Reds Super Rugby head coach Nick Stiles has named a team with a number of changes for this Saturday’s match against the Brumbies in Canberra.
In the starting side, the return of prop Sef Fa’agase from a calf injury has prompted a shuffle in the front row. Fa’agase will start at loosehead prop, with Sam Talakai returning to his regular position of tighthead and Taniela Tupou shifted to the reserves.
The only other change to the starting side from last week’s match sees Lachlan Maranta named to make his run-on debut at fullback, in place of Karmichael Hunt who has been ruled out with concussion.
Stiles has also made significant changes to his bench, with hooker Alex Mafi and scrumhalf Moses Sorovi in line to make their Queensland and Super Rugby debuts in place of Andrew Ready and Nick Frisby, who have been left out of the 23 and will play Queensland Premier Rugby this weekend.
Lock Izack Rodda has also been named on the bench in place of Lukhan Tui, after recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the game against the Jaguares.
Stiles said: “I flagged at the end of last week’s game there was a need for change and you can see that in the team we’ve selected to play the Brumbies. We’re really happy with the depth we have in the squad at the moment and the competitiveness it is driving within the group for spots.
“It takes 23 players over 80 minutes to win a game of Rugby and we believe this is the team to get us an outcome this weekend. The players who have been named have been rewarded for their efforts on the training paddock and the field.
“There’s obviously some notable omissions in Nick and Andrew. I had a good chat with them early in the week about their performances in recent weeks and about the expectations of the team as a whole. They’re aware of why they’ve been left out of the team this week and I’m looking forward to seeing how they respond at club level this weekend.”
The Queensland Reds play the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium this Saturday 8 April at 7:45pm. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.
Queensland Reds
1. Sef Fa’agase, 2. Stephen Moore (C) , 3. Sam Talakai , 4. Rob Simmons, 5. Kane Douglas , 6. Adam Korczyk , 7. George Smith, 8. Scott Higginbotham , 9. James Tuttle, 10. Jake McIntyre , 11. Eto Nabuli , 12. Duncan Paia’aua , 13. Samu Kerevi , 14. Chris Kuridrani , 15. Lachlan Maranta (run-on debut)
Replacements : 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Kirwan Sanday, 18. Taniela Tupou , 19. Izack Rodda , 20. Hendrik Tui , 21. Moses Sorovi (potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut), 22. Hamish Stewart (potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 23. Izaia Perese,
