Smarting Queensland are taking no notice of the dramas that have plagued the equally-desperate Stormers heading into tomorrow night’s Super 14 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Humiliated 43-11 by an injury-plagued Brumbies outfit last weekend, the reshuffled Reds can’t afford to be bitten again by a vulnerable outfit.

Coach Phil Mooney knows the winless Stormers, similarly attacked by the South African media, have had their problems just getting to Brisbane for the round four clash.

Their long trip from Cape Town took twice the usual time due to a stopover in Hong Kong and their equipment was delayed after airline staff gave priority to Australia’s cricket team on Monday’s flight from Sydney to Brisbane.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus, already under pressure as his team has scored just one try this season, is also being criticised for a late change after reserve hooker Tiaan Liebenberg was ruled out with a groin strain.

Rookie hooker Deon Fourie arrived in Brisbane last night after being controversially plucked from the bench of the second-string Western Province side, leapfrogging former Springbok rake Hanyani Shimange.

The Cape Times newspaper questioned whether team management knew about Liebenberg’s injury long before bolter Fourie received his SOS and was told he had just 20 minutes to make his flight.

But Mooney said there was no way the tourists would be taken lightly after the way the young, enthusiastic Brumbies made his men pay in Canberra.

“I’m sure they will get themselves up, there’s no doubt about that,” he said of the Stormers, whitewashed 22-0 by the Crusaders last week.

“Their defence is pretty good, the Crusaders only scored two tries and one was through a kick.”

Mooney hasn’t ranted and raved since the false dawn in Canberra where tackling was often shy, attack predictable and execution poor.

But he has wielded the axe, making six changes which included three dumpings in the tight-five.

It was a gutsy call to drop hooker Stephen Moore and Rodney Blake with both entering three-way contract talks with the Reds and the Australian Rugby Union.

“When we select teams we select teams to win a game, I don’t take into account whether players are coming off contract,” Mooney said.

“They’re disappointed but Saturday night is an opportunity, particularly with the Stormers having to bring a young kid into the front row, for Stephen to impose himself on the game as a 20-Test player, same as Rodney.”

Wallabies World Cup rake Moore, believed to be in the sights of the Western Force and Brumbies, admitted he was adapting to the extra running needed with the new laws but vowed to fight his way back

“The ball’s in my court and I just have to go out when I have the chance and play my best footy and be aggressive,” he said.

“It’s how we react to (the Brumbies loss) that’s important.

“We got out-enthused by a very hungry young side.”

Reds: Chris Latham, Brando Va’aulu, Peter Hynes, Morgan Turinui, Clinton Schifcofske, Berrick Barnes, Sam Cordingley, John Roe (capt), David Croft, Leroy Houston, James Horwill, Ed O’Donoghue, Dayna Edwards, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Res: Stephen Moore, Rodney Blake, Van Humphries, AJ Gilbert, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Charlie Fetoai.

Stormers: Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (capt), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Robbie Diack, Francois Louw, Luke Watson, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller. Res: Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, Ross Skeate, Pieter Myburgh, Bolla Conradie, Gio Aplon, Dylan des Fountain.

© AAP 2012

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