Petaia the centre of attention for Reds
JORDAN Petaia’s selection at outside centre is the first win for the Queensland Reds, who have shown they are smart enough to be flexible in key selection ideas.
Everything in pre-season work pointed to Petaia continuing to be groomed for Super Rugby as a winger so not to rush the 18-year-old talent.
Surprise, surprise. The Reds have picked their best backline formation to face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night with Chris Feauai-sautia switched to the wing.
It means Petaia and his far superior ball-handling are in the centres outside captain and line-crusher Sami Kerevi.
It’s the variety Kerevi and Feauai-sautia do not offer as bludgeoning runners often only trying to offload in contact.
Petaia barely saw the ball on the wing in the Reds’ most recent trial against the Chiefs, which was a waste of his footwork to open up a defence and ability to throw a good pass.
The Reds have the depth in the backrow to field a strong trio (Caleb Timu, Liam Wright and Angus Scott-young) even without experienced former captain Scott Higginbotham, who has a shoulder niggle.
The front row will miss key scrummager JP Smith (knee).
It does mean a debut for loosehead prop Feao Fotuaika, rousing reward for ditching Mcdonalds fast food and ice cream binges to shed a staggering 16kg during the off-season.
“Feao is a feel-good story,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.
“His transformation has been something to admire and his scrummaging is now very dominant.”
Top recruits Bryce Hegarty (fullback) and flyer Sefa Naivalu (wing) bring the debutants to three.