Brad Thorn's challenge to his Reds squad ahead of Super Rugby AU final re-match
The Brumbies say they will beat Queensland up front, but Reds coach Brad Thorn is challenging his star-studded backline to live up to its rich potential in a bid to cause a boilover in Saturday night’s Super Rugby AU showdown in Canberra.
It is the 2020 grand-final rematch featuring the competition’s only two unbeaten sides this campaign but the Reds remain clear underdogs at the Brumbies’ GIO Stadium fortress.
Queensland have not won in Canberra in seven years, while the Brumbies have lost just one of 19 against all comers in the national capital since 2019.
“Set piece is going to win it for us,” Brumbies winger Andy Muirhead said on Friday.
“They’re quite a physical team and we know what to expect when they come down here.
“We’ve been training pretty physically for the past two months so we’re very well prepared for a tough physical game on the weekend against a big side.”
Thorn knows nothing less than the Reds’ best will suffice to get the competition points to keep pace with the early-season table-toppers.
“It’s a very important game against last year’s champions,” he said.
“We know they’re a tough team, we know they’re playing really good footy and we’re just looking forward to that challenge.
“From our end, we haven’t been happy with where we’re at.
“Just our error rate – unforced errors – and we’re looking to getting our game in better space and we get a chance against a really good opposition to do that.”
Thorn has applied the blow torch to his highly-rated test midfield pairing of Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami.
The Highlanders know what they are going to get when they square off against the Blues on Sunday, and they have a player who could help counter their opponents' threat. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/uwECRGZBzJ
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He wants to see more improvement in both players’ kicking and passing games to complement their powerhouse running.
Throw in classy playmaker James O’Connor, 2020 Wallabies debutants Filipo Daugunu and Tate McDermott, and code-hopping star Suliasi Vunivalu and the Reds’ backline boasts some serious strike power.
Thorn, though, scoffed at suggestions his 2021 line-up was already among the most dynamic backlines he had been involved with, pointing out he had played with the great Brisbane Broncos outfit of the 1990s and then the mighty Crusaders and All Blacks.
“I’ve been in some pretty good sides,” he said.
“You look at (Steve) Renouf, Alf (Langer) and Kev (Walters at the Broncos).
“I’ve been fortunate to play with Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
“So I wouldn’t get too carrried away there … You can have names on paper but it’s how they work together.
“There’s some specimens there, with Jordy, Hunter and Filipo. Suli is continuing his learning and this will be another step, and that centre combination we saw a touch of in the Test series.
“So we’ll keep pretty grounded there, let’s see some actions around how we play because like I said we haven’t been happy.”
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments