Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Brad Thorn assigns Wallabies special task in Reds' season-opener

By AAP
Hunter Paisami. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire)

Hunter Paisami and Fraser McReight have been ordered to provide the late-game muscle for the Queensland Reds after the Wallabies pair were curious bench selections for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific opener.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wallabies regular Paisami, who had Covid-19 last week, dominated at centre for the Reds last season while backrower McReight was player of the Super Rugby AU final.

They’ll have to wait for their chance against the Melbourne Rebels though, with Josh Flook and Hamish Stewart in the midfield and Harry Wilson, Angus Scott-Young and Liam Wright to start in the backrow.

Video Spacer

The Aotearoa Rugby is back for another season of action.

Video Spacer

The Aotearoa Rugby is back for another season of action.

“Fraser’s got an important role when he gets on, as well as Hunter,” coach Brad Thorn said.

“It’s competitive, that’s where the team needs to be, that’s where it is.”

“He had a week away with Covid, he’s coming back in from a pretty good year last year, playing outstanding rugby for the Wallabies, this is good for him.”

Wright said the finishers would add the final touches that were sometimes missing last season.

“It gives us that ability to keep the foot on the throat,” he said.

The Reds on Thursday celebrated the addition of Westpac as the men’s and women’s new front of jersey partner until 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related

The deal includes a $100,000 commitment to local sporting clubs in Queensland through Westpac’s Footy Grants program while the company will donate $500 to the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service in Queensland for every try scored by the men’s and women’s teams in 2022.

The announcement comes after the sod-turning at Ballymore’s $30 million National Rugby Training Centre earlier in the week.

Many of the state’s retired greats, including four former Wallabies captains, will play in a charity curtain raiser to Saturday’s clash raising money for the UNICEF Australia Tongan Recovery Appeal.

– Murray Wenzel

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England No8 Sarah Beckett banned after leg-breaking croc roll tackle England No8 Sarah Beckett banned after leg-breaking croc roll tackle
Search