VUNIVALU SNUBBED IN SUPER
AU FINAL DAUGUNU, URU ON THE BENCH, VALETINI STARTS
James O’Connor has been restored as captain for the Reds’ first home Super Rugby final in a decade against an injury hit Brumbies pack on Saturday, while Suliasi Vunivalu has been left out. Vunivalu was the Reds’ big name recruit, who was parachuted into Dave Rennie’s Wallabies squad a week after winning a second NRL title with the Melbourne Storm, yet has been kept in cotton wool for another week in what is Queensland’s biggest game in a decade.
It’s thought more than 40,000 people will pack Suncorp Stadium for the rematch to last year’s decider, where the Brumbies prevailed 2823 in a tense affair in Canberra.
Disrupted start
For the casual supporter tuning in, Vunivalu would have attracted some eyeballs after a disrupted start to his rugby career.
The tryscoring machine, who scored an intercept try against the Panthers last October to help send Cameron Smith off a winner in his final match, twinged his hamstring against the Waratahs on March 27. He was expected to be grounded between two to four weeks, but still made it to Rennie’s 40-man Wallabies training squad last month in Coogee.
Vunivalu, who missed their season opener after allegedly pushing a security guard at a Brisbane pub
and faced court late could have played but
Thorn has left the 25-year-old out because he’s only just arrived back to the game and for the sake of the national interest.
“Grand Final week – how good. This is why you play the game,” said Thorn, who started for the Crusaders in their 18-13 loss to the Reds in 2011.
“The Brumbies are a tough opponent. They’re the defending premiers. They’ve been the competition benchmark now for a number of years. “We’re expecting another a tough
last
month,
contest against them.”
Paisami ruled out
Making the decision all the more staggering is the Reds are missing Hunter Paisami’s punch in the midfield after fracturing his cheekbone during their maiden loss of the season against the Force late last month.
The Reds have resisted the temptation of bringing Jordan Petaia closer to the action from his wing and instead brought in Josh Flook at outside centre to cover the Test centre’s absence.
It’s a big call for a Reds side who have struggled to score without Paisami, with O’Connor’s team guilty of playing too lateral without him.
O’Connor relinquished the captaincy against the Force after Liam Wright’s return form injury, but Thorn has reacted swiftly from the loss by dropping the back-rower to the bench.
The Force picked apart the Reds’ lineout with the shorter Angus Scott-Young shifted to the secondrow and the son of the former Wallabies hardman, Scott, returns to his preferred loose-forward role and Ryan Smith starts in the second row.
Brumbies lose Samu, Slipper
In a massive blow to the Brumbies’ hopes, Dan McKellar has lost Test duo James Slipper and Pete Samu following injuries against the Force in their 21-9 qualifying final victory last Saturday.
Test hooker Folau Fainga’a, who also came from the field early, has also surprisingly been dropped to the bench with Lachlan Lonergan named to start alongside Scott Sio. It’s a curious move, but one likely to try give the Brumbies some experience in the second half and also a heavier scrummaging option in the second half to try and counter the threat of Taniela Tupou at the set-piece.
While the backline remains unchanged, Rob Valetini shifts to No.8 to cover Samu’s absence and Nick Frost comes into the side to give the Brumbies some extra height on the blindside.
“To most people Frosty would be considered a lock but we’ve always seen him as someone who can develop into a six,” McKellar said. “He’s tall but he’s a real athlete and quick so he can do some damage out there.”
“If you can’t get motivated for Saturday night you’re in the wrong game, we know Queensland are the favourites, and deservedly so. “We’ve just got to get our game right and go up there to enjoy what’s a really special occasion.”
Line-up
Reds: 15. Bryce Hegarty, 14. Jordan Petaia, 13. Josh Flook, 12. Hamish Stewart, 11. Jock Campbell,
10. James O’Connor (c), 9. Tate McDermott, 8. Harry Wilson, 7. Fraser McReight, 6. Angus ScottYoung, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto,
4. Ryan Smith, 3. Taniela Tupou,
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1. Feao Fotuaika
Reserves: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Dane Zander, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Seru Uru, 20. Liam Wright, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Isaac Henry, 23. Filipo Daugunu
Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Andy Muirhead, 13. Len Ikitau,
12. Irae Simone, 11. Tom Wright,
10. Noah Lolesio, 9. Nic White, 8. Rob Valetini, 7. Rory Scott, 6. Nick Frost, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 4. Darcy Swain, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 1. Scott Sio Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga’a,
17. Harry Lloyd, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Henry Stowers*, 20. Luke Reimer,
21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Mack Hansen
The clash gets underway at 9.45pm and shown live on Sky Pacific.
-Fox Sports