AWOL props dropped as Reds coach lays down the law
BRAD Thorn has dumped prop twins JP and Ruan Smith from Queensland’s key clash in Tokyo tomorrow as punishment for going AWOL from a Reds training session.
The hardline approach is completely in keeping with the standards the Queensland coach wants to impose to drag Reds rugby out of four seasons of failure. The Smith brothers were conspicuous absentees from the reserves to face Japan’s Sunwolves when the team was announced yesterday.
Thorn has admirably made it harder for his team to win to make the point on standards because standout scrummager JP Smith has been replaced by 19-year-old Harry Hoopert.
The Reds’ official comment that the twins “were not considered for selection after the pair missed training commitments early in the bye week” was sparse on detail.
Both missed a morning training session at Ballymore on April 30, the day before a squad-wide six-day break for the recent bye week.
In addition, JP missed a recovery session following his excellent performance in the 27-22 upset of the Lions. Ruan did not appear in an April 29 game for GPS after Reds HQ had slated him to play to keep up his fitness.
GPS coach Anthony Mathison shed extra light: “My understanding from Ruan was of a pre-existing family engagement so we moved on.”
Thorn’s stance is significant when the Reds’ slide to the doldrums in the 2004-09 period was too rarely stemmed by such strong action.
In 2004, halfback Josh Valentine was merely benched by then-coach Jeff Miller because he turned up unfit for training after a drinking bout.
Jono Lance is back at flyhalf for the Reds who have swung young Bond University player Hamish Stewart to fullback as reward for his strong showing against the Lions.