Reds playmaker Digby Ioane will celebrate his his 50th game for Queensland when he returns from suspension at outside centre in the team’s round ten Super Rugby clash against the Blues on Friday.
Ioane makes a timely return from a five-week suspension and is one of two Wallaby backline figures returning to the match day 22, with centre Anthony Faingaa recovering from a foot injury and earning himself a place on the bench.
In the forwards, Adam Wallace-Harrison and Eddie Quirk were named on the bench in place of injured lock Van Humphries and backrower Radike Samo.
Coach Ewen McKenzie will employ the same backrow strategy he applied against the Brumbies several weeks ago, whereby flankers Liam Gill and Beau Robinson commence the game in tandem before Quirk is injected later in the game. The inclusion of Gill and Robinson pushes Scott Higginbotham to No.8.
In the backline, flyhalf Ben Lucas will start the game in the number 10 jersey after playing 76 minutes at the position last week, following the early loss of Sam Lane.
Reds
1. Ben Daley, 2. James Hanson, 3. James Slipper, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. James Horwill (c), 6. Beau Robinson, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 9. Will Genia (vc), 10. Ben Lucas, 11. Rod Davies, 12. Mike Harris, 13. Digby Ioane, 14. Dom Shipperley, 15. Luke Morahan.
Replacements: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Eddie Quirk, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Anthony Faingaa.
