Fit-again Reds prop Ben Daley can only marvel at opposite number Sona Taumalolo’s Super Rugby try-scoring feats which should have him kicked out of the front-rowers’ union.
While hard-working Daley makes a welcome return from a hamstring injury for Sunday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium, Taumalolo is also back in the Chiefs pack and eying his eighth try of the season for the competition front-runners.
The 30-year-old Tongan international is the second leading try-scorer in 2012 – on a list that otherwise features speedy outside backs – with a remarkable 70 per cent hit-rate.
“I’m a little bit jealous actually,” Daley said on Friday. “You always like to get across the line but I’ve only been across the tryline once in my (44-game) career.
“Seven tries is a great effort and that shows what they’re about with their pick-and-drive game close to the line.”
Although the Chiefs boast a lethal backline containing Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and Lelia Masaga, it is Taumalolo’s deadly ability to burrow over which rival teams find hardest to stop.
Daley stressed it was crucial the Reds had speed off the defensive line to prevent the Chiefs getting in Taumalolo’s red-zone in what is a must-win encounter for the defending champions.
“They’re all big guys and they all feed off each other with their roll-on so we need to make sure we’re moving quickly off the line,” he said.
While Queensland have made just one change to their starting 15 which fell 15-11 to the Crusaders, the Chiefs have made five changes after having the luxury of rotating players and resting key forwards Liam Messam and Brodie Retallick for their ninth straight win last weekend against the Lions.
Daley replaces Greg Holmes at loose-head after some scrum turbulence in Christchurch while flanker Beau Robinson has made a speedy return from an ankle injury to displace out-of-form Wallabies cult hero Radike Samo on the bench.
For only the second time this season Queensland will field the same starting backline in a major boost to their hopes of an upset in front of a 40,000-strong crowd.
Queensland: Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Anthony Faingaa, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Will Genia; Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, James Slipper, James Hanson, Ben Daley. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Beau Robinson, Eddie Quirk, Nick Frisby, Rod Davies.
Chiefs: Andrew Horrell, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Brendon Leonard; Alex Bradley, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (capt), Ben Tameifuna, Mahonri Schwalger, Arizona Taumalolo. Res: Hika Elliot, Toby Smith, Kane Thompson, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Jackson Willison, Robbie Robinson.
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