Josh Nasser set for milestone as Reds pick and stick for Brumbies

Wallabies rake Josh Nasser will bring up the 50-game milestone for the Queensland Reds in this weekend’s clash with the ACT Brumbies, with coach Les Kiss naming an unchanged side after the Super Round defeat to the Blues.

Beauden Barrett kicked the winning points for the Blues as they claimed a hard-fought extra-time win over the Queenslanders at Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium. The Reds sit in sixth place on the ladder with a handful of rounds left in the regular season.

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been retained at fly-half, linking up with one-Test Wallaby Kalani Thomas in the halves. Flying Fijian Ben Volavola will again come off the pine, with Louis Werchon providing cover at scrum-half.

But the story of the week for the Reds is the selection of Nasser on the bench. The seven-season Super Rugby veteran will again provide impact for the Reds, while Toowoomba Grammar product Matt Faessler lays down a marker in the run-on side.

Faessler starts at hooker, packing down Wallabies duo of Aidan Ross and Zane Nonggorr. Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia Loto round out the tight five as the two locks, while coach Kiss has gone with a familiar backrow trio.

Joe Brial has been retained at blindside flanker, with Reds skipper Fraser McReight leading the side from openside. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson is the other starting forward, wearing the No. 8 jersey once again.

Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook will combine in the midfield, with Isaac Henry not named in the matchday 23. Instead, Volavola and Treyvon Pritchard will provide impact off the pine, with the Reds naming a 5-3 split.

Tim ‘The Junkyard Dog’ Ryan and Filipo Daugunu are the wingers, while Jock Campbell completes the First XV at fullback.

“The Brumbies are always tough for us. We had a good result in Canberra earlier in the year. It was a fantastic game and we don’t expect anything different on Saturday,” Kiss said.

“They are a tricky opposition. They have a good set piece, they have a good territory game and you have to be very good around the breakdown.

“We were gutted to lose in Christchurch last weekend. We look at the areas we can improve on but I also look at what we did well.

“These players don’t give up. They have an appetite to keep playing and there was also some tremendous defence late in the game.

“We know there is more in us and the players work hard and challenge themselves each week to keep our level of play rising as we feel it is.

“We’ve got a bench that makes things happen for us. Well done to Josh on approaching his 50th game because he has been a part of that in recent weeks.”

The Reds completed a remarkable comeback against the Brumbies earlier this season, with Carter Gordon the hero in the thriller at GIO Stadium.

Queensland Reds to take on ACT Brumbies

1. Aidan Ross – Bond University – Otumoetai College, NZ – Te Puke Sports

2. Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar – USQ Saints

3. Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – The Southport School – Gold Coast Eagles

4. Seru Uru – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli RC, Fiji

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – Souths – John Edmondson HS, Sydney – Southern Districts, Sydney

6. Joe Brial – University of Queensland – Scots College – Easts, Sydney

7. Fraser McReight (c) – Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies

8. Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils

9. Kalani Thomas – Souths – Ipswich Grammar – Souths

10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Wests – Brisbane Boys’ College – Gunnedah Red Devils

11. Tim Ryan – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe

12. Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland – Manukau Rovers

13. Josh Flook – Brothers – Nudgee College – Brothers

14. Filipo Daugunu – Sunnybank – Dogotuki District School, Fiji

15. Jock Campbell – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders

16. Josh Nasser – University of Queensland – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Easts

17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – Norths – Wellington College, NZ

18. Nick Bloomfield – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School – Easts

19. Hamish Muller – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar – USQ Saints

20. Vaiuta Latu – Brothers – St Peters Lutheran College – Pine Rivers Pumas

21. Louis Werchon – Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Maroochydore Swans

22. Ben Volavola – Sunnybank – Newington College – Seaforth Raiders, Sydney

23. Treyvon Pritchard – Brothers – Anglican Church Grammar School – Springfield Hawks