Reds v Waratahs: teams confirmed

Another big-scale Australian derby awaits us this weekend, as the Reds take on the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The Reds will be looking to improve upon their underwhelming performance against the Brumbies in Canberra last week, and the home ground advantage should bode well for the 2011 champions.

The squad is largely unchanged from last week, although Chris Feauai-Sautia steps into the outside centre position for Aiden Toua, who isn’t part of the match-day 22.

Still no Will Genia for the Reds, but Ben Lucas did show he’s a worthy starter at scrumhalf.

Mike Harris will play an integral role as goal-kicker, but the fullback will have to up his accuracy, as last week saw Harris miss a number of penalties.

The Waratahs are looking to make an impression in 2013, and given the quality in the team selection, they can definitely do so.

The front row, featuring Kepu, Polota-Nau and Tilse, should be a huge threat at scrum-time, and the brute force of Timani Douglas, Dennis, Hooper and Palu will be tough for the Reds to stop.

The backline is dangerous, with Carter and Ashley-Cooper parterning in mid-field, and the speed of Mitchell and Kingston outwide.

League and AFL import Israel Folau impressed in the pre-season trials, and he gets the starting nod at fullback.

Israel Folau, Quade Cooper and Ben Tapuai are all part of Rugby Informer’s top 5 AU backs to watch out for in 2013.

Reds team:

1. Greg Holmes 2. Saia Faingaa. 3. James Slipper (c) 4. Ed O’Donoghue. 5. Rob Simmons 6. Ed Quirk 7. Liam Gill 8. Jake Schatz 9. Ben Lucas 10. Quade Cooper 11. Digby Ioane 12. Ben Tapuai (vc) 13. Chris Feauai-Sautia 14. Dom Shipperley 15. Mike Harris

Replacements: 16. James Hanson 17. Albert Anae 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison 19. Jarrad Butler 20. Nick Frisby 21. Jono Lance 22. Luke Morahan

Waratahs team:

15. Israel Folau ,14. Drew Mitchell ,13. Adam Ashley-Cooper ,12. Tom Carter ,11. Tom Kingston ,10. Bernard Foley,,9. Brendan McKibbin ,8. Wycliff Palu ,7. Michael Hooper ,6. Dave Dennis (c),5. Kane Douglas ,4. Sitaleki Timani ,3. Sekope Kepu ,2. Tatafu Polota-Nau ,1. Jeremy Tilse

Replacements:16. John Ulugia ,17. Benn Robinson ,18. Paddy Ryan , 19. Mitchell Chapman ,20. Lopeti Timani ,21. Matt Lucas ,22. Ben Volavola

Rugby Informer’s take: The Reds will have a strong advantage at home, but without the magic of Genia, the team looked flat in Canberra. The Waratahs have enough flair and excitement in the backline to cause some trouble for the Reds. Waratahs by 5.