'Next generation' Super stars on show
Playmaker Ben Lucas will captain a strong Queensland Reds side wanting to maintain their mid-season momentum in Friday's exhibition match against the Hurricanes at Stockland Stadium Sunshine Coast.
Lucas headlines a strong 23-man squad which includes 10 contracted Reds players, two extended playing squad members, six national academy representatives and an array of Queensland Premier Rugby's best talent.
"It means a lot every time you wear the Reds jersey so it's a huge honour to be chosen as captain for our clash on the Sunshine Coast," Lucas said.
"We're treating the fixture as an important part of our campaign and the Hurricanes, who are one of the inform teams in the competition right now, will offer the sort of challenge we are after before Super Rugby starts back up in a fortnight.
"It's important we maintain the momentum we built prior to the mid-season break by coming away from the Sunshine Coast with a win."
Lucas, who re-signed with Queensland for a further two seasons earlier in the year, has been selected at scrumhalf as part of a backline which also includes fellow 2012 Wallabies train-on squad member Luke Morahan at fullback.
The pair will be joined later in the match when the electric Dom Shipperley is injected into the encounter from the bench.
Twenty-one-year-old Jake Schatz has been announced as vice-captain and will feature at blindside flanker in an all-Reds back row which also includes popular cult figure Radike Samo at No.8 and Eddie Quirk at openside.
Up front props Greg Holmes and Guy Shepherdson will pack down alongside hooker James Hanson to provide plenty of impact in a forward pack which features seven contracted Reds players with Adam Wallace-Harrison at lock.
EPS flyhalf Dallan Murphy earns selection in the No.10 jersey as part of a backline that includes older brother Damon Murphy on the wing.
The remainder of the backline is made up of Queensland Premier Rugby flyers with Nathaniel Gendle and Rex Tapuai, brother of Reds dynamo Ben, in the centres and Shane Seiulu on the wing.
Wallabies squad member Dom Shipperley headlines an eight-man bench made up of EPS prop Kevin Davies and Queensland Premier Rugby's Mitchell Wade, Ruan Smith, Nigel Ah Wong, Matthew Blain, Joel Rapana and Scott Malolua.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said the match would be a perfect hit-out for his squad and an opportunity to unearth the next generation of talent.
"First and foremost, we are going to the Sunshine Coast with the mindset that the match is crucial to maintaining cohesion and fitness during the mid-season break before we head into the business end of the Super Rugby season," McKenzie said.
"But it's also an opportunity for us to take a look at some of the best Queensland Premier Rugby talent on offer and to see how they handle the next level.
"We're also excited about taking the game to the Sunshine Coast, where we have a growing supporter base and many loyal members and fans."
The trans-Tasman affair will serve as the perfect tune-up for the Reds who will be looking to maintain recent top form during the June Test window before embarking on their three remaining regular season Super Rugby games.
Following the Test window, the Reds will face three crucial matches against the Rebels, Highlanders and Waratahs as they continue their bid to overtake current Australian Conference leaders, the Brumbies, and qualify for the finals.
Teams:
Queensland Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Damon Murphy, 13 Rex Tapuai, 12 Nathaniel Gendle, 11 Lachlan Creighton, 10 Dallan Murphy, 9 Ben Lucas (captain), 8 Radike Samo, 7 Eddie Quirk, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 James Hanson, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Mitchell Wade, 17 Kevin Davis, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Nigel Ah Wong, 20 Matthew Blain, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Joel Rapana, 23 Dom Shipperley.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Richard Buckman/Waisake Naholo, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Mike Coman (captain), 7 Jack Lam, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Mark Reddish, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles/David Hall, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen/Tristan Moran, 18 Faifili Levave/Jeremy Thrush, 19 Ardie Savea, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 TJ Perenara.
Date: Friday, June 15
Venue: Stockland Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Kick-off: 18.00 AEST (20.00 NZ; 08.00 GMT)
Referee: Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia), Matt O'Brien (Australia)
