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Ex-Ireland U20s lock handed first Super Rugby Pacific start with Reds

17 Apr 2024

Cormac Daly of the Reds warms up prior to the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds at AAMI Park, on March 15, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Former Ireland U20s lock Cormac Daly will start a Super Rugby Pacific start for the first time on Friday evening when the Queensland Reds host the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium.

Daly, who recently spoke with RugbyPass about his unlikely journey to the Reds, starts in place of injured in-form lock Seru Uru. The Irishman will pack down alongside Ryan Smith.

Finn Morton spoke with ex-Ireland U20s lock Cormac Daly about his journey to the QLD Reds. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

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With Wallabies Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight suspended, and Uru and centre Josh Flook injured, coach Les Kiss has made a number of changes to the Reds’ starting side.

Wallaby Jordan Petaia replaces injured Flook at outside centre, which opens the door for Toowoomba’s Mac Grealy to return to the First XV on the left wing.

Kalani Thomas gets the nod at halfback while young loose forward John Bryant will step up in the No. 7 jersey. Tom Lynagh and former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen are both also back in the run-on side.

“The opportunity in this now is to give more exposure to players who were playing off the bench and other players in the program to step up as well,” Kiss said.

“We had a massive surge at the beginning of the year. There was a great expectation that we put on ourselves, and we met that. Now, there’s a different expectation about how we respond to it. It’s a part of the journey.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

Draws

Wins

Average Points scored

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

“There’s one Vo Rogue front-runner in this competition and that’s the Hurricanes. The other teams are within striking distance down to the last three.

“It’s a tight challenge in that mid-table.”

Alex Hodgman and try scoring machine Matt Faessler will also start in the front row, while the only other unmentioned forwards are familiar faces captain Liam Wright and Harry Wilson in the backrow.

Wallaby Hunter Paisami joins Jordan Petaia in a lethal midfield combination, while Suliasi Vunivalu and Jock Campbell are the other places in the starting backline.

Taking a look at the bench, Louis Werchon is in line for a potential Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut while Joe Brial could possibly make his Reds debut.

This match is scheduled to get underway at 7:35 pm local time.

Queensland Reds to take on Highlanders

Alex Hodgman
Matt Faessler
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
Cormac Daly
Ryan Smith
Liam Wright (c)
John Bryant
Harry Wilson
Kalani Thomas
Tom Lynagh
Mac Grealy
Hunter Paisami
Jordan Petaia
Suliasi Vunivalu
Jock Campbell

Replacements

Josh Nasser
Peni Ravai
Sef Fa’agase
Angus Blyth
Joe Brial*
Louis Werchon**
Lawson Creighton
Tim Ryan

*Potential Queensland Reds debut

**Potential Queensland Reds Super Rugby debut

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 11 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 11 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 11 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 11 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 11 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 11 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