Lucas to spearhead Reds

Lucas to spearhead Reds

20 Jul 2012

Ben Lucas will replace Quade Cooper at flyhalf when the Reds tackle the Sharks in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Reds decided not to appeal Cooper’s one-week ban for a dangerous tackle, which meant their key playmaker was unavailable for selection this weekend. This sees Lucas take over the No 10 jersey, which is the only change to the Reds’ run-on side.

On the bench, utility back Nick Frisby takes the vacant spot on the bench.

Reds – 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Tapuai.


26 Comments

  • 1.big will: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:25 am

    Lucas Dragons

  • 2.big will: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:27 am

    Reckon the Sharks have a reasonable chance in this one.Their forwards need to do their business,and the backs will do theirs

  • 3.big will: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:28 am

    Forward dont front up like we know they can and it will be over kadover

  • 4.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:41 am

    Ben10 steps up!

  • 5.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:49 am

    Hehehe Ben10!

    Few years back I watched the final of the Club comp here in Brisbane, Ben10 was playing flyhalf on the day and they rolled the other side 96-0, he dropped, scored and placed from all over the field that day.

    And yes, it was a final between the top two teams at season end I am talking about, luckily for me I was supporting the winning team on the day but it got a little boring after a while…

  • 6.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:50 am

    @big will(big will)-3:

    It is a knock-out game and I think both SA teams have a change but no matter what the travel and home ground will count against both and the two home teams must be favorites.

  • 7.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 06:56 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-6:
    The more I ponder on this Sharks/Reds game, I start to lean more towards the Sharks, I think they can win it, as for the Bulls, they’re really up against it, dog tucker I suspect.

  • 8.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 07:04 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-7: sharks are favourites to win this game! shut down genia as coetzee will & crash, boom, bang the reds go @ suncorp!

  • 9.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 07:06 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-7:

    They are closer to 50/50 than the Bulls, that is for sure but Suncorp is a tough gig for visiting teams. I noted the noise level on TV is much lower than at the stadium, with the roof 45k makes a very big noise.

    Telling stat though is with Cooper they are 6/6 and without him 5/10, all other stats also better with him including tries for and against, points everything. But they have won well without him.

  • 10.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 07:18 am

    te ranged i think after you filthy cheating keewees tried to burn down kingspark the sharks are even more determined to win this weekend:-)

  • 11.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 07:56 am

    http://www.brobible.com/life/article/13158497
    Morning all
    Here is some eye candy to start this Friday off.

  • 12.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:16 am

    Jeez this is going to be a tight one.

    Lucas is a class player, he was all over the Sharks in Durbs before he went off injured.
    Genia moved to 10 and Reds lost mometum.

    By far a bigger loss than Cooper is that of Horwill, he’s the heart of that Reds pack. Higganbotham is going to have to have a big day at the office.

    Reds and Aus almost impossible to beat in Brissie, got the Reds by a couple on Superbru.

  • 13.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:19 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-8:

    Lets wait and see.

    I have reds by 10.

  • 14.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:36 am

    @wallabie.(wallabie.)-13: look, the reds are an adaptable team, they can try a variety of gameplans. the pick & drive around the fringes manouvre they pulled on the chiefs will get snuffed by the sharks as they will no doubt look to dominate the collisions. from there genia will have cra.p ball to work with and coetzee will seek him out like a missile and the reds will be under the kosh..

    sharks by plenty!

  • 15.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:47 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-14:

    Funnily enough they showed some footage last night of how weak the Sharks are around the fringes and the one off pass from the ruck. Charl McLeod also leads the scrummies in the comp for the most missed tackles.

    Stating the plan is to put Genia under pressure is one thing, actually doing it is another.

  • 16.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:52 am

    Transie I wish I was as confident as you are… You don’t even support the Sharks… ;)

  • 17.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 08:56 am

    @THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-16: :lol: thats transie for you, never short of surprises

  • 18.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 10:17 am

    Sharks to shock everyone in Keoland by overcoming the torturous travel, the boring Stormers, the flawed conference system and even the Keo kiss of death and win the comp :shock:

  • 19.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 11:12 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-15:

    Whilst Transformation is passionate and puts a debate forward I just don’t think he understands play and where teams strengths lie. The reds play around the ruck and through the middle and keep things close to the ruck from numbers 9, 10, 11 and 12 then after that the rest of the backs are wide. this splits the defence and keeps them thinking and it has been successful…it was successful against the sharks then the reds last two players in the pivotal position and things went pear shaped.

    They punched holes in the crusaders, sharks, chiefs and brumbies defences…yes they won two of those games and lost two. against crusaders and sharks they were missing 10 players.

    anyways everyone is a guru when their teams wins. lets see how the game is played on saturday.

  • 20.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 11:13 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-18:

    thank SARU or the qualifying conference system.

  • 21.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 11:15 am

    the stormers best chance of getting to the final is for the bulls to beat the crusaders. Crusaders will be too technical for the stormers.

  • 22.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 11:26 am

    Reds at Suncorp r are different animal

    Sharks basically have to play the perfect game,especially upfront with supreme acurate physicality in set phases and put pressure at ruck time thus conterrucking of supreme importance as they don’t have a true openside-Sharks loose trio is basically three 8′s.So I worry about balance.Alberts at 4 will improve overall mobility and power of pack.Sharks in Beast,Bismark,Alberts,Coetzee,Kankowski have the much better athletic pack.All about if they show up.

    Ben Lucas while talented is no Cooper and hasn’t been in this pressure situation before-a knockout with him starting at 10.Harris as well.so at 10/12 axis is vulnerable.Reds back 3 is supertalented by Sharks in JP,Mvovo,ludik(who I don’t rate AT ALL) are too shabby neither.

    Sharks won’t have a bigger chance to score an away knockout victory than tomorrow since 96 semi where Ian Mac’s Trojans beat Wallaby laden Queensland by plenty.Plum is no McIntosh though so we shall see.

    Sharks by the slimmest of margins.Looking for a massive game from Kankowski who has been outstanding in lineouts and tightplay since his return.JP as well been ridiculous since Bok Autumn window.

  • 23.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm

    @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-22:

    great stuff. Agree.

    add – Liam Gill and Genia are the key for Reds. They dominate. Reds will win.

  • 24.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 17:27 pm

    @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-22: Sbali, you well??, tell you for me its up to the mental preperation of our players and of course the heart put in? Add to that its about keep the ball in hand for me.

    Both teams have stars etc, but for me we do have the stronger pack, and we should use our tight forwards to drive up and setup the backline, if we kick everything down their throats they will punish us

  • 25.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2012, 17:29 pm

    Sharks U19 start their season with a comprehensive bonus point victory over Free State U19. Final score: Sharks U19 38 – 16 Free State U19

    6 tries to 1 tells a little story

  • 26.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    22 Jul 2012, 16:29 pm

    Multinics….

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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