David Hill prepares to take on strengthened Reds
James Mortimer - (13/03/2010)
The Queensland Reds, who upset the Chiefs 23-18 last week, will welcome the return of two Wallaby backs, with Digby Ioane and Peter Hynes making their return to the starting XV.
 |
 |
Ioane’s move to the midfield means that former Wallaby Morgan Turinui drops to the bench.
Luke Morahan, who was outstanding at fullback against last year’s runners up, moves back to the wing while Brando Va’aulu holds the left wing position. Morahan scored a cheeky try against the Chiefs last week, chasing down a Daniel Braid kick to outpace Lelia Masaga and Liam Messam to score.
Ewen McKenzie said that despite his sides promising start, they still were looking to improve.
"We don't want to pretend we're doing everything right. We've been competitive and we've had a couple of wins, but we've got to keep trying to improve," McKenzie said to the official Reds website at redsrugby.com.au
"We have a lot of good players, so it's about trying things and giving guys opportunities. Obviously Digby is the incumbent test outside centre and we think, for this match, it's the right way to start the game."
McKenzie also acknowledged the efforts of his two young three quarters last week, who are retained on the wings.
"There's a lot of detail in their (Morahan and Va'aulu) games that a lot of people wouldn't appreciate. We asked them to do a lot of things last week and they did a pretty good job," McKenzie said.
"We've got to recognise that and give them another opportunity."
Young lock Robert Simmons is the only other change to the side, promoted to partner Van Humphries in the second row.
"It's a bit of both. Byrnesy's been doing the hard yards for us since the start and Simmo has been doing a good job off the bench, so we want to give him a chance," Mckenzie said.
"But Byrnes' still there and across the game we'll be using both of them."
Meanwhile the Force welcomes former All Black David Hill into their side. The ex-Chief will play at first-five eighth, and will partner impressive young Wallaby James O’Connor who shifts out to second-five eighth.
Former Wallaby Scott Staniforth also starts on the wing, in what is a solid looking Force backline. Force assistant coach Richard Graham said introduction of the former Chief has made a huge difference to the side.
"I felt so (the bye came at a good time). The introduction of David Hill also came at a good time with no pressure at the end of the week in terms of a game and it gave us an opportunity with injuries and to get ourselves right going forward," Graham said to the Force’s official website at rugbywa.com.au
"Certainly it wouldn’t be a boil over. We've played three games and through circumstance we haven’t got the results we wanted to get. If we got there and won, we would have deserved to."
"He (Hill) has slotted in very comfortably and we certainly haven’t brought him over from Japan to sit on the bench. He will be an integral part of the team this weekend."
"Obviously with his experience at 10 in controlling the team and giving us a bit of guidance and shape around the field. You don’t obviously learn that over night. Whilst James did a very good job in those two games, he's obviously got some way to go if he's going to be a regular No. 10.”
Hill and Force head coach John Mitchell know each other well, with the former Waikato hard man having coached the Japanese and now Perth based first five eighth before.
It will be a crucial match.
The Force are winless, where as the Reds, proven giant killers this year, need to prove they can beat a side when going in as a match favourite.
It is also an interesting head to head, with both sides winning two games each, both in their own backyards. Last year the Force thumped the Reds, winning 39-7 in Perth.
The Reds: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Brando Va’aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (captain), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley. Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Byrnes, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Morgan Turinui, 22 Will Chambers.
The Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 James O’Connor, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 David Hill, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Stanford, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ryan Tyrrell, 1 Nic Henderson. Replacements: 16 Pek Cowan, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Chris O’Young, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Mitch Inman.