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'That's our bread and butter': Brad Thorn's plan to topple the Kiwi sides in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

They’ve been written off as easy prey for New Zealand’s heavyweights but it’s an underdog match-up Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn likes.

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The Reds will open Super Rugby Trans-Tasman against the Highlanders in Dunedin, six days after winning a dramatic Super Rugby AU title in Brisbane.

Bookies have rated all five New Zealand sides a better chance of winning the title than the Reds, while the Waratahs are $501 shots to claim the silverware and at long odds to threaten Jordie Barrett’s Hurricanes in Sydney on Friday night.

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“Styles make fights, they say in boxing, and ours goes well with theirs,” Thorn said of the Reds’ ability to match it with New Zealand teams.

“Learning how to win has been great but we’ve always been competitive with the New Zealand styles.

“We know we won’t be highly rated in New Zealand; but that’s our bread and butter.”

The Reds will lean on their forwards depth to give star man Taniela Tupou some respite on a bench loaded with Wallabies talent, while 19-year-old Kalani Thomas will start at halfback against All Blacks great Aaron Smith.

Injuries to Hunter Paisami (cheek), Harry Wilson (concussion), Alex Mafi (concussion) and Jordan Petaia (thigh) have also forced Thorn to shuffle his pack.

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He will welcome Suliasi Vunivalu back from injury though, the NRL convert likely to earn second-half minutes off the bench.

“We haven’t had many injuries, so there hasn’t been many opportunities but there’s guys that have been really hungry to push their case,” he said.

“They’re training the house down and here it is and what a challenge.

“We enjoyed a day or two after that final (to celebrate); that was important.

“But we put that trophy away in the cabinet and now we’re keen to rip into this tournament, it’s what everyone has been waiting for.

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“They’ve got a taste of the success, they want some more but it starts again now.”

The Waratahs were winless from eight games in Super Rugby AU but were buoyed on Thursday by the re-signing of captain Jake Gordon and emerging Wallabies prop Angus Bell.

Playmaker Will Harrison and backrower Carlo Tizzano, who topped the Super Rugby AU tackle count, will come off the bench while Hurricanes’ backrower and captain Ardie Savea (knee) remains on the sidelines.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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