Push for Reds to maintain the rage
A RE- ENERGISED Nick Frisby and the Reds must match the desperation of the imperilled Melbourne Rebels or the selection axe will be swung again.
Soft or stupid will not be traits that are tolerated by Reds boss Nick Stiles because tomorrow night is a visit to the final alcove of the last chance saloon in Melbourne.
It’s verging on ridiculous that the Reds, with their 2- 8 win- loss record, are still a shot at topping the stagnant Australian Conference but a fivewin run home would deliver it.
Wallaby halfback Frisby is a key figure because four matches out of the starting side should mean he sets the example for urgent, hungry performance.
Stiles bluntly made the point yesterday that he’d look sourly on non- performers with inferior intensity to Rebels players who may have no club to play for next year.
“They’ve come under more heat than anyone else, all the speculation from the media this week is they’re gone,” Stiles said. “They’ll be a desperate team that comes out and plays for their life.
“It shouldn’t just be them doing that because the reality is we should do the same to win and stay alive in the conference.
“If I don’t see a committed and desperate performance from our guys, you start to make changes.”
The Rebels are under the pump with speculation a buyout from the Australian Rugby Union would shut them down.
The proud group will be formidable because Wallaby Sean McMahon, their abrasive talisman, returns on the bench as back- row impact for his first game of the season.