James O’Connor will assume chief playmaking duties for Queensland, with incumbent No.10 Isaac Lucas dropped to the Reds’ bench to play the Lions in Johannesburg.
Lucas, 20, had shown promise at five-eighth in two Super Rugby pre-season wins and a close round-one loss to the Brumbies.
But he will be used as a finisher against the big-bodied Lions, with O’Connor shifting from inside centre and utility back Hamish Stewart recalled at No.12 for Sunday morning’s clash (12:05am).
» Full Super Rugby team for Round 2
Wallabies lock Izack Rodda will also earn his first start of the season after an off-season slowed by minor ankle surgery, while Alex Mafi will begin at hooker with Brandon Paenga-Amosa (ankle) out for up to eight weeks.
It will be O’Connor’s second start at No.10 for Queensland after calling the shots in his 2015 Reds debut and an ideal platform to push his case for a Wallabies berth in a position that remains up for grabs under new national coach Dave Rennie.
O’Connor played at No.12 in Friday’s loss in Canberra but finished at No.10 as the Reds coughed up a 10-point halftime lead to lose 27-24.
Thorn indicated O’Connor and Lucas might be in and out of the No.10 jersey at different stages of the season in a horses-for-courses approach.
“We just want to have a look at him (O’Connor) and we also think Isaac can really bring something in that last 30, 20 minutes as well,” the coach said.
“We’re pleased with both James and Isaac; they’re just playing different roles this week and I’d say you’ll see some stuff this season, sometimes playing different spots there.
“We’re looking forward to James having a shot there and working with Hamish and also what Isaac can bring (off the bench).”
In a brutal three-week road trip to start the season, the Queensland outfit will move on to Argentina the following weekend to play the Jaguares, who thumped the Lions last weekend at home.
“Around the world trip; no other sport really does it, let alone a contact sport,” Thorn said.
“So, if you can get a victory on this trip, you can call that a success.”
Queensland: Bryce Hegarty, Jock Campbell, Jordan Petaia, Hamish Stewart, Henry Speight, James O’Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright, Angus Scott-Young, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, JP Smith. Res: Sean Farrell, Dane Zander, Josh Nasser, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Moses Sorovi, Isaac Lucas, Hunter Paisami.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey Jacko, See that's what I mean - when those strong emotions of yours run away with your, well it just ends up as a mess don't it. Thorn brings in a whole heap of youngsters ? Where did he bring them from exactly ??
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Aw gee Jacko I'm surprised a cosmopolitan fella such as yourself wouldn't reckognise ken in the lowercase as Scottish for knowledge or understanding. There are lands beyond the long white cloud you know ;)
Jacko
Guest
That does not surprise...Would love to know what your "Ken" is tho
Jacko
Guest
RO we all know that your hate for Brad is deep and radical. The kind of hate that transcends all reason and logic. If the forward pack was that good and the team had QC then why did they win 5 games in 2014...4 in 2015...3 in 2016 and 4 in 2017........Then Thorn comes in.....brings in a whole bunch of youngsters who are only now in their very early 20s and still wins 6 in 2018 and 6 in 2019.....And according to you as many other Thorn haters dropped the best 10 in Aus if not the world in achieving this increase of results.....
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Jacko we all know that your love for Brad is deep and pure. The kind of love that transcends all reason and logic. BUT if you put the rose colured glasses aside for a moment and consider things objectively it's not too hard to realise that the Reds have fielded a pretty good pack since Styles was forward coach at the least.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Well if there's a point in there it's beyond my ken.
Jacko
Guest
Done Comments without knowledge is just the noise of ignorance……You have no idea what his strategy is so why come up with such useless quotes? I have heard that Lucas is pretty sore from the Brumbies game so they decided to use him from the bench this week…..That seems to be a reasonable strategy to me…..
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Jacko, If you can find time could you try re-posting your last in a coherent form, that would be great.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I have heard that Lucas pulled up very sore after last weeks game so the coaching staff are using him off the bench this week in an effort to keep him fresher Well if that's the case why did he give substantially different reasons for doing it? He said that he's done it to look at JOC at 10 and Stewart at 12. Plus the usual coach-BS about "finishers" - does anyone seriously buy that line about finishers and super-subs anymore?
Jacko
Guest
Gary I have heard that Lucas pulled up very sore after last weeks game so the coaching staff are using him off the bench this week in an effort to keep him fresher for the Arg game and the rest of the season and that does not sound like a Goon coach thing or a Numbskull thing....It doesnt sound desperate and it doesnt look like a player has been dismissed after 1 game but if you know better then apply for the coaching role instead of big noting yourself on here with no facts.....
Jacko
Guest
Comments without knowledge is just the noise of ignorance......You have no idea what his strategy is so why come up with such useless quotes? I have heard that Lucas is pretty sore from the Brumbies game so they decided to use him from the bench this week.....That seems to be a reasonable strategy to me.....
Jacko
Guest
Azza only 1 forward is over 23 and a lot are either 20, 21,22 so its interesting that you think they have been going well for 3-4 years...I dont recall all those 16 & 17 yos that were playing but hey if you do thats great...
Jacko
Guest
Scott you are just talking rubbish...When has Thorn stated he has dropped a player because they missed a tackle? More Thorn hatred with no knowledge...
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
But Thorn hasn't said anything to that effect has he?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Too much of a test for my memory, young Train!
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah if it’s a grinder maybe Stewart isn’t such a bad move
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
True but JOC is handy and v. experienced.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Cooper-Tapuai-Fainga'a backline got plenty of credit but I thought Cooper-Fainga'a-Chambers in 2010 was even better tbh
Gav
Guest
" Faaingaa was underrated. The perfect foil for Cooper. " Unfortunately for Hamish he doesn't have a quality playmaking 10 like Cooper at his disposal.
Scott
Guest
But Thorn hates guys who miss tackles.Probably why he demoted a great young 10 as he missed a tackle. FFS Thorn let the kid miss tackles, he is there at 10 to provide spark for the team, not to have a 100% tackle success rate.