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Wallabies positions on the line as Reds look for revenge against undefeated Brumbies
By AAP
The Super Rugby Pacific top-of-the-table clash between the unbeaten Brumbies and Queensland is looming as a juicy taster for next week’s Wallabies camp.
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The Reds host the Brumbies on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium looking for revenge after the Canberra side dished up their only defeat of the season, with a 12-16 loss in round five earlier this month.
Reds halfback Tate McDermott, who will square off with Wallabies incumbent Nic White, said there were more than Super Rugby points on the line.
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A 40-man Wallabies squad will head into a three-day camp on the Gold Coast as they start preparations for the three-Test series against England in July.
“It’s massive – you’ve got two large groups of players who are in the Wallabies so I think boys have got more than playing for their state on the line,” McDermott said on Tuesday.
“You’ve got gold jerseys but you’ve also got a proud tradition in playing the Brumbies, particularly in recent years it’s been a really good grind.
“They go down to the wire and fans love them and we love them as well.”
The Queenslanders surged in the second half to break free of the Waratahs and bank a 32-20 victory, although it came at a cost with prop Dane Zander suspended for three weeks for a high tackle.
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Brumbies and Test fullback Tom Banks was also red-carded for a high tackle in the Western Force game but escaped on Tuesday with a warning from the SANZAAR judiciary.
The Reds also lost McDermott to a yellow card and the No.9 said it was important they improved their discipline against the Brumbies.
“I’m proud of about 70 minutes of that performance but when we come up against the Brumbies, we’ve got to be going for 80 plus,” said McDermott, who had missed three weeks with an ankle injury.
“We were really good in patches, when we were down to 13 we almost played better than with 15.
“If we can fix our discipline – hopefully no yellow cards – but also in terms of our defence, holding the ball for long periods of time and kicking well, I think we will get a result.”
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