Reds bracing for new, exciting next-gen British Lions

Perth Now

16 hours ago

A Queensland Reds side brimming with Wallabies hopefuls has a "point to prove" against a British & Irish Lions team that represents the next generation of northern hemisphere rugby.
The up-tempo Lions ran over the top of the Western Force in a one-sided 54-7 opening to their Australian tour on Saturday.
Coach Andy Farrell, with an eye to the first Test on July 19, has made 14 changes ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Reds in front of an expected 50,000 at Suncorp Stadium.
Scottish flyhalf Finn Russell has retained his No.10 jersey though and will partner Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park for the first time in a potentially devastating combination.
Twelve years ago the Reds scored two tries to the Lions' one, but lost 22-12 as Owen Farrell kicked five penalty goals.
"The game's changing up there," Reds assistant and former English Premiership backrower Jonathon Fisher said.
"The days of kicking and chasing and hoping for good outcomes at the set piece, from a northern hemisphere (perspective), are very much a thing of the past."
Fisher was playing at Northampton when rising English star Henry Pollock, who starred against the Force, was in their junior development program.
"There's a generation of players and coaches who are forward-thinking, progressive in the way they attack and use the ball," Fisher said.
"The quality of player, particularly these halves; the width and speed of pass, vision, appreciation of space. It's an exciting prospect."
Ironically, 12 years after Quade Cooper pulled the strings for the free-wheeling Reds, it could be the hosts leaning on their scrum and rolling maul.
But under Les Kiss, who coached with Fisher at London Irish before moving to Ballymore, the Reds have balanced that set piece strength with bold counter-attack and opportunistic support play.
"We want to make it very clear to the world watching ... what Queensland rugby is," Fisher said.
"Our set piece is strong; our scrum, our maul.
"But in terms of slowing the game down, I don't think that's in our control. We won't be changing what we do."
The Reds beat the Lions in 1899 (11-3) and 1971 (15-11), with the Brumbies in 2013 the next Australian provincial side - and first worldwide in 16 years - to taste victory against the tourists.
Captain Jock Campbell, who skippered the Reds in a 36-35 loss to Wales a year ago, will lead a long list of Test hopefuls with "a point to prove".
Hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami have been pulled from the Wallabies squad to play for the Reds while Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto are returning from injury and in the mix for the first Lions Test.
Campbell, Josh Flook, Josh Canham and Aidan Ross, the former All Blacks prop who will become eligible to play for Australia next week, also have a platform.
"It's a big opportunity to show on a world stage what they've got," Campbell, who has played four Tests, said.
"I'd hope all the boys are looking to do that."