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'As the GOAT Michael Jordan would say 'we took that grand final loss personally' so we're coming for them'
By AAP
Test hookers, friends and former garbage men Folau Fainga'a and Brandon Paenga-Amosa look set to make their returns from injury as the Brumbies host the Queensland Reds in Saturday's Super Rugby AU grand-final rematch.
Reds hooker Paenga-Amosa enjoyed a return to the Wallabies fold under Dave Rennie last year, two summers after his shock debut against Ireland.
A neck injury has kept him on the sidelines so far this season, but he appears set to share minutes with the in-form Alex Mafi in Canberra on Saturday.
Fainga'a (toe) should slot back in for the Brumbies to face Paenga-Amosa, who he worked with in Sydney as a bin man before the pair split for their new rugby homes, on the journey towards Test debuts.
The return of the 25-year-old Fainga'a is neat timing after his replacement Connal McInerney broke his fibula (calf bone) early in his side's after-the-bell defeat of the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.
McInerney's season appears over, while the Brumbies will also be without Test props James Slipper (knee) for up to five weeks and Allan Alaalatoa (suspension) for three games.
Conversely, Reds coach Brad Thorn faces some tough calls on who to leave out, with Test talent Lukhan Salakaia-Loto free to play after serving his three-match suspension from the Argentina Test last December.
In Paenga-Amosa's way is Mafi, who has been outstanding for the Reds' in their two wins this season, while NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu would have to replace an incumbent Wallaby to earn a start on the wing.
The Brumbies have won 18 of their last 19 games at home but Reds captain James O'Connor can sniff an opportunity.
"The Brumbies have been the best team in Australia for the last four, five years ... but as the GOAT (Michael Jordan) would say 'we took that (grand final loss) personally' so we're coming for them," he said.
"They play a really structured game and they've mastered it so that if they lose one cog in the wheel it doesn't disrupt them too much.
"But they do rely on Allan, on his emotional plays and hits ... and for us that's probably Lukhan; he's a big leader in our squad and I get a lot of energy from him."
The clash will also pit preferred Wallabies No.10 O'Connor with his heir-apparent Noah Lolesio, who has begun the season strongly after his first taste of Test rugby last year.
"I'll be testing him out and I'm sure he'll be testing me out with his young legs, but at the end of the day (it's about) which team won," O'Connor said.
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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