Eddie plays a numbers game
Eddie plays a numbers game
Thursday, February 15, 2007
c/o Rugby Heaven
Queensland Reds coach Eddie Jones is keeping his cards close to his chest by failing to name his starting team for Saturday night's Super 14 local derby against the Brumbies.
Jones today announced a 23-man Reds squad for the round three encounter at Suncorp Stadium.
He will keep the Brumbies guessing right until kick-off and said the numbers his players would wear wouldn't necessarily match up with their positions.
The Reds are set to have two changes to the side which started in the 33-22 loss to the Crusaders.
Lock Ed O'Donoghue is likely to make his starting debut in place of the injured Hugh McMeniman while inside centre Lloyd Johansson's position is under threat.
Winger Peter Hynes has been training at No.12 but Jones would only nominate him as a contender along with Johansson and rookie Charlie Fetoai.
Reserve lock Cameron Treloar moves in to the squad as a likely reserve after recovering from a quad muscle strain.
Former Queenslander Adam Wallace-Harrison has been promoted to the Brumbies' pack for the match.
Wallace-Harrison, who toured Europe with the Wallabies in November 2005, is one of three changes to the starting side which fell to a last-gasp 17-15 loss to the Blues last weekend.
Captain Stirling Mortlock has been named, as expected, at outside centre pending results of tests following his opening-round concussion suffered against the Chiefs.
Winger Mark Gerrard, who played 75 minutes off the bench against the Blues, also returns to the starting XV in place of the injured Peter Playford.
Wallace-Harrison, who started at blindside flanker in two matches last season, today said he was looking forward to returning to the Brumbies back-row following the loss of Julian Salvi (knee).
"I played a bit of six and eight last year in what was one of my better seasons,'' he said.
"I enjoy the freedom and the chance to get my hands on the ball. It also gives me a license to get around the park a bit more.''
The 200cm-tall Wallace-Harrison, a fine lineout technician, left Brisbane for the Brumbies in 2004 after two injury-riddled seasons and is one of five former Reds in the Brumbies starting side.
"The Reds have strung together two strong performances and we know they'll be tough in Brisbane,'' he said.
Reds squad - Forwards: John Roes (capt), Rodney Blake, Mitchell Chapman, Ben Coutts, David Croft, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, James Horwill, Tom McVerry, Stephen Moore, Ed O'Donoghue, Cam Treloar. Backs: Berrick Barnes, Nic Berry, Quade Cooper, Charlie Fetoai, Will Genia, Peter Hynes, Lloyd Johansson, Clinton Schifcofske, Ben Tune, Brando Va'alu, Henari Veratau. (one to be omitted)
AAP
