Reds aim to channel 1971 heroes as Lions ring changes for Brisbane clash
British and Irish Lions
Finn Russell is the only player retained in the starting XV from the British and Irish Lions tour opener against the Western Force, when the visitors take on the Reds on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
The Queensland Reds will be out to emulate their 1971 vintage that upset the British and Irish Lions when the teams do battle in Brisbane on Wednesday (kick-off 12.00pm).
Legend has it that Willie John McBride’s side were exhausted after a flight from London that went via Frankfurt, Tehran, Delhi and Hong Kong, where they reportedly enjoyed a long night on the lash. McBride famously said of the tour opener, which the Reds won 15–11: “I know I was on the field, but whether I played or not is debatable.”
Things have changed a wee bit since those amateur days — just a tad — and it is highly unlikely that Andy Farrell’s finely tuned professionals will be upset by a Reds side that includes several players currently training with the Wallabies squad.
Still, they are expected to be more competitive than the Western Force, who collapsed in the second half to lose 54–7 in the opening match.
For a start, the Queenslanders are coached by Les Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies head coach after the Lions series. Kiss has enjoyed success with a Reds side that recently reached the Super Rugby semi-finals, and he has persuaded Schmidt to release several fringe Wallabies for the match.
Captain and fullback Jock Campbell heads a list of Test hopefuls. Hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami are also pushing for Test selection, while first-Test contenders Seru Uru (flank) and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (lock) return from injury with everything to play for.
Campbell, centre Josh Flook, lock Josh Canham and Aidan Ross — the former All Blacks prop who qualifies for the Wallabies next week — also have a point to prove.
For the Lions, Farrell has made 14 changes from the tour opener as he tests combinations ahead of the first Test on July 19. Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell is the sole survivor from last week’s starting XV and will partner Irish scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park in what promises to be a thrilling half-back pairing.
The Reds are expecting the Lions to play expansively, as they did in Perth. Assistant coach Jonathan Fisher noted: “The game’s changing up there.
"The days of kicking and chasing and hoping for good outcomes at the set piece, from a northern hemisphere team, are very much a thing of the past.
“There’s a generation of players and coaches who are forward-thinking, progressive in the way they attack and use the ball,” Fisher added. “The quality of player up north—the width and speed of pass, vision, and appreciation of space ... it’s an exciting prospect.”
Teams
Reds starting XV: 15 Jock Campbell (captain), 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Joe Brial, 7 John Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross; Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Angus Blyth, 21 Connor Vest, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Isaac Henry
British and Irish Lions starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (capt), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose