by the Waratahs last Friday.

In the back-row, Fergus Lee-Warner gives the Force some extra height at the lineout by shifting from the second-row to blindside flanker for Henry Stowers.

Ollie Atkins has been promoted to the starting side and joins former All Black Jeremy thrush in the second-row.

Up front, former Red Andrew Ready has too been promoted to the starting side and forms a strong front-row alongside Pek Cowan and Kieran Longbottom.

It's an unchanged backline with Sampson hoping that some much needed continuity helps settle the side.

Former captain Heath Tessmann will come off the bench for his first minutes of the season.

The Reds have, too, only made minor changes.

The injury to Hunter Paisami has seen Brad Thorn bring in Josh Flook at outside centre with Jordan Petaia remaining on the right-wing and Jock Campbell in his preferred position at fullback.

It's an unchanged forward pack with Thorn rewarding his big men for their outstanding defensive effort during last weekend's 19-3 win over the Reds.

On the bench, Josh Nasser acts as the reserve hooker while prop Harry Hoopert returns after hi injury absence.

Halfback Moses Sorovi comes on to the bench with Scott Malolua dropping out of the squad.

FORCE: (15-1): Jack Stachan, Byron Ralston, Kyle Godwin, Richard Kahui, Brad Lacey, Jono Lance, Ian Prior (c), Brynard Stander, Kane Koteka, Fergus Lee Warner, Ollie Atkins, Jeremy Thrush, Kieran Longbottom, Andrew Ready, Pek Cowan

Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Tom Sheminant, Johan Bardoul, Ollie Callan, Nick Frisby, Jack McGregor, Henry Taefu

REDS (15-1): Jock Campbell, Jordan Petaia, Josh Flook, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu, James O'Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jack Straker

Reserves: Josh Nasser, Harry Hoopert, Zane Nonggorr, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Angus Scott-Young, Moses Sorovi, Bryce Hegarty, Jack Hardy




7:15pm - Brumbies vs NSW Waratahs at GIO Stadium,

In what shapes as the match of the round, Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made a number of changes to his side.
White's return off the bench is the headline name to return.

But right throughout the side, there's key changes.

Solomone Kata will start at outside centre with Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani out which also sees Tom Wright, fresh from re-signing with the Brumbies, coming on to the left-wing.

Junior Wallabies halfback Ryan Lonergan starts for the absent Joe Powell.

Up front, James Slipper starts ahead of test teammate Scott Sio and Connal McInerney makes a rare start with Folau Fainga'a missing.

Veteran lock Cadeyrn Neville returns and partners Darcy Swain, which sees Nick Frost drop back to the bench.

In the back-row, hard-man Lachie McCaffrey starts ahead of Rob Valetini at blindside flanker.

McKellar has opted for a forwards-heavy six, two bench split.

Waratahs coach Rob Penney has kept faith with the majority of his side too following their 28-8 win over the Force, which saw them record back-to-back wins for the first time since March, 2019.

The only change to the backline sees Joey Walton promoted at outside centre with Lalakai Foketi dropping to the bench.

Up front, there's two changes with Ned Hanigan promoted to the starting side to join captain Rob Simmons in the second-row.

Tight-head prop Harry Johnson-Holmes starts ahead of Tetera Faulkner.

BRUMBIES (15-1): Tom Banks, Andy Murihead, Solomone Kata, Irae Simone, Tom Wright, Bayley Kuenzle, Ryan Lonergan, Pete Samu, Will Miller, Lachlan McCaffrey, Cadeyrn Neville, Murray Douglas, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Connal McInerney, James Slipper

Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack, Nic White, Len Ikitau

WARATAHS (15-1): Jack Maddocks, James Ramm, Joey Walkton, Karmichael Hunt, Alex Newsome, Will Harrison, Jake Gordon, Jack Dempsey, MIchael Hooper, Lachie Swinton, Rob Simmons (c), Ned Hanigan, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Tom Horton, Tom Robertson
Reserves: Robbie Abel, Angus Bell, Te Tera Faulkner, Tom Staniforth, Hugh Sinclair, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/0...ms-round-eight

[todd4]

Hopefully those changes may improve our lineout

[Jules]

Great to see Tessmann back!

[James]

Waratahs v Brumbies shaping up to be the match of the round? In a competition where only two games are played per round? Really Christy?

[palitu]

Hopefully those changes may improve our lineout

man, that was tough to watch... And the poor bloke got dropped as a result.

[.X.]

the problem with the "Aussie Derbies" is that both teams are so scared of losing they dont try and win them.

Every game is a dour defense driven affair that at the end of 80 minutes one team falls over the line
In shock that they actually won

When all they wanted to do was not lose

[andrewg]

man, that was tough to watch... And the poor bloke got dropped as a result.

Certainly wasn't helped by Berry and his assistants doing nothing about the Tahs players jumping across the lineout into the WF line.

