Reds looking for a 'winning' horse
The Reds, who haven’t beaten the Bulls in Pretoria in more than a decade, appear to still have a major hangover from Super Rugby’s biggest blow-out – a 3-92 loss at Loftus Versfeld in 2007.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie this week – as his team stepped up preparations for their encounter with the Bulls on Saturday – spoke of the need to find that winning formula, which has evaded them in Pretoria since their 29-19 triumph at Loftus back in April 2001.
All their subsequent visits to the home of the Bulls have resulted in big defeats, most notably the embarrassing record loss of 2007. And in all the other matches in Pretoria, since their last win, they have coughed up more than 30 points.
To make matters worse, the injury-riddled Reds team is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Sharks last week.
The Queensland outfit is determined not to post back-to-back Super Rugby losses for the first time since their last ‘streak’ of more than one defeat came in May 2010 – when they lost 12-32 to the Brumbies and 21-44 to the Hurricanes on successive Saturdays.
The Reds went through their triumphant 2011 campaign without incurring successive defeats and are keen to keep that streak going after last week’s 22-27 loss in Durban.
“What we’ve done well in the last year in particular was when we had a loss we got straight back on the horse and won,” McKenzie told AAP.
“You don’t want to have back to back losses, the competition is too tight to be doing that, so we’re very keen to get back to winning ways.”
The Bulls are also coming off a last-start loss, though they had the bye last week.
“They will be sitting there worrying about whether they are going to win or not, that will be in the back of their minds,” McKenzie said.
While Loftus Versfeld has a reputation for being one of the more intimating venues in world rugby, McKenzie relishes the confrontational atmosphere.
“I quite enjoy the experience, I think it’s a really good challenge from a coaching point of view,” McKenzie said.
“We’re really looking forward to it. The enthusiasm in the squad has been great, they’ve trained really well.”
Reds playmaker Dallan Murphy will receive his first Super Rugby starting XV opportunity, after being selected at flyhalf.
Murphy, 23, will earn his second Super Rugby cap, after he made his debut as a replacement in the Reds Round 18 contest against the Chiefs in 2011.
The youngster said he was looking forward to the challenge.
“The Bulls are a formidable opponent but I’m excited about the opportunity I’ve been given and believe the familiarity I’ve had with being in the Reds setup since 2010 will put me in good stead,” Murphy said.
