Reds Teenager Luke Morahan is set to start at fullback against the unbeaten Chiefs after Queensland’s Super 14 hopes were dealt a major blow with the loss of Wallabies flyer Peter Hynes.
Hynes won’t require surgery on his badly-dislocated finger but faces one to two weeks on the sidelines following his injury in the 27-18 loss to the Blues.
The Test star’s scratching has been compounded by the loss of fellow speedster Rod Davies (cheekbone), and reserve halves Richard Kingi (hamstring) and Tim Walsh (broken knuckle).
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has few options available to him at No.15 where Hynes has made an eye-catching transition from the wing.
Wallabies tourist Morahan, who turns 20 next month, is certain to travel with Queensland’s squad to Hamilton on Wednesday morning and should make his second Super 14 start, and first at fullback in a challenging positional baptism.
McKenzie played playmaker Quade Cooper at fullback in the second half of Saturday night’s loss but with both Kingi and Walsh unavailable, any thoughts of using him or fellow five-eighth Ben Lucas there have disappeared.
Lucas is returning from a calf injury and his ability to also play halfback means he is custom-made for a bench role to back up Cooper or captain Will Genia.
Morahan is a fast, tall and strong prospect who Wallabies coach Robbie Deans selected from left field for last year’s Grand Slam tour on the back of his electrifying sevens form and two appearances on the wing for the Reds.
McKenzie is still hopeful Hynes can return to action to play the Western Force on March 14 at Suncorp Stadium.
“We will reassess it next week,” he said.
“It could maybe be a little longer, but we’ve got a nine-day turnaround after the Chiefs game.
“There is a bit of a casualty ward but these things happen when you’re playing for keeps.
“We do have good options. We’ve got a bunch of guys with Super Rugby experience waiting in the background to get an opportunity.”
Melbourne Storm NRL recruit Will Chambers is in the mix to make his first Super 14 run-on start on the wing, while Blair Connor and Brando Va’aulu are also in contention to replace Davies.
damo
Guest
Ora? Hammer? Is that feint sound an echo of a couple of Kiwis chest beating. I think you guys were beating a nationalistic drum pretty loudly on another thread this week. Nationalistic based bias is what we all have but best kept to self. Otherwise some smart arse like me will write in and ask how much of what you guys are writing is hard-nosed rugby intelligence and how much is jingoistic wishful thinking?
formeropenside
Guest
Perfect call Ora. 23-18. To the Reds.
Jameswm
Guest
You guys are being very lenient on the Reds predicting a 20 point thrashing...
Hoy
Roar Guru
Ora, you are a ray of sunshine for the Reds in just about every post recently. You are almost unrealistically fatal regarding their chances this season, almost to the point where you can't seem to recognise their improvement (in play if not results) on the last few years. Yes, I am frustrated that they have let two games slip, but I hardly think that the Blues were all over them as you think they were in the "Blues outsmart Reds" thread. I thought it was a pretty even game. Yes Brett missed some shots, so did Cooper. Yes there was some soft defense from certain Reds players at certain times, however they were in it, right up to the final few minutes despite what you think. Moving their 5/8 to fullback didn't help, and I can't fathom why McKenzie would move his chief playmaker and play creator, out of the line at a crucial period like that. The Blues scored the last try when the Reds had to run to win, and run they did, which lots of teams don't do. So you going on about the bonus point win, and while true, it also makes the result look better for the Blues as well. I know they are only 1 from 3. We will see how things pan out over the season, but again, injuries etc could cruel any team out of the comp. Reds second row stocks were fairly thin at the best of times, and now with Horwill out, that hurts our forward pack. Two wallabies out of our backline is going to hurt as well. So yes, Ora, you are right, results wise they are sitting around the same as last year. But I am hoping that with their play this year, they can pull themselves up the ladder. You have to give them some credit surely. If we don't claw our way up, at least we should beat the Force in the standings :)
Harry
Guest
I would love to disagree with you 2 kiwi's but the realist says a 20 point whipping from the home team is the most likely result. We now have Horwill gone, Ioane and Hynes injured. So thats only Quade and Genia left of our test players. That bottom 3 doesn't look to far away folks, although surely we will finish ahead of the Force and the Lions. Er, surely?
allblackfan
Guest
especially with Mils and Sitiveni back for the game
Ora
Guest
The Reds don't stand a chance the Chiefs are going to lift in front of their home crowd and you can gaurantee it will be a near sell out. Being the first home game of the season and the Chiefs on a roll what more can their supporters ask for except a complete demolition of the Reds and to this the Chiefs will deliver.
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
Agreed hammer, although I do believe that the chiefs flatter to deceive.
formeropenside
Guest
His - QC has yet to show up against the Chiefs. A lot of the Benny Hill errors on the internets come from his first Chiefs game, as I recall. My demons all relate to set pieces: scrum and lineout. My ideal game involves watching a succession of tight heads and pushover tries from scrums, together with an aggressive lineout. The only role for the halfback is feeding the scrum, and clearing the ball to the 10 occasionally to kick for territory.
Hammer
Guest
Chiefs by 20 ... fans and pundits are reading far too much into the reds first 2 outings ..
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
"A mature performance from Quade would banish some demons" Yours or his FOS? I have no faith in the poor mans Carlos Spencer...
formeropenside
Guest
This game has the initial look of a disaster for the Reds - and it may well be - but the Chiefs are not flying as high as it appears at a glance. Three wins on the road, and two in SA, but over the troubled Sharks, the less than fully ept Lions, and hapless and injury-plagued Force (and giving up 65 points against the Lions does not speak highly of the Chiefs either). So its not going to be completly one-sided, although Quade Cooper is yet to perform against the Waikato boys where he misspent his youth. A mature performance from Quade would banish some demons. The Reds may even have the edge up front, and hopefully the Reds new back three can tackle as well as run.
formeropenside
Guest
Bugger.
Body By Dunning
Guest
Knee.
Hoy
Roar Guru
What has happened to Digby?
Corvus
Guest
Ioane gone as well. It's going to be a long night.