Liam Gill v Ed Quirk - Head-to-Head

If there was one fellow backrower in Super Rugby who knew Liam Gill’s wacky field goal was coming last month, it was his former amigo Ed Quirk, the ginger ninja who will try to ruffle him at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday.

During his Reds days, Quirk would join Gill and Jake Schatz in field goal potting competitions at Ballymore training as an adjunct to their strong bond on the paddock and off it.

Playing in the same Reds and Australian Sevens sides together growing up gave Quirk, 24, a rapid read on how good Gill would become as one of the competition’s master pilferers and a flanker with uncanny timing at the breakdown.

Tonight for the Sunwolves, Quirk’s impact will be one of the fascinating features of the new Japanese team that has won fans around the competition for their attacking style and plucky performances when outgunned for size by bigger South African opponents.

He made his own debut for the Reds in 2010 when then-coach Ewen McKenzie liked the bit of mongrel about him. His versatility was also tapped early in 2011 as a 19-year-old openside flanker against David Pocock and Phil Waugh in the formative part of his 39-game stint in Super Rugby for his home state.

Gill was still 18 early in 2011 but learning the tricks of the trade every week. Gill’s penchant for rapidly latching onto a freshly tackled player, ripping for the ball and triggering a “failed to release” penalty is his bread-and-butter. He is a momentum stopper but also a momentum trigger for his own side with a good link play or dart.

A redhead may have had a shaky grip on the vote in Australia in February 2013, but ranga-power ruled for the 35,000 devoted backers who elected Quirk man-of-the-match on his finest night at Suncorp Stadium.

His smashing 35m run through four NSW Waratahs defenders was a vintage game-breaker for a 25-17 win. Too few of those runs was a confounding reason why he plateaued at the Reds plus the knee injury that wouldn’t seem to heal last year when he was diligently rehabbing on the sidelines at training for months...and months.

“I decided on a new challenge with Japanese rugby on the front foot Rugby-wise after the World Cup,” Quirk said of heading to the Sunwolves.

“We come from many backgrounds but that’s the good thing about it. We have gelled amazingly and I’m absolutely stoked to be part of learning the Japan way. “We’re all here for one reason because we can play Rugby.”

Quirk has played in all 10 games for the Sunwolves. His workrate of 92 tackles, 48 ball carries and 12 breakdown turnovers has been part of the bedrock of the team and his two turnovers were crucial in the team’s breakthrough 36-28 win over the Jaguares. Today, the Reds would do well to take the warning from the team’s mantra for Super Rugby.

“We’re here to compete not participate. We’re not here to muck around,” Quirk said.

As ever, the boy from Capalaba is never far away for the one-time ambassador of Meatcart butchers.

You could easily adapt the butchers’ slogan to apply to Quirk: “Quality meat with an old-fashioned service.” That’s red meat, of course