Queensland Reds winger Izaia Perese has been named for his first Super Rugby appearance of the year but a host of other injuries has prompted a host of other changes for Saturday night’s showdown with the NSW Waratahs.
After going down with a knee injury in pre-season, Perese is a welcome inclusion on the wing for the Reds.
But they’ve also lost skipper Scott Higginbotham (calf), prop Taniela Tupou (shoulder) and halfback Ben Lucas (concussion) for the SCG clash.
James Slipper will take over the captaincy in Higginbotham’s absence and will be joined in the front-row by South African-born prop Ruan Smith, who makes his run-on debut.
Meanwhile, Caleb Timu will shift to No.8 to cover for Higginbotham with Lukhan Tui to start and blindside flanker and Liam Wright recalled at openside, replacing Adam Korczyk.
“While we’ve lost some guys through injury, we’re also welcoming one back with Izaia starting for the first time this year,” coach Brad Thorn said.
“He’s been cracking in at training, waiting for his chance to get back on the field.
“He’s a guy who offers a bit of strike in attack, so it’s good to have him back.
“We’ve been working hard to develop depth within the squad so that we can cope with these setbacks when they occur. It’s a chance for other players to step up.”
The Reds have made a further four changes on the bench, with Korczyk demoted and prop Sef Fa’agase, flanker Angus Scott-Young and halfback Tate McDermott all back in the squad for the first time since round six.
The two sides haven’t met at the SCG since 1983 and both sides will wear throwback jerseys to mark the occasion, with the Reds set to don the maroon, as they did at home to the Waratahs last season.
Queensland Reds: Aidan Toua, Filipo Daugunu, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jono Lance, James Tuttle, Caleb Timu, Liam Wright, Lukhan Tui, Kane Douglas, Izack Rodda, Ruan Smith, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper (capt). Reserves: Alex Mafi, JP Smith, Sef Fa’agase, Adam Korczyk, Angus Scott-Young, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Jordan Petaia.
Malo
Guest
So tell me how many reds should be in the wallabies. Don’t blame Cheika blame your domestic factories or clubs .
Fin
Guest
Think the reds are a real chance here but if they win if won’t be as pretty as 8 plus tries for the match. I’m thinking 9-7.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Malo - it has nothing to do with his Christianity. Huge numbers of Christians do not feel the same way about the LGBTIQ community as Izzy's comments show he does. I was pleased to read the Hooper article saying that Folau is keeping positive - his messages about persecution indicate he is under a siege mentality, am sure he is doing it tough. I feel bad for him although I am utterly intolerant of his attitude on this. I've a similarly intolerant attitude towards another Christian group the KKK - their bigotry directed at a different group is utterly unacceptable as well.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yeah, how dare people not tolerate intolerance!
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Quick let me find the worlds smallest violin........................
Malo
Guest
Do it for Izzy. The amount of furore for being Christian is ridiculous for a so called tolerant & free society.
Cynical Play
Guest
CS is a fake Tah fan. Havent you worked that out yet?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Sure this Reds side could score 4 tries. Per season.
Malo
Guest
This game use to be packed , but that’s when both sides were great sides that could beat most international sides. Will be great to see Beale / Foleyslice thru Kerevi. Hoops will be best on ground and the Tahs will win by 30 and people will still complain about Foley and Hooper
Akari
Roar Rookie
Are you suggesting there's something wrong with the current one that (I understand) Machooka would refuse to be seen in, Fionn?
Drongo
Guest
Just me and the coach then.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Poor Jake, watching him receiving hospital passes from N.Frisby all SR2016 would kill anyone. I hear he is going alright in France.
Jacko
Guest
Drongo you are the only one saying any of that....oh and Malo of course.....No one else has been using any excuses from the Reds, infact most believe they are a side rebuilding from 6 years of wrongs and the experts say they are going very well for a side with so much youth......but there you go, you read what you want to read, and interpret how you want to interpret I guess
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm looking forward to the match up. Am disappointed that the Reds are missing Tupou as it is very much two completely different coaching philosophies in the pack with brawn v speed on show. I've not been sold on Gibson's plan but the last 2.5 matches have the team on the up. I think this will be a good match up as long as Qld can get their defence fixed back up again having shipped 45 points last week. For most of the season we have seen one team with a tight defence but not many points in them while the other has leaked a lot of points but is scoring plenty as well. Nothing as tasty in the Super season as taking on the old rivals! C'mon the Tahs!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
"Tahs to leak 4 tries....." Interesting, but you have to ask yourself does this Reds team has 4 tries in it?
shooshiner
Guest
Quade is better than Lance and Lucas put together and Stewart is the next Jake Mcintyre. You know it mate.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Interesting back row for the Reds. Big boppers like L.Tui and C.Timu to work in the heavy stuff while both can run the ball hard and fast. They are complemented with the speedy ruck cattledog L.Wright with Angus Scott-Young as back up. The Tahs have a pretty solid backrow also in W.Miller, M.Hooper and M.Wells and Jed Holloway as backup. Looks like a great matchup and ding-dong battle. Where the Tahs should win is the front 5. Their front 3 look more crafty and speedy than the Reds front row. The Tahs lightweight lock combo will either get smashed or run the other mob off the park. R.Simmons will be looking for payback and everyone on the Roar will be cheering for that WB tough guy Ned ( :) ) against the new Simmons (I.Rodda) and ex-Tahs beastie Kane Douglas. I imagine the Tahs will play like they did against the Rebels, run the big boys off their feet on a hot day. The only other match-up that will decide the winner is the centres K.Beale and C.Rona against S.Kerevi and C.Feauai-Sautia. Watching Beale tackle Kerevi on the charge will be worth the admission price alone. LoL Tahs to leak 4 tries but win on the back of a Reds collapse in the last 20 minutes. :)
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Reds have a BIG weakness at halfback which is a shame as they have a HUGE and fast backline (bar A.Toua who isn't a patch on K.Hunt). It can't be too shabby if they can leave out someone like Duncan Paia’aua. I was fine with Brad Thorn telling Quade Cooper to seek employment elsewhere as the Reds have 5/8 covered but halfback is a real problem. J.Lance and H.Stewart at 5/8 are going fine (with DP as emergency reserve) so no real need to bring Quade back, even though many have him as the anointed messiah. Ben Lucas is a fine player but was seen more as a utility once Will Genia arrived at the Reds. The money used up on QC's contract meant there was no loot to entice Will Genia back. Nick Frisby was just a mite too pedestrian and as with J.Tuttle, his passing is too slow with lots are "harbour bridges". IMO the bloke with the best pass in the Reds squad is Moses Sorovi but is pretty small for SR. I can't comment on Tate McDermott as only seen him play at 10 minutes in SR, he also is small but at 19 years old should be able to bulk up another 5-7 kg without losing speed. I remember that the NRC2017 Qld Country side was often Tuttle at #9 and McDermott as reserve so looks like coach Thorn liked what he saw there..
Otara Boy
Guest
George Smith is playing for Brothers this weekend and some say Duncan will make an appearance for Norths, so don't know who to believe.
piru
Roar Rookie
I can't for the life of my figure out why people don't like the Waratahs!