Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie says he feels like he’s playing a game of snakes and ladders as he battles to deal with the Reds’ growing Super Rugby injury toll.
McKenzie has made five changes to the run-on side for Saturday night’s clash with the Western Force in Perth, with outside centre Joel Rapana named for his Queensland debut against his former side.
Flanker Liam Gill has been promoted for a daunting tussle against star Wallaby David Pocock, while hooker James Hanson, prop James Slipper and lock Van Humphries are the other fresh faces.
Radike Samo was the biggest casualty from last week’s 61-8 mauling at the hands of the Bulls, with the Wallabies flanker replaced by Eddie Quirk on the bench.
Queensland have tried to retain some sort of continuity in their backline, with Rapana’s inclusion for the injured Jono Lance (broken leg) the only change.
But McKenzie admits it’s been hard to develop combinations following a glut of injuries in the backline, with the loss of five-eighth options Quade Cooper (knee), Mike Harris (hamstring) and Ben Lucas (hamstring) particularly damaging.
“There’s a reality there that a dozen players aren’t available … but there’s no point offering it up as an excuse,” McKenzie said in Perth on Wednesday.
“It’s the reality of the competition.
“But we are unfortunately getting them in the same positions.
“Every half a game, you seem to be trying to develop a new combination either on the field or for the next game.
“It is frustrating because your training time should be about taking your team further rather than starting again.
“So it’s been a bit like a game of snakes and ladders in some respects.
“The silly part is in three weeks time, we’re probably going to get five or six players coming back. We’ll have too many players in some positions.”
McKenzie backed the ability of 19-year-old Gill and his fellow back-rowers to nullify the influence of Pocock, who has established himself as the game’s best breakdown scavenger.
The championship-winning coach was also confident Lance would not be overawed by the occasion of returning to his former stomping ground.
“He’s 25, so a bit more mature and been around this level before,” McKenzie said.
“I’ve been impressed by him. He’s very cool and a nice guy. He suits us as a team.”
With back-to-back losses, the Reds have slipped to eighth overall on the table, and second to the Brumbies in the Australian conference.
But McKenzie has paid little attention to the points tally.
“I don’t spend any time looking at the table. I couldn’t even tell you where we’re sitting on the table or in the conference,” McKenzie said.
“I like to wait until the round-10 mark. That gives you a better idea of what’s going on, because everyone would have had a bye.”
The Force name their squad on Thursday, with backs Cameron Shepherd and Pat Dellit in the mix to return from injury.
Queensland Reds: Rod Davies, Dom Shipperley, Joel Rapana, Ben Tapuai, Luke Morahan, Dallan Murphy, Will Genia, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (capt), Van Humphries, James Slipper, James Hanson, Ben Daley. Res: Albert Anae, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, Eddie Quirk, Beau Robinson, Nick Frisby, Nathan Eyres-Brown.
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