[boof1050]

If The force play the same terrible attack plan of yesteryear like last week we'll get towelled by the reds!
No one bar Kahui or Godwin showed any real enterprise until it was too late in the game.
I can't help but feel a bit sad for the lads who came here 3 years ago and aren't getting a shot at a game in super. Glad to see Pek and a few others out there but we really stood up in the first game with a few players that weren't well known but are sitting in the stands now because we need people with Super experience. Its the old adage how do you get experience if you not allowed to show your wares at that level.

[valzc]

Interesting post by DieselPwrd on Roar
« The Reds should win v Force. However, hopefully the Force have done some deep analysis on the Reds right edge defence as this is their vulnerability. Previous games have shown if you run a 3 phase set e.g. (right edge 1st) Wide 2 Wide 2 Wide they tend to turn in on the 3rd exposing the right edge. On the return W2W they may have to land a dummy ruck in the middle to tie up drifting defenders. The objective should be to iso the wingers with tip plays and put them in 2 minds. Daugunu makes silly mistakes on D with early Flags (back tracks to the corner flag) and also is terrible at lateral tackling. The Rebels surely saw that but didn’t exploit it.
If the Force attack the middle between the 15ms they’ll need to run regular traps (at the moment of impact shuffle step in between defenders)form and recycle quick rucks (1sec) and exploit the Reds who like to defend head on but sometimes flop on top of each other in the tackle and are at times slow off the ground. Quick rucks is essential to building pressure on the Reds and if they are smart they’ll be setting up to go back to the right edge. The Tahs did it.«

[Alison]

If The force play the same terrible attack plan of yesteryear like last week we'll get towelled by the reds!
No one bar Kahui or Godwin showed any real enterprise until it was too late in the game.
I can't help but feel a bit sad for the lads who came here 3 years ago and aren't getting a shot at a game in super. Glad to see Pek and a few others out there but we really stood up in the first game with a few players that weren't well known but are sitting in the stands now because we need people with Super experience. Its the old adage how do you get experience if you not allowed to show your wares at that level.

Agree 100%

[GIGS20]

Interesting post by DieselPwrd on Roar « The Reds should win v Force. However, hopefully the Force have done some deep analysis on the Reds right edge defence as this is their vulnerability. Previous games have shown if you run a 3 phase set e.g. (right edge 1st) Wide 2 Wide 2 Wide they tend to turn in on the 3rd exposing the right edge. On the return W2W they may have to land a dummy ruck in the middle to tie up drifting defenders. The objective should be to iso the wingers with tip plays and put them in 2 minds. Daugunu makes silly mistakes on D with early Flags (back tracks to the corner flag) and also is terrible at lateral tackling. The Rebels surely saw that but didn’t exploit it. If the Force attack the middle between the 15ms they’ll need to run regular traps (at the moment of impact shuffle step in between defenders)form and recycle quick rucks (1sec) and exploit the Reds who like to defend head on but sometimes flop on top of each other in the tackle and are at times slow off the ground. Quick rucks is essential to building pressure on the Reds and if they are smart they’ll be setting up to go back to the right edge. The Tahs did it.«

Wow, what a detailed analysis. I almost wish it wasn't out there, because maybe the reds will fix it up now

[valzc]

Am pretty sure Tim, Nick & the other coaches will have twigged to any holes they can target. Just want the backs to be more aggressive in attack and not pushing passes like last week.

[SteveWA]

I can't help but feel a bit sad for the lads who came here 3 years ago and aren't getting a shot at a game in super. Glad to see Pek and a few others out there but we really stood up in the first game with a few players that weren't well known but are sitting in the stands now because we need people with Super experience. Its the old adage how do you get experience if you not allowed to show your wares at that level.

I'm interested to know who that might be. We lost at least 5 players from last year (Alcock, Orr, Lloyd, Fines, Deegan) all starters or close to it - and they had to be replaced. Who isn't getting super exposure?

[boof1050]

Pretty much the guys who got replaced by the older fellas who have only just joined the Force this year. Abel for one, Jooste, McGregor who I know is on the bench, the young front rower who killed it the first few super games, I don’t necessarily remember a lot of their names. I just reckon instead of worrying about 30yr olds why not give these guys a shot. We haven’t exactly improved the last 2 games.

[Buddha Handy]

Pretty much the guys who got replaced by the older fellas who have only just joined the Force this year. Abel for one, Jooste, McGregor who I know is on the bench, the young front rower who killed it the first few super games, I don’t necessarily remember a lot of their names. I just reckon instead of worrying about 30yr olds why not give these guys a shot. We haven’t exactly improved the last 2 games.

This is professional rugby not 4th grade you can't just give everyone a run that turns up to training. We should be recruiting more not less, we need to start winning games otherwise you will never attract supporters, sponsors etc. A few of us suggested this before the season and suggested the Force will not win a game and got shut down because "The Force won the NRC and will all be up to this level".