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Reds hit by major personnel blow on eve of Super Rugby
By AAP
Star playmaker James O’Connor and coach Brad Thorn are in isolation after a second COVID-19 outbreak swept through Queensland Reds camp on the eve of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
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Jordan Petaia and Jock Campbell were also missing from Saturday’s trial match loss to the Western Force in Brisbane after exhibiting symptoms.
They’ll all struggle to feature in next week’s last pre-season fixture against the NSW Waratahs in Roma ahead of a February 19 season start.
More than half the squad was missing when pre-season training resumed last month and the latest cases caused havoc to Thorn’s plans.
Usually a winger or fullback, Campbell was set start in the No.10 at Ballymore while it was also a chance to experiment with backline sensation Petaia at fullback, where many pundits believe he’ll find his feet ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
The Force, who will begin the season based on the east coast because of Western Australia’s border limitations, were impressiv e in a 42-33 win.
Former Reds star Izack Rodda was a looming presence in the first half and winger Toni Pulu scored two early tries.
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The Reds hit back with a second-half double to hooker Josh Nasser and led 33-21, before the Force scored the game’s last three tries.
Tom Lynagh, the teenage son of former Wallabies great Michael, was confident in his first outing for Queensland since moving from England.
He straightened up the Reds’ attack when injected at five-eighth in the second half, involving his backs and kicking with composure in a tantalising performance.
Fringe Wallabies backrowers Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson also looked sharp as they split minutes for the Reds, while former Brumbies playmaker Reesjan Pasitoa was busy in the No.10 for the Force.
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Well Mark Reason has a reason to jump up and down as he's a Crusader and Scott Robertson Fan through and through.
Go to commentsAll sounds wonderful ... except when they trialled it in England (below sternum) it was a disaster Remember these are the same people who introduced the new tackle protocols which "ruined" pro rugby with an avalanche of yellow/red cards. Every game seems to be influenced by them. They became the main talking points (instead of the rugby) ... all of this, and yet the concussion rate has decreased not at all. The whole thing has been a waste of time.... AlI agree for the need to change and greater safety - indeed "doing nothing is not an option" but let's do something sensefull instead! The armpit/sternum could be workable. Somehow you have to be able to grab an opposing player around the torso, or it's not rugby imo But it needs to be trialled properly and later rolled out properly. Unfortunately the game must rely on the RFU to do that job....
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