Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Reds set to lose Jordan Petaia for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman as Brad Thorn names side to face Highlanders

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Queensland Reds and Wallabies back Jordan Petaia is battling a thigh injury that will likely keep him out of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and cruel his chances of facing the French in three Tests later this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Petaia left Saturday’s final in the second half because of the injury as the Reds beat the Brumbies 19-16 thanks to a dramatic injury-time James O’Connor try.

Still just 21, the winger or centre’s Australia rugby rise has been stunted by significant foot, shoulder and hip injuries and Reds coach Brad Thorn admitted on Wednesday he was set for more time on the sidelines.

Video Spacer

The Crusaders do it again, David Havili as an All Blacks 12, and who missed out on the Lions? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

The Crusaders do it again, David Havili as an All Blacks 12, and who missed out on the Lions? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

“He’s got a solid strain to his quad or thigh and could be around six weeks,” Thorn said.

“It’s a bit of a loss for us but these things happen from time to time.”

The Reds’ final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman round robin game is on June 11, the stand alone final on June 19 and the Wallabies’ first Test against the French at the SCG on July 7.

Petaia, Harry Wilson (concussion) and Alex Mafi (concussion) were casualties of the side’s grand final win while halfback Tate McDermott has been rested for Friday’s Trans-Tasman opener against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Regular starters Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Fraser McReight will come off the bench while Suliasi Vunivalu returns from injury off the bench and 19-year-old halfback Kalani Thomas will start against childhood hero Aaron Smith.

Thorn hopes to have Hunter Paisami back for next week’s home clash against the Crusaders.

ADVERTISEMENT

The top two sides of the five-game round robin competition will contest the final, the Reds slated behind all five New Zealand outfits with bookies to win the tournament.

“Look at those odds … it’s our job to change that because we like to think we’ve got some good stuff going on too,” Thorn said.

“We know we won’t be highly rated in New Zealand, but that’s our bread and butter.

“It’s a little bit of extra salt and pepper on the meal bu t we’re just a positive group that wants to get better.”

ADVERTISEMENT

James O’Connor and Liam Wright will share the captaincy after O’Connor had the honour and Wright started on the bench in Saturday’s decider.

Reds side to face Highlanders

15. Bryce Hegarty
14. Filipo Daugunu
13. Josh Flook
12. Hamish Stewart
11. Jock Campbell
10. James O’Connor
9. Kalani Thomas
8. Seru Uru
7. Liam Wright
6. Angus Scott-Young
5. Angus Blyth
4. Ryan Smith
3. Feao Fotuaika
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
1. Dane Zander

Reserves:

16. Josh Nasser
17. Harry Hoopert
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
20.Fraser McReight
21. Moses Sorovi
22. Isaac Henry
23. Suliasi Vunivalu

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
Search