Queensland’s longest-serving current Red, Greg Holmes, is braced for a Blues scrum assault in a rare front-row start in Saturday night’s Super Rugby semi-final.
Former Wallabies loosehead prop Holmes is expected to win the hotly-contested tighthead role ahead of scrum specialist Guy Shepherdson when Reds coach Ewen McKenzie announces his team on Thursday.
Holmes’s dynamic 74-minute last-start display off the bench against the Chiefs and his greater work-rate around the field is set to see him fill the big boots of injured scrum anchor James Slipper at Suncorp Stadium.
Slipper suffered a high-ankle strain in Hamilton which has exposed Queensland’s set-piece as a bigger target for the more experienced and bigger Blues pack to attack.
All Blacks Keven Mealamu and John Afoa were dominant in the second half of the Reds’ 37-31 win in Brisbane six weeks ago and have since been bolstered by menacing loosehead Charlie Faumuina.
Regular super-sub Holmes on Wednesday admitted he was yet to know McKenzie’s plans but was under no illusions the Aucklanders’ front-row will sense a massive opportunity at scrum time.
“They would be silly if they didn’t,” he told AAP. “We’ve lost Slips, our No.1 tighthead, and they got the better of us in the second half of our last game so it will be an area they will be targeting.
“If we can swing that around in our favour that will go a long way to us winning the game.
“We’ve invested a fair bit of time there and hopefully come the weekend that area shouldn’t be a problem for us.”
Since Ben Daley leapfrogged Holmes as Queensland’s starting loose-head last year, the 70-cap prop, who debuted in 2005, has developed his tighthead play to provide solid bench cover on both sides.
McKenzie has spent the past week trialling Holmes, Shepherdson and rookie Albert Anae in the No.3 position alongside Saia Faingaa and Daley in the front-row.
He kept his cards close to his chest on Wednesday afternoon but conceded Holmes, who played the last of his 13 Tests at the 2007 World Cup, did all he could in the 19-11 win over the Chiefs.
“It’s a big challenge but he’s playing good rugby in both attack and defence,” McKenzie said.
“He’s playing some of the best footy of his career.”
“I’ve got two Wallabies props and one will start and one will come off the bench.”
While the Blues should have the scrum advantage, the Reds have the edge in the lineout with injured lock Anthony Boric (foot) replaced by back-rower Chris Lowrey.
The Blues have also kept the Reds guessing by recalling dangerous winger Rene Ranger from a hamstring injury but bracketing him with goalkicking talent Lachie Munro.
With flanker Beau Robinson returning from injury along with key backs Digby Ioane and Queensland, Liam Gill is set to drop out of the starting 15 but could play off the bench with McKenzie considering a 5-2 forwards-backs split.
Likely Queensland team: Jono Lance, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Radike Samo, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley. Res: James Hanson, Guy Shepherdson, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ian Prior, Dom Shipperley.
jeznez
Guest
TPN, definitely does FOS. Kepu was excellent this year but overall his body shape is not great for a front rower. A bit long in the limb compared to the length of his back, would be better proportioned for scrummaging with shorter arms and legs and a longer back. His long legs mean that at times he can be a bit high at tighthead - lowest he can be is determined by the distance between knees and hip. The best looseheads in the world and I'm really only talking Woodcock, Englishmen and French now (maybe Argentinians) create an opportunity to get under him and drive him up. In Woodcock's absence the best looseheads in the comp have been Robinson and Crockett - neither of which he had to pack against (Robinson is in his team and he played loosehead against the Crusaders). Assuming Slipper comes back from injury well then I cannot see us going past him as the starting Wallaby tighthead.
jeznez
Guest
For scrummaging, Daley v Holmes is not even a question. I too would have Holmes ahead of Daley going into a game where scrummaging is tougherr (would also have Hanson ahead of Faingaa). I'm talking for instance a Super Final vs the Crusaders or an international spot. Daley has been superb with ball in hand, in defence and with his work rate at the breakdown but as Sam says core scrummaging skills are key the higher up the ranks you go. Given Slipper's injury I think the prop selections of Holmes switching to tighthead is the correct one and I hope Daley makes me eat my words! This Tah fan says go Reds!!!!
formeropenside
Guest
and while TPN was fit...I think TPN makes up a large part of the strength of the Tahs scrum.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Kepu has had a very good season at the scrum but I wonder how much that has to do with TPN. When TPN isn’t on the field, Kepu can look suspect. Kepu should start for the wallabies (if fit) but I wonder how much of Slippers performance is to do with having Faainga inside him, who is a great SR player around the park but is arguably one of if not the worst scrumaging hooker in the comp.
