The Queensland Reds have made six changes to the starting side for the important home ground challenge against the Highlanders on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Head coach Les Kiss is upbeat that the revised line-up has the strikepower and focus to produce a positive result in the Round 9 clash in Super Rugby Pacific.
Losing Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott to suspension as well as Seru Uru and Josh Flook to injury has forced changes.
Hardworking Irishman Cormac Daly wins his first starting role in place of Uru. Jordan Petaia comes in off the wing to fill the outside centre role vacated by Flook which means an avenue for in-form Mac Grealy to start on the wing.
Kalani Thomas replaces McDermott at halfback and young backrower John Bryant’s six-game initiation from the bench is the invaluable experience he will take into replacing McReight at flanker.
Flyhalf Tom Lynagh and former All Blacks prop Alex Hodgman have also been elevated to the starting side for Friday night.
“The opportunity in this now is to give more exposure to players who were playing off the bench and other players in the program to step up as well,” Kiss said.
“We had a massive surge at the beginning of the year. There was a great expectation that we put on ourselves, and we met that. Now, there’s a different expectation about how we respond to it. It’s a part of the journey.
“There’s one Vo Rogue front-runner in this competition and that’s the Hurricanes. The other teams are within striking distance down to the last three.
“It’s a tight challenge in that mid-table.”
Kiss said the call on the depth of the squad was strong justification for the Queensland Rugby Union to continue to expand the playing opportunities for the Reds.
“We have a valued link with Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights. We have organised a game in July against Wales and a tour to Europe in January-February next year,” Kiss said.
“We are seeing benefit from the games we have already organised and our Development XV games. Those in the future will continue to give opportunities to players to develop and strengthen their skills.”
On the bench, backrower Joe Brial has a potential Reds debut awaiting him.
The strong-running Brial scored a try in the pre-season trial against the Western Force and is coming off back-to-back 80-minute games for his club University of Queensland.
“I’ve really been working hard to nail my role, skill set and being a hard defender to beat. I’m really keen to show I deserve to be there,” Brial said.
Halfback Louis Werchon made his Reds debut last November against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights. He will get the chance to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench.
Friday 19 April Suncorp Stadium
7:35pm AEST
Watch live on Stan Sport
1. Alex Hodgman – Sunnybank – Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland – Suburbs Rugby Football Club, Auckland
2. Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar School – USQ Saints
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths - Wellington College, NZ
4. Cormac Daly – Ul Riada, Ireland – North Kildare/Kilcock GAA, Ireland
5. Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
6. Liam Wright (c) – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School - Easts
7. John Bryant - Souths - St Laurence’s College - Souths
8. Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland – Ipswich Grammar School - Souths
10. Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland – Epsom College, England – Richmond Rugby Club
11. Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Downlands College – Souths Toowoomba
12. Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland
13. Jordan Petaia - Wests - Brisbane State High School
14. Suliasi Vunivalu – Wests – Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
15. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders
16. Josh Nasser – University of Queensland – St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace-Easts
17. Peni Ravai – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji
18. Sef Fa’agase – Sunnybank – Shailer Park State High School – Beaudesert Warriors
19. Angus Blyth – Bond University – The Southport School – Casuarina Beach Rugby Club
20. Joe Brial* – University of Queensland – Scots College – Easts, Sydney
21. Louis Werchon** – Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Maroochydore Swans
22. Lawson Creighton - Brothers - Padua College
23. Tim Ryan – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
*Potential Queensland Reds debut
** Potential Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut
