McKenzie mixes up the Reds
Reds openside flank Liam Gill earns his second starting opportunity of 2012, while outside back Joel Rapana will make his Queensland provincial debut at outside centre in Saturday’s Round Six Super Rugby clash against the Western Force in Perth.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has made five personnel changes to the starting XV, following the team’s humiliating 8-61 loss to the Bulls – with hooker James Hanson, prop James Slipper and lock Van Humphries joining Gill and Rapana as the new faces.
McKenzie has also made two changes to the bench, with hooker Albert Anae coming in for the injured Saia Faingaa and flank Eddie Quirk for Radike Samo.
Gill earned his previous starting opportunity against the Melbourne Rebels in Round Three, while wider training squad and Queensland Premier Rugby talent Rapana will make his Queensland provincial debut a week after joining the squad in South After as a replacement for the injury-struck Reds backline.
Rapana, 25, has previously featured at Super Rugby level when making his debut for the Western Force against the Hurricanes in 2010 and represented Queensland A in their final two games of the 2012 Pacific Rugby Cup tournament earlier this year.
Rapana replaces injured centre Jono Lance (broken leg) in an otherwise unchanged backline which includes vice-captain Will Genia at scrumhalf and extended playing squad member Dallan Murphy at flyhalf.
There was no room for Australian Academy inside back Sam Lane, a former Western Province player and Stormers squad member, despite the utility back flying to Perth this week.
“One of the main areas we are focusing on this week is being competitive at the breakdown and this has been reflected in our selection of Gill and the combination of Beau and Eddie on the bench,” McKenzie said.
“A long-term injury to Jono gives Joel his opportunity and we like what we have seen from him during the short period of time he has spent with the team so far.
“Joel joined the squad in South Africa on relatively short notice but has prototypical size for an outside centre and is a strong defender, so we’re interested to see what he can bring.”
McKenzie said the team was looking forward to the Force encounter after last week’s disappointing loss to the Bulls.
“The best thing about Rugby is you get to play another match a week later and it’s now an opportunity for the team to atone for the loss and move forward,” he said.
“We reviewed the loss just hours after the game to ensure everyone had a unified purpose and vision about where we wanted to be this week and at this point I’ve been impressed with the attitude of the group.”
Centre Rapana said he was looking forward to the opportunity.
“It has all come about quickly and it’s something I never would have predicted a few weeks ago but I’m excited about the chance and can’t wait to play on Saturday,” Rapana said.
“All the guys have been great with getting me up to speed so the weekend’s game can’t come quick enough now.”
Following Saturday’s match against the Force, the Queensland Reds will return to Suncorp Stadium on Friday, April 6, to play the Brumbies.
Queensland Reds: 15 Rod Davies, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Joel Rapana, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Luke Morahan, 10 Dallan Murphy, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Van Humphries, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Eddie Quirk, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Nathan Eyres-Brown.
Date: Saturday, March 31
Venue: nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18:40 WAST (20:40 AEST; 10.40 GMT).
Referee: Garratt Williamson * (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
