Reds bank on speed as Force honour Holmes

Fri, Mar 19, 2021, 6:00 AM
Murray Wenzel - AAP
by Murray Wenzel - AAP
Super Rugby AU returns to AAMI in 377 days! The Rebels are eager to repay their faithful fans with a big win over the desperate Waratahs, while the red-hot Reds are out to cement their dominance in the competition against the Western Force this weekend.

All eyes have been on Suliasi Vunivalu since his arrival at Ballymore but there's another, faster Fijian-born winger the Queensland Reds will unleash against the Western Force on Saturday.

Ilaisa Droasese will make his Super Rugby AU starting debut on the wing in place of another Fijian in Filipo Daugunu, who will miss the clash for personal reasons.

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The 21-year-old scored with his first touch as a late replacement in the Reds' round one defeat of the NSW Waratahs.

He will partner Vunivalu in a potent wing pairing as they seek a club-record ninth consecutive win at Suncorp Stadium and a 4-0 clean sweep of their domestic rivals this season.

"I think he got the quickest (sprint) time at the club," Reds coach Brad Thorn said of Droasese.

"He's just a talent and sometimes the Fijian guys are a little bit quiet but he'll get around the lads and have a bit of chat, bit of fun.

"He's exciting and it's his first chance to start and we think he's got real promise."

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Teenage halfback Kalani Thomas could also earn his first Super Rugby minutes as Thorn continues to drip fresh talent into the list he has developed over four seasons.

"He's been working hard and if you know anything about him he's shown a lot of promise at school level," Thorn said of the under-18 Australian representative.

"We think he's a real prospect and this is an opportunity for him, but its no slight on Moses (Sorovi, who he replaces in the squad)."

The Force beat the NSW Waratahs a fortnight ago and came within a whisker of adding another victory in a 10-7 loss to the Melbourne Rebels at home last week.

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Greg Holmes, at 37 a former title winner with the Reds, will play his 150th Super Rugby game while former Wallabies lock and recent signing Sitaleki Timani will also start.

Force coach Tim Sampson said early pressure on the Reds' wingers might "restrict them from getting their tails up" as the visitors seek a fifth win from their last seven visits to Suncorp Stadium, dating back to 2012.

"They've got a bit of momentum and threats across the park but we're pretty confident and looking forward to it," Sampson said.

"Someone like Greg, this is a huge moment for him - not only for the 150th but he hasn't played in front of his parents in five years, so I'm sure that'll lift the old legs a bit.

"It's what you do it for, is play in front of your family."

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