Plenty of heart in age-old contest as Reds look to avenge lengthy losing streak
A hungry Queensland is ready to turn the tables and break their Super Rugby drought against bitter rivals NSW, with both sides throwing verbal barbs before Saturday’s clash in Brisbane.
The inaugural Super Rugby AU competition will start with the code’s oldest domestic rivalry.
Yet one thing that won’t be dated is the two teams, with many of the most talented young players in the country set to showcase their skills at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW have dominated Super Rugby combat between the teams, winning the last 11 contests with Queensland last tasting victory in 2013.
Encouragingly for the Reds they did win a pre-season trial against the Waratahs in January and were placed above them when the full Super Rugby competition was suspended in March due to COVID-19.
The @WesternForce are doing everything they can to make sure they're on level-footing with their Australian rivals. #SuperRugbyAUhttps://t.co/4gwTzlT9vk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 2, 2020
They start favourites against NSW, who are fielding a squad where almost half the players are in their first season of senior rugby.
The Waratahs called in former NSW State of Origin League captain Paul Gallen for a pep talk while Reds’ five-eighth James O’Connor said his side didn’t need pumping up, or a reminder about their recent record against the traditional foe.
“There’s a lot of history, we know what’s gone on and I’ve been involved in some of those big losses and it does hurt,” O’Connor said.
“But I feel the tables have turned, we’ve got a great squad and we’ve put the work in.”
Queensland captain Liam Wright said his side were looking forward to “smashing” the New South Welshmen, though Waratahs vice-captain Alex Newsome disregarded the rhetoric from across the border.
“I reckon it’s a bit rich from a mob that drink mid-strength beer mate,” Newsome quipped.
The midfield back was also upbeat despite the Waratahs winning just one of six games in the original Super Rugby season under new coach Rob Penney.
“It’s probably the best preparation we’ve had for a game in recent memory, because we’ve been able to review the start of the year and make changes,” Newsome said.
The tournament opener features many individual match-ups including Wallabies’ utility back O’Connor and highly-rated Waratahs talent Will Harrison at five-eighth.
O’Connor insisted he felt more comfortable at five-eighth than he did when shifted there earlier in the season proper.
“There’s still lots of elements that I’m not world class at yet, but there are elements that I do make my own and I feel like I am helping unlock this team’s ability,” he said.
Meanwhile, numerous law modifications relating to kicking, scrums and the breakdown will be introduced in the tournament.
“The first game is going to set a benchmark and hopefully it will be a good spectacle for the fans,” Newsome said.
– Adrian Warren
Comments on RugbyPass
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
4 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
19 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
27 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to comments