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Kiss urges Reds not to get ahead of themselves dreaming of win over Kiwis

By AAP
Tate McDermott of the Reds looks on during the round eight Super Rugby Pacific match between Moana Pasifika and Queensland Reds at Apia Park National Stadium, on April 14, 2023, in Apia, Samoa. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Queensland coach Les Kiss doesn’t want his troops to put any extra emphasis on achieving an early Super Rugby Pacific win against a New Zealand side when they face the Hurricanes.

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Instead, he simply wants them to tidy some loose ends from an already impressive thumping of the NSW Waratahs last weekend when they battle their trans-Tasman foes in Melbourne.

The Hurricanes hit Super Round fresh from a thrashing of their own, easily accounting for the Western Force in a six-try 44-14 shellacking.

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Quizzed about the psychology of beating a New Zealand team early in the season, Kiss implored the Reds not to look at the bigger picture.

“Psychologically, it’s just important we do the right things this week,” he said.

“There were some things to work on with the Waratahs. They troubled us a few times and a big focus is in making sure we get some of those things right.

“It’s a dangerous ‘Canes team coming to Melbourne that was impressive, massively impressive, against the Force.

“They were organised and deadly off the ball, turnovers were deadly.”

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But it won’t be exactly the same Hurricanes side the Reds are dealing with.

Forwards Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders are out injured, though star halfback Cam Roigard has been named for his first start of the season.

Kiss has named Jock Campbell on a wing in place of Mac Grealy, with the former shuffled down the key spine positions behind five-eighth Tom Lynagh and fullback Jordan Petaia.

“In the friendlies he was going great guns, been fantastic in training, is a leader in his own right,” Kiss said.

“I just think his form has warranted a start.

“He missed out last week and was just a true professional, got his job done.

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“(Grealy) doesn’t like being dropped but I just needed to make sure that Jock got some game time as well while he’s in this vein of form.”

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J
Jon 8 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

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