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'It's a change-up': Reds boss Brad Thorn relishing COVID-enforced stay away from home

By AAP
(Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images)

Table-topping Queensland feel swapping Cape Town for Coogee could work in their favour as they prepare to take on Melbourne in their Super Rugby AU clash at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

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The Reds travelled to Melbourne on Thursday night from Sydney, where they’ve spent the week after being forced to stay on following their win over the Waratahs after Brisbane was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak.

With South Africa no longer part of the Super Rugby competition and the long-haul trips that came with it, Reds coach Brad Thorn said his team were embracing some time together on the road.

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James O’Connor speaks to media ahead of Rebels clash

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James O’Connor speaks to media ahead of Rebels clash

“It’s not the end of the world to be stuck at Coogee, it’s a nice spot, it’s a change-up,” Thorn said on Thursday.

“With Super Rugby AU it’s not like normal Super Rugby where you go to Africa for a couple of weeks – that used to be a challenging trip but it was also a good bonding time for the team so in a way it’s been a positive thing.”

The Reds can at least travel home after the match after the Brisbane lockdown was lifted and will host the Brumbies Saturday week.

Queensland will be without star winger Suliasi Vunivalu in a blow for their attack given the ex-Melbourne Storm flyer knows AAMI Park intimately after his years with the NRL premiers.

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Suffering a hamstring injury, Thorn expected him to be sidelined for up to three weeks.

In their last clash, the Reds pipped the Rebels by two points, with five-eighth Matt Toomua missing a penalty kick after regulation time to win it for the visitors

Thorn acknowledged that the Rebels had improved since that round two meeting.

“It’s always a tough contest – we saw they were buoyed to be finally back at home playing and they will be excited about that,” Thorn said.

“They have improved as we see them as a really big challenge and we’re going to have to be on our game to go down there and get the result that they want.”

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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.

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