Queensland Reds to target breakdown against Brumbies after naming mobile backrow
Queensland Reds to target breakdown against Brumbies after naming mobile backrow
AAP March 03, 2011 11:57AM
Queensland Reds Coach Ewen McKenzie made it clear he's targeting improvement at the breakdown in naming his side for the Super Rugby match against the Brumbies on Saturday.
After being muscled off the ball in last week's heavy loss to the New South Wales Waratahs, the Reds will give fleet-footed ball scavenger Beau Robinson a starting debut at openside breakaway in a revamped backrow for the Canberra Stadium match.
Boosting his plans for breakdown dominance, McKenzie has also gone with a 5-2 forward-dominated split on the bench.
With skipper James Horwill ruled out by injury, halfback Will Genia takes over the captaincy.
Robinson comes into the backrow with Scott Higginbotham shifting to blindside flanker and Leroy Houston moving to No.8.
Ed Quirk drops to the bench.
The other change to the starting line-up sees versatile Ben Lucas replace injured fullback Peter Hynes.
The bench includes offseason recruit Adam Wallace-Harrison, a lock who played 37 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies, along with 18-year-old flanker Liam Gill, who is in line for his Super Rugby debut.
The other change sees speedy Luke Morahan come in as one of the two back replacements.
"We've had a look at how the game is being played and one of the key factor in the game at the moment is the competition at the breakdown," said McKenzie.
"We are putting more focus on that and that is reflected in the starting team and with the guys coming off the bench."
