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Queensland Reds star shuts down talk of Wallabies selection in lead-up to Super Rugby AU final
By AAP
Duelling halfbacks Tate McDermott and Nic White will square off in Saturday's Super Rugby AU final with Wallabies ramifications at play.
But Queensland Reds playmaker and White's Australian understudy McDermott said that motivation "was miles behind" as the Reds look to reverse the result of last year's decider in front of what could be a 50,000-strong Suncorp Stadium crowd.
More than 32,000 tickets had been sold on Tuesday morning for the domestic decider, with the final shaping as the Reds' biggest game since their only Super Rugby crown at the same ground 10 years ago.
McDermott has been central to the side's revival - they've lost just once this season in a dead rubber clash with the Western Force - as he pushes incumbent Wallabies No.9 White ahead of a loaded test calendar later this year.
But after claiming honours in two tight contests already this season, the long-time Reds fan won't be distracted by that individual battle.
"Wallabies (auditions) is miles behind (in my thoughts)," he said.
"I've got a job to do for my state first.
"I really do mean it; it's a grand final and we've got Queenslanders to make proud."
The Reds have been bullish in stating their ambitions this season and it hasn't gone unnoticed in Canberra, with Brumbies coach Dan McKellar referencing the Reds' outspoken confidence earlier this week.
McDermott said they were just returning the favour after witnessing the Brumbies' title-winning jubilation up close in last year's Super Rugby AU final, won 28-23 in Canberra.
"There's been a couple of points where we've rewatched that ... you see they kick it out and there's a bit of carry-on and they win," McDermott said.
"There's been a fire burning since that moment last year and it's helped.
"We're still not the complete package, but we're building and we owe them a lot from that game."
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I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
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