The season's about to start

**GIGS20** · 04-02-22, 10:42

The Reds trial is scheduled for tomorrow and the Force have posted that they're flying out to play the game, so that means Super Rugby action is just around the corner.

It's time to shake off the malaise of rugby post-season/pre-season and start talking shit about the team based upon nothing other than meagre personal opinion.

Here's GIGS' method of starting the conversation/argument/lament

I'm going to post my prediction of the starting team for tomorrows trial with explanations of why I think it'll go this way. Since it's a trial and we have virtually no form guide for anybody in the squad, there's no right or wrong answer. Added to that, we don't have any idea what Sambo is planning to do with the trial so it's really a free shot with no right or wrong answers.

I reckon this trial should be used to bed in new combinations under combative match conditions and have a look at a couple of questionable positions where there isn't a clear choice for a player to fill the spot.

Starting with the engine room, I think the roles are pretty settled with 4 spots in the tight 5 pretty solidly locked away (Robinson, Kaitu'u, Medrano, Rodda) Since they have 7 internationals in that group (actually Andrew Ready might have picked up a gold jersey to? that's make it 8) it's going to be a hard pick to fill those gaps, but one thing I think would be needed is for the 2021 Wallabies to get some game time and cohesion under their belts. Kaitu'u and Robertson didn't do a lot more than carry tackle bags in the Autumn tour and Rodda will probably play the first two rounds with his teammates' names on tape around his wrist, so I'd name the tight 5 who I'm planning to start the first game with in the trial and give them a good 20-30 minutes of opposed practice, making sure we see plenty of scrums and lineouts. so that makes a tight 5 of

1 Robertson
2 Kaitu'u (c)
3 Medrano
4 Timani (maybe Thrush)
5 Rodda

Thrush would get the nod if Rodda is being saved from the responsibility of calling the lineout, longer term I see Rodda playing tighthead lock and calling the lineout with Timani playing loosehead and somebody like McAuley as succession planning.

The backrow is a lot more interesting, with some young blokes really pushing for starts and some established campaigners who are pretty much locked in. The Force team page has only named 4 backrowers (Anstee, Callan, Koteka and Stander) but I'm pretty confident that Fergus will spend a lot more time at 6 than as a lock. Out of those, Kane is the only recognised fetcher and having somebody play that role is essential to good rugby IMHO. the only other option is to go massive at every opportunity and the Force don't look to be able to do truly massive in the back row (better with Fergus in there, but there'll still be somebody a bit lighter)
I reckon Sambo should be looking for his future 7 and 8 and what better time to start than a trial match. Kane and Brynard would be pretty confident that 7 & 8 are theirs (with good reason) but Brynard was starting to show the effects of his age and his bull-at-a-gate style last year, playing through a lot of niggles. for that reason, I'd give both Ollie and Tim the challenge of unseating the incumbent and start both of them, with a swap back and forth as the trial continues. Ollie made a good fist of 8 against the Crusaders and Tim, originally from sevens isn't scared of playing the ball, so I'd go that way, with a plan to swap them after about 15 minutes and then bring on Kane and Brynard at two separate times to see which combination is the winner. That really only leaves Fergus and possibly Sita to hold down 6, so I'd play Fergus

6 Lee-Warner
7 Anstee
8 Callan

Now we come to 9 and what a quandry! Do we play the lightning fast, clever and aggressive 9 in Isaac (Sideshow Bob) Fines Leleiwasa, do we play the dependable, but possibly in his last season Ian Prior (and get a kicking option) or the live wire locally-developed Irish lad in Little Mickey McDonald? I mean any one of them could line up in the trial and the instruction would likely be exactly the same "use your time to convince me that nobody else deserves the jersey". Ian Prior brings a steadiness and calmness to the team that absolutely CANNOT be discounted, EVERYBODY looked better when he was on the field last year. But this is a trial and results don't matter so I believe this will be time to see the other two show what they've got and I reckon Sambo might start with Fines, because the jersey SHOULD be his to lose, it just really isn't at the moment, Prior is too good for the team

9 Fines Leleiwsa

Another conundrum is what do we do with the 10-12? Interestingly Bayley Kuenzle has been listed as a Centre on the Force website, so they might not be looking at the Brumbies reserve Flyhalf to play Flyhalf, that's going to make things interesting! Another interesting move is that they've listed McIntyre, McGregor, Strachan and Pasitoa as both Flyhalves AND fullbacks, so I guess we know how they're planning to use the 15. I'd suggest, in that list, based upon what happened last year that Starchan and McGregor are being considered more Fullbacks which leaves Pasitoa and McIntyre as the preference for Flyhalf. Since McIntyre didn't do enough to keep the jersey away from Miotti, I'd reckon he might be on the outer and the opportunity exists for Pasitoa to take the reins. If that's the way they're looking for round 1, you'd be insane not to start him there in the trial.