Harry
Guest
No Alexander thats for sure. Even if Slipper fully fit I still think he needs a bit more experience before starting tests at 3, I know Kepu is not all that far ahead but I thought he looked very good at 3 for the Tahs this year, their scrum was very solid while he was fit.
jameswm
Guest
fos I think Kepu's been better this year and Slipper has struggled occasionally at scrum time, though he'd have TPN's arm around him which would make a huge difference. I'd go the all NSW front row with Slipper on the bench. Would Alexander be the 4th prop picked in the squad, if they only go for 4? It'd be well balanced - one specialist loose head, one specialist tight head, and two who can play both sides (to the extent that Alexander can play either side at the moment). It would mean any 3 of the 4 could play any match. My next pick at 3 would be Dan Palmer, at 1 would be Daley, and as a both-sider Holmes I guess. I wouldn't let Ma'afu, Shepherdson, Henderson, Blake or Baxter near the squad. I guess by default that leaves Cowan and Weeks in a train-on squad (our 8th and 9th best props).
jameswm
Guest
Holmes has only started playing tight head this season, AFAIK. Definitely an area the Blues will attack and the obvious weakness in the Qld team. It's the only thing that can stop them winning this game and the whole thing, because whoever they play in the final (if they make it) will have come across from SA after a tough match. Would like to see what Anae can do next year. He spent a couple of years in the U20s and was very promising.
formeropenside
Guest
Robinson and Slipper would be my pick, and I'd be happy with Holmes or Kepu on the bench. Alexander has been penalised every time the refs look at him this season, and he seems to have problems with technique on both sides of the scrum.
Harry
Guest
Like the look of that team! Big ask for Lance at the back but he's done well in his two games to date. Would have also preferred Moraghan to Davies on the wing, but hopefully Rocket can provide the X factor with no mistakes. Once again FOS you beat me to it with comments on Greg Holmes - I've always thought he's looked a strong scrummager and I'm sure he won't let anyone down. He stuck with the Reds through the bad so good to see him get a go at the good times. The Wallabies could do worse than having him as the bench prop, assuming Robinson and Kepu are fit to start. Go the Reds!!!
Jiggles
Roar Guru
No surprises in that team. If a couple of the backs go down injured we could be in strife, however the 5-2 split has been serving Link pretty well all year.
formeropenside
Guest
Holmes is in, with a 5-2 split on the bench: Jono Lance, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Radike Samo, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley. Res: James Hanson, Guy Shepherdson, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ian Prior, Will Chambers.
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Jiggles Those dynamic qualities in super rugby were what elevated prop John Afoa to the All Blacks however it his continuing development at his core skills i.e scrummaging which has held him back at earning more test caps and being leapfrogged by the Franks brothers. Reminds me of Mark "Bull" Allen in the mid 1990's, immensely popular with the public, a great sight when running in clear open spaces, but doubts always remained about his scrummaging.
Wawnout
Guest
Don't know about Holmes in front of Daley but you can guarantee Daley will be in front of Genia when he passes him the ball.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Your on the money Jiggles. Holmes has had a bad run with injury for the last two years and it's only this year that he has been relatively free of injury. He is approaching maturity as far as Props go and I think his best rugby is ahead of him. I agree with some that his work rate around the park had been lacking in the past but he has geared up this season and is not too bad. I also agree that he more than holds his own in the set piece on both sides of the scrum.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Holmes does seem to be overlooked by a lot of armchair selectors and I personally wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with him getting picked into the wallaby squad. I personally think he is a better scrumaging LH than Daley, however Daley is just so dynamic around the park he is hard to leave out at SR level. At test level where scrumaging just so much more vital, I would actually have Holmes in front of Daley for a LH spot if it ever came down to the two.
formeropenside
Guest
Holmes has really been underrated this season: the Queensland scrum has looked good when he has been on, either at 1 or 3. He worked over Kepu in a few scrums against NSW when he was at 1, and has held up his side when on 3. He's stuck with Queensland through some hard times; I hope he gets to start and enjoys finals rugby.