Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has called on the Super Rugby champions to unleash “the perfect game” against arch-rivals NSW to storm into the playoffs.
The seventh-placed Reds are underdogs to make the finals as they need to beat the Waratahs and hope one of four teams above them are upset at home by lowly rivals this weekend.
Queensland’s best chance of continuing their title defence is scoring a bonus-point victory by crossing for at least four tries in the interstate grudge match in Brisbane on Saturday night.
But McKenzie said it would be foolish to put the cart before the horse and throw the ball around carelessly in the attempt to score tries without first gaining control of the game.
They must focus on executing their game plan to the letter.
“What we need is the perfect game this weekend to ensure that we get our best ladder position possible,” McKenzie said.
“One thing I can guarantee is we haven’t played it yet. It’s still ahead of us and I’ve been saying to the players that we’re still to play our best game of the year.
“If we were to do it this week that performance would be timely.”
The Reds are sweating on lock Rob Simmons overcoming a bad cork but expect winger Digby Ioane to return from illness and flanker Liam Gill to recover from a hamstring injury.
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