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Wallaby Jock Campbell to captain Reds in ‘awesome opportunity’ against Wales

Jock Campbell of the Reds looks on during the round six Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, on March 30, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Wallaby Jock Campbell will become the 127th captain in Queensland history after being named to lead the Reds in an intriguing clash with Waren Gatland’s Wales on Friday night.

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Coach Les Kiss has appointed Campbell into the role, with the fullback set to captain a side that boasts 14 players with Super Rugby experience in the First XV.

Reds Academy and Brothers centre Dre Pakeho will link up with rising star Tim Ryan in the midfield, while the inclusion of 64-Test Wallaby James O’Connor is a big talking point.

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This week’s clash at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will be the Reds’ first home match against a national side in 20 years, and they’re expecting their biggest home crowd in four years.

 

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20,000 supporters are expected to attend the Reds’ first fixture against the Welsh since 1991. Wales are coming off a nine-Test losing streak and will want to end their season on a high.

“This is a wonderful honour for Jack, whose experience and leadership is evident around the Reds every week,” coach Les Kiss said in a statement.

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“We’ve said to our guys that this is an opportunity that some never get.

“We’ll go out and back our game. I’ve been in the Test arena a bit myself as an assistant coach against Wales many times.

“They are a special rugby nation so I know these matches put a different demand on you.

“We need to be ready for that. The boys know it is an important game and they are ready for it.”

Sunnybank’s Sef Fa’agase will pack down in a front row along with Richie Asiata and former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen. Connor Vest and Ryan Smith round out the tight five as the locks.

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Wests’ Seru Uru joins youngster John Bryan and Joe Brial in the backrow. On the bench, watch out for forwards Matt Gibbon, Massimo De Lutiis and John Canham.

In the backs, halfback Louis Werchon joins O’Connor in the halves, while Pakeho and Ryan will line up just outside them as the centre combination.

Rounding out the starting side is Mac Grealy on the left wing, Floyd Aubrey on the right, and captain Jock Campbell out the back at fullback.

New recruit Lachie Anderson is in line to debut off the bench.

“I can speak for everyone in the squad when I say this is an awesome opportunity for the Reds and the players involved,” James O’Connor explained.

“We are playing a quality national team in what is pretty much a Test match situation.

“I haven’t played a much footy this season so I’m really looking forward to this game against a country I’ve enjoyed playing against in the past.”

This match at Suncorp Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 7:55 pm AEST on Friday night.

Queensland Reds to take on Wales

  1. Sef Fa’agase
  2. Richie Asiata
  3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
  4. Connor Vest
  5. Ryan Smith
  6. Seru Uru
  7. John Bryant
  8. Joe Brial
  9. Louis Werchon
  10. James O’Connor
  11. Mac Grealy
  12. Dre Pakeho
  13. Tim Ryan
  14. Floyd Aubrey
  15. Jock Campbell (c)

Replacements

  1. George Blake
  2. Matt Gibbon
  3. Massimo De Lutiiis
  4. Josh Canham
  5. Connor Anderson
  6. Will Cartwright
  7. Mason Gordon
  8. Lachie Anderson
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J
Jfp123 39 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

It will be great if Jalibert improves in defence, but unless and until he improves substantially, I think he should be out of the running for the national team. If you look at the French A side, attack is not usually so much of a problem - they scored 200 points in the last 6 nations without MJ on the pitch. Defence however can be an issue, Penaud isn’t the greatest in that area for a start. So a 10 who is solid in defence is badly needed. And given his poor defence record, MJ would be bound to be targeted by shrewd coaches like Rassi and Razor, so he needs to be able to withstand that.

Also, given sufficient improvement in defence, there are still factors which tell against MJ. I think the 7/1 bench has been a very successful experiment, and for that you need flexible backs who can play in more than one position in case of injury. Then there’s how well the 10 plays with France’s best 9, Dupont. And even if you think MJ is better when there’s no Dupont or 7/1 split, stability in a test team is important, so it’s better not to go chopping and changing the 10 needlessly. There’s also the question of temperament - MJ doesn’t shine at his brightest when it really matters, eg WC quarters and Top14 finals, and look at his test record over the past 2 years.

I see Ntamack as by far the best option at 10. Rugby is a team game, and apart from his excellent defence, there’s his partnership with Dupont, his versatility, and all the other skills that go to making a great team player and a great 10. He’s excellent under the high ball, an area where France tend to have a weakness, and has fine strategic and team management skills, great handling skills and so on.

While having star quality is important, it’s not the be all and end all, as illustrated by UBB this season. Imo, though undoubtedly very good, they underperformed. With best wings, best 9, as Dupont barely played in the Top14, with Jalibert and leading centres and 15, plus a strengthened forward pack, they couldn’t match ST in points scored, despite the latter’s huge injury list which left some positions seriously weakened, at least on paper.

For next season, I hope ST are back to their scintillating best with injuries healed, that LBB is back to rude health for UBB, that the exciting promise of La Rochelle’s and Toulon’s new recruits bears fruit, Bayonne continue to defy their budget and we have a cracking, highly competitive Top14 and Les Bleus triumphant in the autumn internationals and six nations!

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