Hamish runs on for Reds
TEENAGE Bond University flyhalf Hamish Stewart’s Queensland Reds promotion ahead of exiled Quade Cooper is just part of a revolution bigger than any one player, says veteran George Smith.
Injuries to stand-in skipper James Slipper (collarbone) and No.10 Jono Lance (concussion) have forced coach Brad Thorn to drastically shuffle his pack for the clash with the Lions in Brisbane tomorrow.
Recovering well from December back surgery, flanker Smith will start for the first time this season as Stewart, 19, and winger Jordan Petaia, 18, earn run-on Super Rugby debuts.
Smith has been impressed by Stewart’s booming boot and physicality, labelling him a potential long-term prospect at No.10. His rise is another nail in the coffin of former Wallabies playmaker Cooper, who has been wiped from coach Thorn’s plans.
But Smith said it was too simplistic to dwell on Cooper’s omission as the club endured widespread change.
“I’ve spoken to Quade and we speak about normal things rather than football ... that conversation (about his Reds snubbing) has already been determined by Brad,” Smith said.
“Is it a new era? If you look across our team there’s a number of new players, so you could say it is but not in terms of Quade.
“There’s a list of players who aren’t in the team from last season and that’s the way things develop in time.”
The Reds will have 11 players aged 21 or less in the squad to play the Lions, while their squad’s average age of 24 is the youngest in Super Rugby.
First-choice skipper Scott Higginbotham (calf) remains on the sidelines, making 37year-old Smith’s return crucial. In-form centre Samu Kerevi will assume the captaincy.