Rising Reds star outlines playoff mentality needed for Christchurch cauldron

Harry Wilson has completed training with a heavily-strapped arm as the incumbent Wallabies captain’s tilt to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds’ sudden-death quarter-final strengthened.

In just his second game back from injury, the flanker left the field late in the Reds’ big defeat of the Fijian Drua on Saturday holding the same arm he had fractured earlier this season.

But in confident signs, Wilson was tackling and running freely on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Reds’ departure on Wednesday.

Winger Tim Ryan (ankle) and versatile forward Seru Uru (knee) also trained as Wilson pushed for a return for the clash, likely to be played in near-freezing, wet conditions in Christchurch on Friday night.

Their availability would be a huge boost for Les Kiss’s injury-hit side.

Wilson starred when the Reds snapped a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last year, pouncing on an out-of-form Crusaders team who have since rediscovered their mojo.

They pipped the ACT Brumbies in Canberra last week to snag second place and ensure the fifth-placed Reds travelled across the ditch rather than to the nation’s capital for their must-win game.

Lock Josh Canham said there were ways to ensure the hosts didn’t swallow them up on Friday night.

“We’re up for the challenge,” he said.

“Everyone knows the Crusaders in finals are a force, but the boys showed last year it’s possible to win over there.

“We’ve had a lot of good moments in our games, but fluctuated really poorly in our bad areas.

“Don’t bounce up and down, all games fluctuate, but don’t bounce that far, we’ll be in the game.

“(Flyhalf Tom Lynagh’s) been great this year putting us forwards on the front foot.

“It’s never going to be perfect, but when things don’t go perfect, we don’t put our heads down and go into a shell, we fight our way out of it.”

Canham, 24, doesn’t usually commit energy to analysing his opposite number but admits it’s hard to ignore when that man is the All Blacks captain.

Scott Barrett is the second-row superstar who played a big role in the Crusaders’ run of five consecutive Super Rugby titles on either side of the domesticated 2020-21 seasons.

“I try not to think about my opposition too much, but it’s hard to ignore him,” Canham said.

“It’s his full-round game. Detail around his lineout stuff, his carries, maul work.

“It will be awesome to go against his lineout as well.”

The Reds won’t have Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) to help in the lineout, making the task tougher for the talented Victorian.

Ryan Smith, who will depart for Welsh club Ospreys next season, and Angus Blyth have ensured the depth chart at lock remains strong.