The Reds play their final home game of the season when they face the Brumbies in a traditional Australian derby at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
With just three wins from 13 matches, it has been a season to forget for the Reds. How they have fallen from grace since being crowned Super Rugby champions in 2011.
The Reds have lost the last five meetings between the sides by an average margin of 26 points and haven't won a home game against Australian opposition since Round 14, 2015.
A big game is needed from Stephen Moore as he returns to the starting line-up to face his former team. The Wallabies captain will become the second-most capped Super Rugby player ever with 176 caps, surpassing All Blacks great Kevin Mealamu. And Moore will no doubt be pumped up for the occasion against his old team and eager to prove to Australia coach Michael Cheika that he is still the best hooker in the country.
It will be an emotional occasion for flanker Rob Simmons who will play his last home game for the Reds after making over 100 Super Rugby appearances for the Queensland outfit and this should give the side incentive to play with more passion as they bid farewell to a loyal servant of the club.
Reds coach Nick Stiles said: “Friday night’s clash is important for a number of reasons. It’s our last opportunity to play in front of our home fans this season, it’s Rob’s last game in Queensland colours at Suncorp Stadium and we’ve got a point to prove against the Brumbies, after a disappointing result against them earlier in the year.
“It’s a significant game. It’s important the group recognise that and make the most of it. We’ve got a great opportunity to put in a strong performance and acknowledge the contribution Rob has made to Queensland over a long period of time.”
But the Reds come up against a team that are difficult to break down as the Brumbies are the most effective tacklers in the competition with a tackle success rate of 87 percent so far this campaign.
Having already qualified for a home quarter-final in the Super Rugby play-offs, the Brumbies will be eager to build on the momentum that saw them win three matches on the trot before the international break.
The Brumbies have won their last two games away from home, the last time they won more on the bounce was a stretch of three road wins which saw them run into the 2015 semi-finals.
The last time the teams met: The Brumbies smashed the Reds 43-10 back in Round 7 this year in arguably the Brumbies' best performance of the season. Brumbies' tries from Tevita Kuridrani, Robbie Abel, Aidan Toua, Jarrad Butler, James Dargaville and Chris Alcock proved too much for the Reds who scored through a sole Chris Kuridrani try.
Players to watch: Keep an eye on Reds winger Izaia Perese who played a starring role in the Australia U20 Junior World Championship campaign. Expect Perese to accumulate a ton of Test caps for the Wallabies as he possesses plenty of pace and power and is also adept at playing in the centre position.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies will be looking to winger Henry Speight to add to his tally of seven tries for the season, which is the highest of any Brumbies player. Speight is a prolific finisher and is coming off a good international break with the Wallabies, where he notched up two tries against his country of birth Fiji.
Team news: Rob Simmons has been named as starting blindside flanker in his final home game for the Reds, in one of a number of changes head coach Nick Stiles has made to the team. Simmons has been named in the number six jersey in place of the injured Hendrik Tui, who returned from international duties with shoulder and rib complaints.I n one of two other changes to the forward pack, Stephen Moore returns to starting hooker and will captain the side in the absence of injured centre Samu Kerevi (ankle). Adam Korczyk also returns to the starting side at number eight, in place of Scott Higginbotham, who has also been ruled out of Friday’s clash due to a lingering neck injury. Stiles has also made two changes to the backline, with Campbell Magnay promoted to starting outside centre, in place of Kerevi, and winger Izaia Perese back in the starting side after returning from representing the Australian U20s.
Meanwhile, the addition of Scott Sio is a welcome boost to the Brumbies. With Sio restored to the starting line-up it’s a strong looking team that will travel to Suncorp Stadium aiming to do the double over the Reds. Sio will feature in the front row alongside the experienced Josh Mann-Rea and Allan Alaalatoa with skipper Sam Carter and Rory Arnold as the locking partnership. Chris Alcock, Jordan Smiler and Scott Fardy provide a physical back-row trio who will be tasked with making inroads into the Reds defensive line. Behind the scrum newly capped Wallaby Joe Powell will dictate play with Wharenui Hawera continuing in the number ten jersey. Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani are the centre pairing and there is ample pace out wide with Henry Speight, who has shaken off any effects of the hamstring strain that forced him to miss Australia’s matches with Scotland and Fiji, teamed with Aidan Toua and Tom Banks.
Form: The Brumbies have beaten the Force, Waratahs, Reds, Kings, Jaguares and Rebels this season while they have lost to the Crusaders, Sharks, Highlanders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Blues and Lions. They will be happy to have arrested their alarming mid-season slump of four losses in a row with three wins in their last three games.
Meanwhile, the Reds have beaten the Sharks, Kings and Rebels while losing to the Force (twice), Crusaders, Lions, Jaguares, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Waratahs, Chiefs and the Blues.
Prediction: The Reds will be desperate to end an awful season on a positive note at home and are playing for pride here. They could cause an upset. Reds by five.
Previous results:
2017: Brumbies won 43-10 in Canberra
2016: Brumbies won 43-24 in Canberra
2015: Brumbies won 29-0 in Brisbane
2015: Brumbies won 47-3 in Canberra
2014: Brumbies won 23-20 in Brisbane
2014: Reds won 27-17 in Canberra
2013: The sides drew 19-19 in Brisbane
2013: Brumbies won 24-6 in Canberra
The teams:
Reds: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Izaia Perese, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Adam Korczyk, 7 George Smith, 6 Rob Simmons, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Caleb Timu, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Chris Kuridrani
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Aidan Toua, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Jordan Smiler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter (c), 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 Andrew Smith
Date: Friday, July 7
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-Off: 19:45 local (09:45 GMT)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry, Rohan Hoffman
TMO: Ian Smith
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