Ioane at centre of attention

RIEKO Ioane’s freakish try- power has been reassigned to inside centre where the Queensland Reds must tonight hatch a plan to muzzle the Blues weapon.

Not even the great Jonah Lomu started his international career at the pace of 16 tries in 16 Tests, which has been the athletic All Black’s progress on the wing in just 20 months.

You would question Ioane’s pinchhitting in the more confined spaces of inside centre except that the call has been made by a coach, Tana Umaga, who mastered the move himself.

The Blues will be dangerous tonight in Auckland for no other reason than not knowing themselves how an ad- libbed back five of all fullbacks and wingers will fire.

Young Reds flyhalf Hamish Stewart is an accomplished tackler and it will often fall on him to push out and get in front of the big- striding Ioane to stall him.

“Ioane is a handful for sure and the Blues will be trying to get him into one- on- one situations which is when his strengths really shine,” Reds defensive coach Tony McGahan said.

“It’s not on one player to stop a guy like that. Putting the Blues under pressure by having a good set piece, reducing his time and some good line speed in defence will all be part of it.”

Stewart’s three games for the Australian Under- 20s in France were an excellent boost for his confidence at No. 10 heading into Eden Park where the Reds last won in 2012.

Having the experience of Jono Lance at fullback to act as a second playmaker and tactical kicker will also add a smarter edge to the Reds’ game. Beating a Kiwi side on the road should be an energising goal for the Reds, even those fresh off Wallabies duty.