Reds name side for Crusaders
The QR Reds have named three uncapped players on the bench for Friday night's Investec Super 14 match against the Crusaders, after losing seven key players to injury.
They've also switched Quade Cooper to fullback to cover for the loss of regular fullback Mark McLinden, with scrumhalf Ben Lucas reverting to his previous club role as a flyhalf.
Along with McLinden (knee), QR Reds coach Phil Mooney said captain James Horwill (ankle), backline general Berrick Barnes (groin), centre Digby Ioane (shoulder) and Poutasi Luafutu (hand) were all ruled out and will be left behind when the team flies out for Christchurch Thursday morning.
The Reds had already lost scrumhalf Will Genia (hand) and wing Peter Hynes (knee), also as a result of injuries sustained in last Saturday's loss to the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.
QAS Reds Academy scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin will add to his three caps by starting at scrumhalf, while uncapped fellow Academy half Richard Kingi has been named on the bench alongside uncapped Academy back Ben Tapuai and uncapped flanker Andrew Shaw, the son of former Queensland and Wallaby captain Tony Shaw.
The other back reserve is 2004-5 Australian Sevens and Queensland A wing Anthony Sauer, who won a cap for Queensland in 2005 against New Zealand A at Ballymore.
Mooney said no decision had yet been made on who would replace openside flanker Luafutu, who wanted to play despite having a fractured hand, but who was finally ruled out at the end of tonight’s training session when he was unable to use his hand properly to tackle or pass the ball.
A choice will be made between Shaw and fellow reserve forward Scott Higginbotham on who will wear the No 7 jersey after the team has had its final run in Christchurch tomorrow (Thursday).
Selectors also took the opportunity to reshuffle the forward pack, bringing recently re-signed loosehead prop Ben Daley back into the starting lineup, switching No 8 Ezra Taylor to blindside flanker and promoting No 8 Leroy Houston off the bench.
"Ben Daley has trained very well and has been champing at the bit for another opportunity after playing well for us in his three starting appearances earlier in the year, so we've decided to give him that chance," Mooney said.
"As far as the backrow is concerned, we know the Crusaders are a physical side and we're expecting inclement weather, so we feel this is the best backrow for the opposition and the conditions."
Wallaby prop Greg Holmes was named on the bench, as was lock Robert Simmons who came off the bench for the Reds' two games in South Africa at the start of the season.
With five key backs ruled out through injury, wing Rod Davies and centres Anthony Faingaa and Charlie Fetoai get a rare opportunity to start a match.
"It's an opportunity for the guys we've selected, so they're certainly approaching it with a lot of energy and real desire to take that opportunity," Mooney said.
"Of the new guys on the bench: Richard Kingi came to Invercargill with us (as reserve for the match against the Highlanders) so he's a player who's familiar with our systems; Ben Tapuai has been a standout for the Gold Coast Breakers and is in our Academy so it's a reward for his form and Ant Sauer has played Australian Sevens and has been a member of the Brothers side for many years now so he's an experienced footballer."
Hooker Sean Hardman, who last week became the Reds most capped player (135 caps), will take over the captaincy in the absence of Horwill and Barnes.
The team is:
- Ben Daley (Gold Coast)
- Sean Hardman (Brothers) (c)
- Laurie Weeks (University)
- Van Humphries (Souths)
- Adam Byrnes (University)
- Ezra Taylor (University)
- TBA
- Leroy Houston (Norths)
- Brendan McKibbin (Brothers)
- Ben Lucas (Sunnybank)
- Rodney Davies (GPS)
- Anthony Faingaa (Souths)
- Charlie Fetoai (Sunnybank)
- Brando Va’aulu (University)
- Quade Cooper (Souths)
- Saia Faingaa (Souths)
- Greg Holmes (Sunnybank)
- Robert Simmons (Sunnybank)
- Scott Higginbotham (Wests) / Andrew Shaw (Brothers)
- Richard Kingi (Sunnybank)
- Ben Tapuai (Gold Coast Breakers)
- Anthony Sauer (Brothers)
