Magnay centre of attention for Reds

REDS centre Campbell Magnay looms as a super-size selection option if Karmichael Hunt is unable to fly to New Zealand to take on the Chiefs.

Fullback Hunt remains in doubt with a knee injury for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash at New Plymouth, having missed training this week.

If the Reds fullback is unavailable, coach Nick Stiles’ options include to start with Magnay at outside centre and Duncan Paia’aua at fullback.

The 195cm Magnay, listed officially as 98kg, would play outside the 108kg inside centre Samu Kerevi.

Big bodies in midfield defence would help the Reds against the Chiefs, who are at their most potent early in a possession with 25 of their 28 tries this year scored within the first three phases.

Magnay, 20, was a replacement for the Reds in their loss to the Waratahs on Saturday after previously playing in a club match for GPS since shoulder and hip surgeries.

The Reds, who have not won an away Super Rugby game since May 2015, take in their luggage to New Plymouth the mantle of having won their past three away matches against the Chiefs.

The most recent of the three encounters was four years ago, when the Reds prevailed 31-23.

“I wasn’t aware of that one,” Reds coach Nick Stiles said.

“There’s some players from the sides (in 2013) still involved – Rob Simmons and Quade Cooper for two, but not a truckload of them. Hopefully we can make it four in a row.

“Sometimes you get teams which match up well against different teams and you can’t explain why.

“We have played some good football against the best teams in the competition.

“We have played two New Zealand sides (this year), the Crusaders and Hurricanes.

“We should have beaten the Crusaders and pushed the Hurricanes for 70 minutes after coming back from a round-the-world trip.

“We head over there feeling we can have a good crack.”

The Reds’ finals chances are still alive, having only one win less than the conferenceleading Brumbies.