Speight one of five new faces in Reds team
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallabies wing Henry Speight is one five players in line to debut for the Queensland Reds against his former team, the Brumbies, in Friday’s Super Rugby season opener in Canberra.
Twenty-year-old loose forward Harry Wilson has been named to start at No.8, while Dane Zander (20), Seru Uru (23) and Hunter Paisami (20) could also make their first appearances after being named on the bench.
Isaac Lucas (20) has been handed the playmaker role after strong form for the youthful Reds in their two good trial wins over the Melbourne Rebels and the Waratahs.
Friday’s match will also be the first Super Rugby game as Reds captain for Liam Wright.
A veteran of 19 Tests, Speight played 40 minutes in the win over the Waratahs in Dalby last week and is part of an unchanged backline which includes the experienced James O’Connor partnering young gun Jordan Petaia in the centres.
Reds: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Isaac Lucas, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Liam Wright (captain), 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Hunter Paisami.
Date: Friday, January 31
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.15 (18.15 AEST; 08.15 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
