The first Australian Super Rugby derby match in Round 1 is between the 2011 Super Rugby champions the Reds and the 2014 Champion Waratahs.
The Waratahs have won the last four clashes between the two sides as the last Reds victory was in July 2013. That result was the fifth in a row for the Reds but they haven’t come within 18 points of the Tahs in recent clashes.
The Waratahs and the Reds have played each other 25 times in Super Rugby and the Waratahs have won 11 matches and the Reds 13. That gives the Waratahs a record of winning 44% of their matches against the Queenslanders.
It should be noted that it took eight years for the Waratahs to win their first match against the Reds so the stats are a little tilted in the Reds favour as a result of this.,
In the preseason the Waratahs beat the Brumbies, they lost to the Chiefs and the Highlanders. The Reds were beaten by the Crusaders and the Brumbies in the warm ups.
At the end of last season the Reds lost Quade Cooper and Will Genia amongst others. While the Waratahs also lost a few key players the key partnership of Cooper and Genia went a long way to winning their Super Rugby title in 2011 and the last TriNations title a few months later. How well they handle the loss of these two players will only be known as the season progresses.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 2/HD.
Average score: Waratahs 20 Reds 18
Last five results in Sydney
13 Jun 2015 Waratahs v Reds 31-5 Sydney
01 Mar 2014 Waratahs v Reds 32-5 Sydney
13 Jul 2013 Waratahs v Reds 12-14 Sydney
25 Feb 2012 Waratahs v Reds 21-25 Sydney
26 Feb 2011Waratahs v Reds 30-6 Sydney
Waratahs record against Reds in Sydney
Played 12 , Wins 6, Losses 6, Draws 0
Last five results
13 Jun 2015 Waratahs v Reds 31-5 Sydney
07 Mar 2015 Waratahs v Reds 23-5 Brisbane
12 Jul 2014 Waratahs v Reds 34-3 Brisbane
01 Mar 2014 Waratahs v Reds 32-5 Sydney
13 Jul 2013 Waratahs v Reds 12-14 Sydney
Waratahs overall record against the Reds
Played 25 , Wins 11, Losses 13 , Draws 1
Match No.6 :Waratahs v Reds
Date : Saturday 27 February 2016
Venue : Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick Off local: 19:45 local
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1:Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2:James Leckie
TMO : George Ayoub
Teams
Waratahs
1. Paddy Ryan , 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau , 3. Angus Ta’avao ( Waratahs debut) , 4. Dean Mumm , 5. Will Skelton , 6. David Dennis (VC) , 7. Michael Hooper (C s) , 8. Jed Holloway , 9. Nick Phipps , 10. Kurtley Beale , 11. Zac Guildford ( Waratahs debut ) , 12. David Horwitz (Waratahs debut) , 13. Rob Horne , 14. Matt Carraro , 15. Israel Folau
Replacements : 16. Tolu Latu , 17. Benn Robinson , 18. Jeremy Tilse , 19. Sam Lousi , 20. Jack Dempsey , 21. Matt Lucas , 22. Bryce Hegarty , 23. Reece Robinson
Reds
1. Ben Daley , 2. Saia Fainga’a , 3. Greg Holmes , 4. Cadeyrn Neville (Queensland debut) , 5. Rob Simmons (C) , 6. Hendrik Tui , 7. Curtis Browning , 8. Jake Schatz , 9. Nick Frisby , 10. Jake McIntyre , 11. Eto Nabuli (Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 12. Henry Taefu (Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 13. Samu Kerevi , 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia , 15. Karmichael Hunt
Replacements : 16. Andrew Ready , 17. Sef Fa’agase , 18. Sam Talakai , 19. Ben Matwijow (Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 20. Michael Gunn , 21. Scott Gale , 22. Sam Greene , 23. Ayumu Goromaru (Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
