ID :
103234
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 23:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/103234
The shortlink copeid
Front-row battle red-hot at Reds
Most eyes will be on Will Chambers' Queensland debut but Ewen McKenzie will be just
as focussed on his old front-row position when the Reds meet the Crusaders on Friday
night.
While McKenzie's major selection headaches rest with the composition of his
backline, the Reds have five props all with genuine claims for two starting
positions.
"That's right, that's the good thing this year, there's competition for spots all
over the place," stand-in captain and loose-head Ben Daley said.
"You've got your big names in the backline and rightly so but everyone shouldn't
just be talking about the backline, there's some exciting young blokes coming
through.
"The platform has to be laid first so you can unleash those backs and that's what
the goal's been in the pre-season."
After retaining the captaincy from the weekend's 26-24 opening trial win over NSW,
Daley appears to have gained the inside rail for the No.1 jersey ahead of former
Wallabies prop Greg Holmes.
Holmes (ribs) is currently sidelined and racing to be fit for the final pre-season
clash with the Western Force on February 5.
Competition is even more intense on the other side of the front-row where Dayna
Edwards, Jack Kennedy and Australian Super 14 rookie of 2009 Laurie Weeks are
fighting it out.
With Weeks out with a knee injury, Edwards will start against the Crusaders at
Ballymore with the versatile Kennedy coming off the bench.
McKenzie's 51 Test caps of front-row experience has been a huge benefit for the Reds
front-rowers, not to mention the input from former Wallabies scrum doctor Alec
Evans.
Son of Manly league great Phil, Daley laughed when asked whether Evans, a renowned
hard-nut, had softened with age.
"No, he's getting more and more - what's the word? - demanding I think but it's good
to have someone pushing people to be the best they can be," the 21-year-old said.
Recruited from NRL premiers Melbourne Storm, Chambers will line up at outside centre
at Ballymore in his first rugby match in four years.
McKenzie is yet to decide where the 21-year-old, who has trained on the wing and in
the centres, will be best suited in the 15-man code.
Chambers' hopes of grabbing a starting berth for the Super 14 opener against NSW on
February 13 depends as much how the Reds most exciting backs slot into a backline
missing former general Berrick Barnes.
Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane starred in the centres during the Wallabies Grand Slam
tour but like fellow tourists Peter Hynes, Luke Morahan and Richard Kingi can play
in multiple positions.
Cooper and Ioane will miss Friday's trial, but their absence gives extra
opportunities to playmakers Ben Lucas and Tim Walsh and centres Morgan Turinui and
Anthony Faingaa.
as focussed on his old front-row position when the Reds meet the Crusaders on Friday
night.
While McKenzie's major selection headaches rest with the composition of his
backline, the Reds have five props all with genuine claims for two starting
positions.
"That's right, that's the good thing this year, there's competition for spots all
over the place," stand-in captain and loose-head Ben Daley said.
"You've got your big names in the backline and rightly so but everyone shouldn't
just be talking about the backline, there's some exciting young blokes coming
through.
"The platform has to be laid first so you can unleash those backs and that's what
the goal's been in the pre-season."
After retaining the captaincy from the weekend's 26-24 opening trial win over NSW,
Daley appears to have gained the inside rail for the No.1 jersey ahead of former
Wallabies prop Greg Holmes.
Holmes (ribs) is currently sidelined and racing to be fit for the final pre-season
clash with the Western Force on February 5.
Competition is even more intense on the other side of the front-row where Dayna
Edwards, Jack Kennedy and Australian Super 14 rookie of 2009 Laurie Weeks are
fighting it out.
With Weeks out with a knee injury, Edwards will start against the Crusaders at
Ballymore with the versatile Kennedy coming off the bench.
McKenzie's 51 Test caps of front-row experience has been a huge benefit for the Reds
front-rowers, not to mention the input from former Wallabies scrum doctor Alec
Evans.
Son of Manly league great Phil, Daley laughed when asked whether Evans, a renowned
hard-nut, had softened with age.
"No, he's getting more and more - what's the word? - demanding I think but it's good
to have someone pushing people to be the best they can be," the 21-year-old said.
Recruited from NRL premiers Melbourne Storm, Chambers will line up at outside centre
at Ballymore in his first rugby match in four years.
McKenzie is yet to decide where the 21-year-old, who has trained on the wing and in
the centres, will be best suited in the 15-man code.
Chambers' hopes of grabbing a starting berth for the Super 14 opener against NSW on
February 13 depends as much how the Reds most exciting backs slot into a backline
missing former general Berrick Barnes.
Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane starred in the centres during the Wallabies Grand Slam
tour but like fellow tourists Peter Hynes, Luke Morahan and Richard Kingi can play
in multiple positions.
Cooper and Ioane will miss Friday's trial, but their absence gives extra
opportunities to playmakers Ben Lucas and Tim Walsh and centres Morgan Turinui and
Anthony Faingaa.
