After starring in a gold jersey against Bristol last year, it's no surprise Lachie Anderson is raring for his next date at Ashton Gate
Anderson, 27, capped a whirlwind 2024 with five line breaks and two tries against the Bears for Australia XV following a career-best Super Rugby Pacific season that saw him snapped up by Queensland in the wake of the Rebels' saga.
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Anderson is well regarded by national selectors and equaled Andrew Kellaway as Melbourne's top try scorer (six) last year but must first lock down a Reds berth with Filipo Daugunu, Tim Ryan and Heremiah Murray among those vying for an outside back role.
With limited opportunities against Wales and Tonga back in July, Queensland's UK Tour opener against Bristol (January 31) shapes an ideal stage for Anderson to stake his claim.
"Ashton Gate's an amazing ground, the facility, the atmosphere, the crowd, I think we had a full house there and the deck was awesome. The (Reds) boys are really looking forward to getting there," Anderson told rugby.com.au.
"(Wallabies coach) Joe (Schmidt) got around us (Australia XV) players and gave us some feedback on what we can do better so for me, I'm looking to come back here and hopefully add that value to the Queensland program.
"That's what I'm here for … to help the Reds win games, drive standards and compete for a spot. We've got a really good squad and it's going to be a tough year to be getting game time."
Few better coaches are placed than Les Kiss - a former Queensland winger - to curate an outside back unit but Anderson says he's ready to step up where required.
"(Les) tries to get his hands on the ball in a lot of our backs units and tell us he's still got it but he's a wealth of knowledge, a great coach and I've really enjoyed working with him," Anderson said.
"A good thing about Kissy is he's got a no-numbers-on-back mentality so all the backs can interchange and play anywhere across that backline.
"That's something we try to do each day at training so whether (I'm) on the wing, 13, wherever it is, I'll be ready if called upon."
Anderson also opened up on the "toll" of Melbourne's tumultuous 2024 campaign in which he became the first ever Rebel try scorer in Super Rugby finals history (two versus the Hurricanes in a 47-20 quarter final loss).
"That uncertainty, trying to play a season under that was tough and a hard 12 months for everyone involved in Melbourne," Anderson said.
"For me to be able to move up here and get that stability with your future, the program, and your rugby really narrows in your focus so that's been a wonderful gift for me - to be able to come up here and just worry about playing rugby.
"I can't wait to rip in this year.
There's little time to wait with the Reds' UK tour kicking off in just three weeks before all eyes turn to Queensland's Round 2 Super Rugby Pacific opener against Moana Pasifika (21 February).
"The exciting thing about these tour matches, when you're not playing for competition points is you get to try your hand at different things, see what works and what doesn't work," Anderson said.
"(Bristol) run everything - it's in their DNA, they don't get caught up in that English style of box kicks and territory - they're just there to play rugby and that's going to be great for us heading into the Super Rugby season."
