Queensland looks set to take a rare unchanged team into Saturday’s quest to end a six-year drought without three straight Super rugby wins.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie on Wednesday night admitted it would be tough to make personnel adjustments for their clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein following the last-start 50-10 hammering of the Western Force.
Young speedster Rod Davies has returned from a cheekbone fracture to put his hand back up for a place on the wing while lock Adam Byrnes was rotated onto the bench against the Force.
Both were starting incumbents at the beginning of the season but Brando Va’aulu’s form on the wing and Rob Simmons’ run-on debut in the second-row appears to have that pair on a firm footing.
McKenzie, to announce his team on Thursday morning (AEDT), has to decide whether to ease Davies back in through the bench or fully reward his blazing early-season displays.
“These are all discussions we’re having at the moment,” he told AAP. “Rod has missed three weeks but he had done some good things before he got injured.”
With veteran centre Morgan Turinui overlooked for the three-match South African tour, there is a spot on the bench available for Davies.
Vice-captain and flanker Daniel Braid looks to be recovering well from a minor knee ligament strain sustained against the Force on March 14 and should play.
The Cheetahs, last season’s wooden-spooners who have won two of their first five matches in a more promising start to 2010, have injury troubles of their own after losing three starters from their bruising loss to the Stormers.
Fullback Hennie Daniller (kidney), winger Lionel Mapoe (shoulder) and No.8 Frans Viljoen (cheekbone) are all sidelined but they have strong replacements in Riaan Viljoen, Danwel Demas and Springbok tourist Ashley Johnson.
The Reds, who achieved their first back-to-back victories in four years when they beat the Force, are also looking to win three in a row for the first time since 2004 when they ended the season with triumphs over the Sharks, Cats and NSW.
Meantime, Simmons is one of three forwards to have recently recommitted to the Reds beyond this season with lock partner Van Humphries and blind-side flanker Scott Higginbotham.
The in-form Higginbotham will get a major test of his skills against Cheetahs skipper and Springbok flanker Juan Smith who is a pivotal figure for his team.
Cheetahs: Riaan Viljoen, Danwel Demas, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Ashley Johnson, Juan Smith (capt), Hendro Scholtz, Waltie Vermeulen, Nico Breedt, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez. Res: Skipper Badenhorst, Coenie Oosthuizen, Barend Pieterse, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn, Corne Uys, Wilmaure Louw.
Dan in london
Guest
After many years of poor/some unlucky performances by the Reds this year has started well, even with the lose of Barnes to NSW... Usually the Reds start poorly and finish the season strong with a top 4 well in the distance, hopefully this is a sign of things to come!
Justin
Guest
The Sharks have lost 4 matches by 5 points or less and have done their tour of Australasia. Write them off at your peril, they might not be winning but they are a decent side.
Justin
Guest
Why have 2 wingers on the bench? Davies and Chambers can only play that at this level at this time.
chris
Guest
Would have been a better opportunity IMO to give lei tomiki a shot. Let him show the s14 what he can do.
Comrade Bear
Guest
...well Tip the Cheetahs then so the Reds can get another win. For me, this years Reds are very different in that they appear to respond well to extra responsibility and expectation (see Chiefs result). In previous years players may have looked to have left it up to a few (Latham is a good example) to do something to get the job done - whilst they just go through the motions of playing. This year each and every player looks happy to take on the responsibility of their role in acheiving the result. So although we have lost Briad, iHouston V3.0 (the latest fit version who looked good against the Force and really enjoying his game) and Higgs will do their jobs well - allowing Jake to do his. Even if Braid were fit - it would probably be a good game to start developing Jake anyhow.
reds fan
Guest
Gee Braid is a loss. Good opportunity for Jake to step up. The spot is open next year so its all there for him.
Brett McKay
Guest
FOS, Braid's a massive loss, it puts a lot of weight and expectation on the shoulders of Houston, Schatz, and Higginbotham to fill the void... It might be enough for me to tip the Cheetahs, though the Reds have got a shocking habit of biting me no matter which way I tip their games....
formeropenside
Guest
Well, they have been over there for a week now, so hopefully have acclimatised fully. The problem is no Braid - his knee has not quite come good - and a lack of reserve inside back cover, with Lucas covering 9-10-12, so we can only afford to have one of Genia, Cooper and Faingaa injured mid match. QR Reds team (from fullback) to play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday morning (3.10am Queensland time): Peter Hynes, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Anthony Faingaa, Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (c), Leroy Houston, Jake Schatz, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Rob Simmons, Laurie Weeks, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, Adam Byrnes, Ezra Taylor, Ben Lucas, Will Chambers, Rod Davies. If Davies comes on for Va'aulu at some point, thats a seriously speedy backline.
TembaVJ
Roar Guru
The Cheatahs at home at altitude after the trip from Aus is going to be a big ask... I hope they do well, it will be good for Australian rugby if they do.
reds fan
Guest
spot on formeropenside. this is a real test for them. on tour, at altitude for two out of three, but up against very beatable teams. good luck to the boys.
formeropenside
Guest
This SA tour is a big test for the Reds: there are two very winnable games, and the Sharks are in disarray and may also be vulnerable. WInning 3 from 3 on the road would prove the Reds are genuine finals contenders, 2 from 3 still puts them up there, and 1 from 3 or being whitewashed will have the old doubts out once again. Hopefully the recent defections of Weeks and Byrnes (and Kingi, although he is not on tour) will not be too disruptive - thanks again ARU - but this tour is vital to maintaining the Reds renaissance.