Waratahs recruit Lachie Turner will make his Queensland debut on the wing in a full-strength Reds outfit but he also has one eye on a Super Rugby fullback berth.
First crack at Queensland’s contentious No.15 jersey has gone to injury-plagued Aidan Toua in Saturday night’s pre-season Super Rugby trial against the Chiefs in Toowoomba.
New Reds coach Richard Graham confirmed former Wallabies flyer Turner is also set to receive time at fullback as he looks to add pace and punch to his back three attack.
Both No.15 candidates have suffered nightmare injury runs over the past two years, so first priority for both is nailing backline spots, anywhere, after being rewarded for their pre-season vigour.
“After the last couple of years I’m just excited to play footy,” Turner said.
“Fullback is something I am excited to play if given that opportunity but at the moment my sole concentration is on that first play and nailing the little things the wingers have to do.”
Toua – who has lined up fleetingly at wing, outside centre and fullback in the past three years – was also a stand-out last season for Brisbane club rugby champions Easts.
“Aidan is dynamic and very good on his feet and I’ll be interested to see how he goes in that (fullback) position,” Graham said.
With only two warm-ups scheduled before the February 22 competition opener against the Brumbies, Wallabies tourists Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Liam Gill and Saia Faingaa are all starting but Chris Feauai-Sautia is on the bench.
A try-scorer in both his Test appearances on the wing last year, Feauai-Sautia will get time at outside centre in the second half.
Interestingly, inside centre contender Ben Tapuai will trial at No.13 from kick-off, outside No.12 rival Mike Harris, against the classy Chiefs backline.
Prop Ben Daley will start ahead of Greg Holmes in the front-row in a settled forward pack that is likely to see lock Simmons also spend time in the back-row.
Back-up five-eighth Ben Lucas suffered a pre-season injury rolling his ankle at training to miss the match, but is expected to return to play the Melbourne Rebels on Friday week.
Reds: Aidan Toua, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Mike Harris, Lachie Turner, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, Ben Daley. Res: Greg Holmes, Albert Anae, Jono Owen, Ed O’Donoghue, Blake Enever, Dave McDuling, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Chris Kuridrani, Samuela Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Rod Davies, Jonah Placid.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Haven't seen much of McDulling due to injuries, but people in the know seem to rate him
Jiggles
Roar Guru
First saw Placid play for TGS in the GPS comp against my Alma Mater. He had that aura like Cooper, Pocock and Gill had. You just know they'll be around for a while. He played a bit of Prems for Easts last year and in the games I saw he looked a natural, and to do that at 18 takes some doing. If he has one weakness it'd be choosing when to kick return as opposed to running it. But that being said his running game is sublime and he has that ability to just ghost through gaps you didn't think were there. He's an out and out 15, but some have mentioned he should learn his trade at wing, which is a thought I am starting to agree with.
MARTO
Guest
Yep spot on.... IT`S TIME AIDAN!!
Justin3
Guest
How many teams you follow old boy!!
Chivas
Guest
Hope the reds have a great year, not as good as the Force, Tahs, Chiefs or Blues though. They should all be mature enough now to play together as a solid unit. So there should be no excuses!
Chivas
Guest
Big call Jiggs, schoolboy to World XV. I'll be honest I haven't seen much of him apart from a couple of glimpses in U20, but QLD have a couple of good up and comers. He is a flyer isn't he? Anyway it is always great to see the youngsters getting a run in the squad. Hope he does well and avoids injury for a few seasons at least.
bill
Guest
Thanks Harry. I guess James Hanson is injured too?
Jimbo81
Guest
Haha, reds 11-15 is a joke, right? When are we revealing our marquee signings of Greg Inglis and Matt Gillette in the centres? Have the Reds even spent half their salary cap? That's a first XV backline with quade and Genia bolted on. Not good enough. Mid table finish at best.
Markus
Guest
Is that bench an indication that Albert Anae is finally being considered a hooker first and foremost now? Or is it more an indication that they still have NFI what to do with him? I've heard big wraps on him, but if he's not careful he could follow the path of someone like Jon Ulugia - a talented young frontrower capable of playing both LH prop and hooker, but who floats around the squad for a few years never really surpassing the specialists in either position and then disappears. Scott Sio was initially considered capable at both prop and hooker when he first joined the Brumbies EPS, but has since made the LH spot his own. Anae may need to make a choice soon and stick with it, lest nobody else make it for him.
Argyle
Roar Guru
Who is Jonah Placid?
Justin3
Guest
Big wraps on Toua but he was dreadful in just about every appearance so far, hopeing he might actually show some of this promise soon. What is Placids story Jigs? Harry Shipps has to back himself, he hesitates alarmingly and often. He needs to just back himself and go for it. He appeared confused last year and was clearly thinking too much.
Harry
Guest
Understand he's not yet 100% fit.
bill
Guest
No mention of Anthony Fainga'a ???
Harry
Guest
Good to see McDuling in the squad. Hoping for big things from him, Browning and Blake Enver this year. Schatz and Quirk were good in their first full season last year, but IMO ran out of puff a bit towards the end, particularly after the SA tour. They need support and depth in the back 5 and these 3 can deliver that. Tipping Liam Gill to have a huge year. And also expecting Dom Shipperly to go better this year ... had a case of 2nd season blues last year, but I reckon he will shine this year if he can get put into space.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Toua really needs to perform this year, surely it's about time he lived up to his potential. Great to see Jonah Placid on the bench. That guy will be world XV in a few years.