Thorn focused on team’s positives Bond pair earn their stripes at the Reds
ERRANT goalkicking may have proved costly for his team in Christchurch, but Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn is staying positive ahead of tonight’s Super Rugby clash with the Bulls.
The Reds missed all four goal attempts against the Crusaders last week and slipped to a 24-20 loss despite scoring four tries to three against the New Zealand powerhouse.
The loss leaves Thorn’s team 10th on the ladder with just one win from six matches in 2020.
Having had trips to New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina in those opening matches, Thorn is confident the Reds can storm into finals contention in the second half of the season.
He also feels his team showed more than enough against the Crusaders to suggest more wins are on their way.
“There was a bit said about the kicking, but there was also a heck of a game of football that was played,” he said.
“There’s a lot of positives in that game. Going toe-to-toe with the Crusaders in their house – I think it’s important to remember that side of the game. It was a great game of rugby.”
Wallaby James O’Connor will be back at No.10 after missing the match against the Crusaders due to an ankle injury, while Bryce Hegarty’s return to the starting XV is sure to resolve the goalkicking issues.
The Pretoria-based Bulls, yet to win a Super Rugby match at Suncorp Stadium, arrive with a 1-4 record after a comprehensive victory over the Highlanders last weekend.
THE Reds have called up Bond University’s Premier Grade skipper and an outside back labelled “Queensland’s most dangerous” as an injury crisis leaves the team dangerously thin at outside centre.
Bond University utility backs Joey Fittock and Dan Boardman have found themselves an injury away from making their Super Rugby debuts after being drafted in to the Reds training squad last week. Injuries to Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami have left Chris Feauai-Sautia as the last