Under-fire Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn has received little help from the rugby gods after a pair of injury setbacks forced 11th-hour changes to his side for their historic trip to Samoa.
James O'Connor has been benched by the Queensland Reds in favour of third-choice playmaker Lawson Creighton, while Suliasi Vunivalu has been axed from the side to face the ACT Brumbies.