Baby, we were Thorn to run: Reds mentor
QUEENSLAND Reds coach Brad Thorn says the clunky start to the Super Rugby AU competition was to be expected and promised an immediate improvement in the quality of football.
While New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa has featured some outstanding matches since starting last month, the Australian equivalent has yet to hit the mark in terms of spectacles, despite rules changes designed to enhance attacking football.
But All Blacks great Thorn, whose unbeaten Reds side host Western Force at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, said a higher quality of rugby in the Australian competition was imminent.
“You look at the New Zealand competition – they’re really humming along now,” Thorn said.
“I imagine with our competition in the next week or two, we’ll really start to see more and more rugby played. The quality will continue to improve.
“The test was always around not having any trial games and just (going) straight into it. I’m looking forward to some really good rugby.”
Thorn’s preference was to eventually return to a combined Super Rugby competition, as was the case before the COVID-19 crisis.
“A really strong competition, trans-Tasman … they’ve talked about a Japanese team, maybe an Island team … I think all that stuff is exciting,” he said.
“(But) I agree with what both sides are saying. You want to have a strong competition and you want to have good rugby played.”
The “good rugby” Thorn demands has led to the powerful Chris Feauai-Sautia (inset) being recalled to the Reds’ starting side for the battle with the Force. Coming off the bench, FeauaiSautia was the Reds’ best player in their 18-18 draw with the Rebels last Friday night.
He has been named on the wing this week in one of two changes to a reshuffled Queensland starting side.
“He’s a pretty special player when he gets in the mood. He really adds something there,” Thorn said of the 26year-old Feauai-Sautia, who earned his only two Wallabies caps in 2013.
“It’s a good opportunity for Chris. He’s a good allround rugby player, a very smart rugby player, very good at keeping the ball alive, his continuity play, his pop passes and he’s a physical specimen out on the wing there.
“I wouldn’t imagine he’s pleasant to run into. When he’s on song, he’s a hard man to deal with.”
Feauai-Sautia’s inclusion has led to Jock Campbell shifting to fullback and Bryce Hegarty being dropped to the bench.
Lock Angus Blyth has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, with Angus ScottYoung his replacement.