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‘Deserved favourites’: Reds name star-studded side for Chiefs quarter

Tom Lynagh of the Reds looks on during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and Hurricanes at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on February 25, 2023, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Queensland Reds shocked the rugby world with a win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs earlier this season, and they’re looking to do it again this weekend.

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Playing in New Plymouth last month, the Reds held on for a tough 22-25 win. That one loss is the only blip on an otherwise sensational campaign for the Chiefs.

But the regular season is no more. What’s done is done – knockout footy is here.

The Reds have confirmed their side to take on the Chiefs in Saturday’s quarter-final, which includes three changes to the starting side.

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Tom Lynagh takes over the playmaking reins at flyhalf, while veteran James O’Connor shifts into the midfield to replace the injured Hunter Paisami.

Sef Fa’agase is the one other change to the run-on side, with Zane Nonggorr looking to provide some impact off the bench.

“We come into the quarter-final with a great challenge in front of us. Finals footy is a step up in intensity, physicality and pressure,” coach Brad Thorn said in a statement.

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“The Chiefs finished as minor premiers and are deserved favourites in Hamilton this Saturday.

“They’ve got threats across the park and we will need to be at our best to challenge them this weekend.”

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Peni Ravai and Matt Faessler will join Fa’agase in the front row, while the familiar second row duo of Angus Blyth and Ryan Smith round out the tight five.

Seru Uru, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson will form a formidable loose forward trio.

The Reds have named five Wallabies in their backline, and the uncapped Josh Flook was included in Eddie Jones’ training squad earlier this year.

Flyhalf Tom Lynagh is the only other uncapped player in the backline, but has been touted as a player of the future – with the rising star named in the Junior Wallabies squad for the World Rugby U20 Championships.

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With a spot in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals up for grabs, the Reds will need to repeat history on Saturday afternoon.

This match gets underway at 2.35pm AEST on Saturday at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium.

Reds team to take on Chiefs

  1. Peni Ravai
  2. Matt Faessler
  3. Sef Fa’agase
  4. Angus Blyth
  5. Ryan Smith
  6. Seru Uru
  7. Fraser McReight
  8. Harry Wilson
  9. Tate McDermott
  10. Tom Lynagh
  11. Josh Flook
  12. James O’Connor
  13. Filipo Daugunu
  14. Suliasi Vunivalu
  15. Jock Campbell

Replacements:

  1. Richie Asiata
  2. Dane Zander
  3. Zane Nonggorr
  4. Lopeti Faifua
  5. Jake Upfield
  6. Kalani Thomas
  7. Lawson Creighton
  8. Taj Annan
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N
NB 34 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Nice bit if revisioniusm but that's all it is JW.


For your further education, I found the following breakdown of one prominent club's finances in the Top 14 [Clermont].


For Clermont (budget of €29.5 million for 2021-2022) :

- 20% from ticket sales

- 17% from the LNR (includes TV Rights, compensation from producing french internationals and other minor stuff)

- 5% from public collectivities (so you're looking at funds from the city of Clermont, the department of Puy-De-Dôme and the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

- 4% from merchandising and events

- 3% from miscellaneous

- 51 % from sponsorships and partnerships. They've got 550 different partners. The main ones are CGI, Groupama, Limagrain/Jacquet, Omerin, Paprec, Renault and of course Michelin (not surprising since they're actually the founders of the club).


As you can see nothing comes from the FFR at all. The LNR is a separate entitiy to FFR and their aims frequently do not accord.


It is also why the European breakaway plotted by LNR and PR back in 2013 had nothing to do with the governing bodies of either England or France - and it most certainly did not have their blessing https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15331030/jean-pierre-lux-anglo-french-cup-detrimental-european-rugby


And from the horse's mouth [ex AB skipper Sean Fitapatrick] about the comp between Top 14 and Super Rugby:


"The Top 14 in France is probably the best rugby competition in the world at the moment, purely for the week-in, week-out.”


“I think the quality of players. They are bigger, they are faster, they are stronger. Which then carries on into the international game.”

Take it from someone who knows JW😅

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