10 Pasitoa

In 12 We've got a choice between Godwin, Kahui, Kuenzle and Makara. I'd suggest that (like Thrush) Kahui is there as a stop gap for if other plans don't work out and Makara is being developed, not choice 1. Therefore 12 & 13 might seem like an easy pick but there's always the possibility that Mataele could play 13 and since there is some pretty tasty highlight footage of him doing just that in New Zealand I wouldn't be surprised to see him slot in there at some point during the trial. I reckon Godwin is a better 12 than 13 and Mark Ozich is a Kiwi so he'd like a ball player like Kuenzle in 12 so it's a bit of a lottery to pick the centres, I'm predicting the Attack coach to put his foot down and they'll start with

12 Kuenzle
13 Godwin

As for the outside backs, well, McGregor and Strachan will likely be fighting it out for the Fullback Jersey and I don't think there's a lot between them, I think Strachan is taller (I just Googled it, only 3cm, but it looks like more) but Jack seems to have better footwork so you could go either way. I think who gets the start in the trial will be told that the jersey is theirs to lose and the other one will come on about halfway through and try to take the jersey away. The decision will be based upon training form and the two have probably been staring daggers at each other since November. I'm getting the coin out and the coin says

Strachan (literally tossed a coin over that one)

As for the wings, I haven't put Mataele into 13 so he'd need to take a wing, Probably 14, but with a roving commission which leaves a spot for Ala, Lacey. Pulu, Ralston or Tapine in 11, MY GOD what an embarrassment of riches! Given that Pulu, Ralston and Lacey are known quantities I'd try one of the new boys in 11 first. For no reason other than coming from the Brumbies and therefore some cohesion with the others out of that program into the squad I'd try Tapine first, but this would have to be qualified by lots of swapping about for the whole match

11 Tapine
14 Mataele
15 Strachan

THe game should be used to answer questions like Should Mataele play 13 meaning we could put Pulu and Ralston on the wings (If Pulu can stay fit that would be a devastating combination) Should McGregor play Fullback or is he the Super-Sub? Is Kuenzle a better 12 than Godwin? Is Fergus a lock or a 6? Do we need to rely on the quality of Thrush and Kahui or can we transition them into a coaching role? Who is our best reserve Tighthead Prop? Can we cover 7 if Kane doesn't play? Is Brynard our best option at 8 given that he's beaten himself to a pulp or can we use the next year (or two) to find a replacement.

Isn't it exciting to be preparing for a new season.

My predicted team
1 Robinson
2 Kaitu'u
3 Medrano
4 Timani
5 Rodda
6 Lee-Warner
7 Anstee
8 Callan
9 Fines Leleiwasa
10 Pasitoa
11 Tapine
12 Kuenzle
13 Godwin
14 Mataele
15 Strachan

Reserves
Absolutely everybody else

**Tazzmania** · 04-02-22, 11:50

Well covered, and good selections.

From the two hit outs I have seen I would only change the following:

Daniel Alla for me seems to be a standout so far electric pace and a big body, I would slot him in at 11.

Godwin is vice captain and has had a run at 13 in both matches so I assume he is lock in there.

In the trials it appears that Anstee is going to be at 8, so would probably switch 7 and 8.

I also think McCauley may start rather than Timani.

In the trials McGregor seemed to have the inside running for full back so that would be the final change.

I suspect that Thrush, Timane, Kahui, Pulu, Holmes and Stander's work loads will be managed.

That said we will not show our full deck of cards tomorrow so likley to be lot of the younger chaps getting early runs.

**Sheikh** · 04-02-22, 11:55

Someone said that Tony Lewis had said Holmes, Thrush & Kahui will be allowed to play and not worry too much about coaching this year (possibly because we've done well recruiting new coaches!) although I have heard that Kahui is mucking in with coaching at Baysie anyway.

One player not mentioned above is Jackson Pugh. He gets listed as a lock, but I think he's a bit short (he's quoted as only being 1.94 m) so I think he and Fergus will be spending time with the back-row.

Agree about the trial being used for an many combinations as possible (is there another trial match planned?) but our first match is the Brumbies, who always seem to have the edge on us, so we ought to have the proposed 1st XV starting and playing for at least the first 40 to try and hit the ground running in a fortnight.

**GIGS20** · 04-02-22, 12:27