Reds begin Super 14 preparations in Europe

Wallaby duties and injury have forced Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney to select a young and inexperienced squad for the Super 14 side’s pre-season European tour.

The squad, captained by prop Greg Holmes and centre Morgan Turinui, will play matches against Irish provinces Ulster, Connacht and Leinster, and French side Nice in just 17 days.

One-third of the 26 player squad is aged under 20, picked from the Queensland Academy of Sport’s Reds Academy and club rugby.

Mooney said the squad had been hastily convened before today’s departure for Dublin. But he sees blooding so many youngsters as a positive.

“Whilst it’s not ideal that we go away with a limited preparation, it’s a fantastic opportunity for this group to begin our Super 14 2009 preparations,” he said.

“One of the beauties of this tour is we can take players out of their comfort zone in terms of the travel, in terms of the short schedule between games, so guys will really have to be vigilant with their preparation.”

Each player will get a run in the first two games, Mooney said.

“They (the Irish) won’t be pulling any punches,” he said.

“You don’t get any easy games in France so they’ll provide us with a different style of opposition to the Irish.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll give a good account of ourselves in all four matches.”

Fullback Aiden Toua, winger Luke Morahan and flyhalf Jono Lance have been earmarked as ones to watch by Mooney.

Queensland Reds squad:
Albert Anae, Adam Byrnes, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Charlie Fetoai, Will Genia, Ben Gollings, James Hanson, James Harvey, Scott Higginbotham, Greg Holmes, Leroy Houston, Van Humphries, Digby Ioane, Jack Kennedy, Jono Lance, Poutasi Luafutu, Brendan McKibbin, Luke Morahan, Jake Schatz, Andrew Shaw, Shon Siemonek, Robert Simmons, James Slipper, Aidan Toua, Morgan Turinui.