Injured Queensland five-eighth Quade Cooper expects the Reds to adopt a take no prisoners attitude and test out the Waratahs’ inexperienced wingers in Saturday’s opening-round Super Rugby clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Reds started their 2011 campaign with a crushing away loss to NSW in Sydney and Cooper believed Queensland would adopt an uncompromising attitude and ration their razzle-dazzle moments this weekend to avoid a similar result.
He said that game had been a wake-up call and an embarrassment.
“I’m sure the mindset the boys bring into this game will be take no prisoners, come down here and do everything we can to go away with the win,” Cooper told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
“That doesn’t mean we come down here and play necessarily flash football to entertain the crowd here. It’s about getting the win.”
Cooper, who is recuperating from a serious knee injury, resumed running last week and said he pulled up well after a 1.5km run on Monday.
He was confident his replacement Mike Harris could handle the demands of the five-eighth position and said he had given the New Zealander some advice.
“I’ve been speaking to him pretty regularly, just more about positional play like game planning,” Cooper said.
“Hopefully giving him as many tips as possible, but you never want to give someone too many tips and tread on their toes because he has his own ideas.”
Cooper said Harris, who has played mostly at inside centre for Queensland, would have plenty of support and wouldn’t have to carry an undue load.
He said halfback Will Genia, lock Rob Simmons and winger Digby Ioane would all step up to help Harris.
“He (Harris) is confident in his ability as are we as a team – everybody is behind him,” Cooper said.
Harris and Genia could well direct a lot of their tactical kicking to an inexperienced Waratahs back three, which is likely to include young wingers Tom Kingston and Brackin Karauria-Henry.
“It has to be an area that you’d like to target with them being such a young back three,” Cooper said.
“But at the same time, they are very talented players, so you don’t want to give them ball too easy and give them a chance to counter attack because they are all skilful players.
Injured Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell said while he expected ball to come the way of the young NSW backs, he thought they would be fine after getting an early touch.
He said he had sat down with the young backs and shown them some clips from the Waratahs trial matches and given them some advice.
“For young guys, it’s to keep things pretty simple,” Mitchell said.
“The moment you start thinking about too much then you are not going to have any focus on the moment.
“Just to really enjoy it as well and not get out there and be overawed by the situation or the occasion.”
jeznez
Roar Guru
If he lets in a try then he'll score and/or create three. Sarel, what a great New South Welshman!
johnny-boy
Guest
Reds will be out to exploit Pretorius' defence, or lack thereof :)
mace 22
Guest
Crusaders vs blues. Reds vs warratahs. Bring it on can't wait. Pick of the week force to win.
jeznez
Roar Guru
So hard to pick first round winners. Head is saying Reds and heart is saying Tahs. If I try to break the squads down then the Tahs have the much better front row, while the Reds second row dominates. Tight five is a fairly even split with the Tahs likely to dominate the scrum and the Reds perhaps shading the lineout. Backrow is close to even as well with Robinson and Higgers shading their opponents and Palu stronger than Schatz (although that is based on two year old form - hopefully his body holds together). Genia and Harris is a nice pairing for the Reds but Pretorius is something special and Hangers should be alright, centres won't give too much away to each other either with Tapuai shading Carter and Horne (hopefully not breaking down either) shading Faingaa. The wings are clearly to the Reds advantage and full back depends on how AAC plays, if he plays to his best he'll be stronger than Morahan but who knows if he will. All in all I see a fairly even battle between the starting fifteen, the Reds however have a clear advantage on the bench. Only Fitzpatrick would mount a clear case for inclusion over their opposites which could spell trouble for the Tahs. Anyway enough of an attempt at even handedness. C'mon you Tahs destroy those "lucky premiers" from north of the Tweed.
MikeG
Roar Rookie
Mumm starting, Hangers capt and #10??? Reds by a thousand
Hoy
Roar Guru
Is it odd Halangahu is captain? He is only just in the team because Barnes isn't. Odd choice I would have thought.
formeropenside
Guest
Wasn't Dean Mumm captain for a while last year - or the one before? He's playing in the second row, isn't he?
Klein Jannie
Guest
What depth, Daniel will try hard, but wont ignite the backline. Not looking too flash for Tahs I'm afraid, underachieving yet again??? They got a good half from the Republic, now recruit a flyhalf and inside centre, but not this season. Injuries and lack of depth will cruel their chances, already are.
Harry
Guest
They must rate F'Sautia very highly if he gets to travel with the team. Great looking side. Go the Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Tidy Team - nothing to whinge about if we lose.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
For the Waratahs, Barnes out with a groin strain. Halangahu captain. About as inspiring as a wet sponge.
formeropenside
Guest
Well, Marto got it wrong, deliberately or otherwise: 1. Ben Daley 2. James Hanson 3. James Slipper 4. Rob Simmons 5. James Horwill (c) 6. Scott Higginbotham 7. Beau Robinson 8. Jake Schatz 9. Will Genia (vc) 10. Mike Harris 11. Digby Ioane 12. Ben Tapuai 13. Anthony Faingaa 14. Dom Shipperley 15. Luke Morahan 16. Albert Anae 17. Greg Holmes 18. Van Humphries 19. Liam Gill 20. Radike Samo 21. Ben Lucas 22. Jono Lance 23rd man – Chris F’Sautia Barnes out for the Tahs, apparently.