There are a lot of new faces at Ballymore in 2015 and with 11 days until the first trial game in Cairns, I find myself playing SuperCoach in my head and wondering which 15 players would make the best possible Queensland Reds outfit.
2015 Queensland Reds Starting XV
Starting in the front row with the newly appointed Captain, James Slipper, or as he’s affectionately known in my circle, Jimmy Slip. The 2014 Stan Pilecki Medalist, Green and Gold Rugby Player of the Year and Wallabies Vice Captain was outstanding in 2014 and will no doubt carry his form over to 2015. I’m interested to see who Richard Graham chooses to play in the Number 2. A hand injury to Saia Fainga’a last year saw James Hansen start at hooker for much of the season. Even after Saia returned to match fitness, Coach Graham seemed to prefer the hard running style of Hansen. However, with a very solid performance on what was otherwise a disappointing Spring Tour, it will be hard to overlook Saia’s experience and “grass cutter” tackling style. As for loosehead, I believe this would come down to Greg Holmes or Ben Daley. One suspects Graham would start Holmes, purely as a specialist scrummager but I also wouldn’t be too quick to write off Daley, who had a fairly good 2014 and will continue to improve with more game time.
It’s safe to say that the 4 and 5 jerseys will be occupied by newly appointed VC Rob Simmons and outbound captain, James Horwill. This is a world class second row with an astonishing 108 test caps between the two of them. With Big Kev departing for English shores next year, there is no doubt an adequate replacement in youngster Dave McDuling, who captained Brisbane City to the inaugural National Rugby Championship title. There is also an experienced lock and ball runner in Ed O’Donoghue, so expect these lads to get a bit of game time in 2015.
The back row choices are fascinating but equally difficult to choose. The starters from 2014 were Liam Gill, Jake Schatz and Ed Quirk with workhorse Beau Robinson and youngster Curtis Browning. Throw into the mix former All Black Adam Thompson and Japanese International Hendrik Tui and you’ve got some mouth watering options there. The aforementioned signings will have no doubt put pressure on Schatz and Quirk who will be looking to maintain their starting spot. It seems the Reds Management took note as Thompson and Tui are both very strong, solid ball runners- something that was seriously lacking in the Reds outfit since the departure of Big Radike Samo. IMO, Liam Gill is a must start, owing to his strong ball running, solid defense but most importantly, his skill at the breakdown. In-form, I rate Gill as one of, if not the best pilferers in Australian Rugby. New recruit Lalo Fakaosilea also joins the extended playing squad. Whether he will get much game time this season is unclear but he has been touted as one of Australian Rugby’s brightest stars so watch this space.
The halves pairing speaks for itself as two of Ballymore’s favourite sons, Will Genia and Quade Cooper are back from injury and can hopefully re-produce the world class form we know they are capable of. Rugby Gods forbid they should get injured again. That being said, I’d still be feeling quite confident with Nick “Pickle” Frisby coming off the bench. Pickle was outstanding for Brisbane City in the NRC last year and I’m sure he’ll be “next in line, to the number 9.” The big difference in 2015 will be the support now offered from 11-15, meaning much less pressure on the halves pairing which has been targeted in the past.
Let’s start in the centres, where it seems the Reds are also a little spoiled for choices. Anthony Fainga’a and Ben “Benny Taps” Tapuai, pretty much dominated the centre pairing until the end of last season although I feel Fainga’a has not been in form for quite some time. Chris “Beast Mode” Feauai-Sautia jumped around between the centres and the wing and Big Samu Kerevi, who also had a standout season in 2014, seems pretty comfortable in the centres. In Beast Mode and Kerevi, you have two very powerful ball runners where as Tapuai and Fainga’a represent experience and composure. It would be great to see a combination of each of the two, possibly with Taps and Kerevi or Fainga’a and Feauai-Sautia. I for one am excited at the prospect of a raging Kerevi running onto a Quade ball. Regardless of who is selected, they must have sharp ball skills to be able to feed the back three with quality ball.
Now to enter the relative unknown: Two years ago, if you had said to me your back three combination was Karmichael Hunt, James O’Connor and Lachie Turner, I’d be pretty damn impressed. Not that I’m not impressed anyway, however one of these players has, until now, been in AFL. One of them has been plying his trade in Europe after a fallout with the ARU and the other is an Ex-Wallaby speedster looking to make a fresh start north of the border. Despite the relative unknown, one cannot deny the abilities of these three. Even though no one has seen Karmichael in a rugby jersey for several years, he is a natural sportsman and leader, and being given the nod at VC I think is testament to this. No one ever doubted the talents of O’Connor or Turner, they’ve just had different roads back to where they want to be. I’d pick these three to get the starting call up but I also take solace in knowing we have two very gifted youngsters in Jamie-Jerry Taulagi and Chris Kuridrani. Both had stand-out seasons in the NRC after cameos off the bench for the Reds.
So after much consideration, my starting Queensland Reds team for 2015 is:
1) Slipper
2) Fainga’a
3) Holmes
4) Simmons
5) Horwill
6) Thompson
7) Gill
8) Tui
9) Genia
10) Cooper
11) Feauai-Sautia
12) Tapuai
13) Kerevi
14) O’Connor
15) Hunt
16) Daley
17) Hansen
18) Faagase
19) Browning
20) Schatz
21) Frisby
22) Turner
23) Taulagi
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