A hungry Queensland is ready to turn the tables and break their Super Rugby drought against bitter rivals NSW, with both sides throwing verbal barbs before tonight’s clash in Brisbane.
The inaugural Super Rugby AU competition will start with the code’s oldest domestic rivalry.
Yet one thing that won’t be dated is the two teams, with many of the most talented young players in the country set to showcase their skills at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW have dominated Super Rugby combat between the teams, winning the last 11 contests with Queensland last tasting victory in 2013.
Encouragingly for the Reds they did win a pre-season trial against the Waratahs in January and were placed above them when the full Super Rugby competition was suspended in March due to COVID-19.
They start favourites against NSW, who are fielding a squad where almost half the players are in their first season of senior rugby.
The Waratahs called in former NSW State of Origin League captain Paul Gallen for a pep talk while Reds’ five-eighth James O’Connor said his side didn’t need pumping up, or a reminder about their recent record against the traditional foe.
“There’s a lot of history, we know what’s gone on and I’ve been involved In some of those big losses and it does hurt,” O’Connor said.
“But I feel the tables have turned, we’ve got a great squad and we’ve put the work in.”
Queensland captain Liam Wright said his side were looking forward to “smashing” the New South Welshmen, though Waratahs vice-captain Alex Newsome disregarded the rhetoric from across the border.
“I reckon it’s a bit rich from a mob that drink mid-strength beer mate,” Newsome quipped.
The midfield back was also upbeat despite the Waratahs winning just one of six games in the original Super Rugby season under new coach Rob Penney.
“It’s probably the best preparation we’ve had for a game in recent memory, because we’ve been able to review the start of the year and make changes,” Newsome said.
The tournament opener features many individual match-ups including Wallabies’ utility back O’Connor and highly-rated Waratahs talent Will Harrison at five-eighth.
O’Connor insisted he felt more comfortable at five-eighth than he did when shifted there earlier in the season proper.
“There’s still lots of elements that I’m not world class at yet, but there are elements that I do make my own and I feel like I am helping unlock this team’s ability,” he said.
Meanwhile, numerous law modifications relating to kicking, scrums and the breakdown will be introduced in the tournament.
“The first game is going to set a benchmark and hopefully it will be a good spectacle for the fans,” Newsome said.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Agreed there Mitch. Redback was a great beer. As for XXXX, slops from the tap was tastier. :silly:
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Qld lost their only chance of a known beer when Henry Speight left. :silly:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
That's impressive work at short notice Paul. Enjoy a beer?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Eaaah. I thought it was Saturday. Gonna move a meeting and clear the decks right now.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
That’s the only good thing going for that pronunciation
Double Agent
Guest
I loved Redback. Haven't seen it for years.
Double Agent
Guest
I pronounce it the way it's supposed to be pronounced. Like in the Midnight Oil song.
Double Agent
Guest
Six of those Tah wallabies are well past their prime. Well past.
Double Agent
Guest
Food??? Pffft. Lightweight.
Jacko
Guest
I was thinking the same thing. I think the average of both teams would be interesting to compare...
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I first encountered this at a cricket test in Kandy. Genius. Gilly stepped up to replace a hobbled Punter and made a quality ton batting at 3. In front of a crowd in the hundreds. Merv leading a drunken tour group was the only thing to suggest I was at a test match. Was at the local fancy secondary school and the crowd doubled when school finished and the kids were allowed in for free. It was surreal.
Jacko
Guest
Peter "On paper" there is 5 or is it 6 Wallabies in the Reds team and 10 or 11 in the Tahs team and the average age of the Tahs was around 4 years older...and not older as in 32+ but older as in 27...Lets look at the subs as well to further dampen your "on paper' arguement. Tahs had far more experienced team and far more Wallabies so that takes some great imagination to call the Reds better on paper...
Jacko
Guest
Rueben Thorne?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
. If I grew up in Germany or the Czech Republic I wouldn’t be conditioned to the shite :laughing: You're a glass half full (of shite) kinda guy, Mitch.
Don
Roar Rookie
A few of my mates know Moses and Jacob well. I was living in Sydney when the boys were coming through the club.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Just as PeterK listed above. The only way to compare is number for number of the 15 that played. Out of a combined team I would only have 5 Tahs. 1, 5 (because sticking to my rules I cannot have ones out of number, even though Rodda and Simmons are both filling the same role), 7, 10 and 15. 5 Tahs, 10 Reds. Reds had the best team on the day.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
How is it not Tupou V Kepu? It is best Tighthead in one vs best Tighthead in the other. There is no other logical way to compare the relative strengths of the teams.
numpty
Roar Rookie
not in my opinion. There is about 5-6 walk ins from both teams and the rest could go either way. Tahs walk ins - Beale, Foley, Phipps, Simmons, Hooper. Reds walk ins - Kerevi, Naivalu, Tupou, Rodda, LSL.
MitchO
Guest
RedBack wheat beer from Little Creatures in WA was a favourite of mine. Those guys sold for a lot of money and the beer ended up being brewed in the East and largely stopped being available on tap over here. Evil buggers. A mate from Berlin said "You guys don't appreciate how good this is". I actually consider myself lucky to have grown up with the shite Aussie beers like Emu Export coz it means I can still drink them although I too prefer Coopers etc. If I grew up in Germany or the Czech Republic I wouldn't be conditioned to the shite.
Matt
Guest
The changed the article word has it 4 Bledisloe tests to be played. OCT 10 th 17 th NZ. NOV 1st 8 th Australia