With just four days between two games, Gatland's Lions will once again roar into battle, this time against the Queensland Reds, captained by legendary Quade Cooper, who left many shocked when he was not selected to be part of the Australian Wallabies team to face the Lions in two weeks time. Cooper is without doubt a master at his game, he is a terrific service man to the Reds and has been all season, he aids in their success having played tremendously at number 10 for the majority of his team's matches. Having played with the Reds since he was 15 years old, Cooper is no stranger to the club, he oozes vitality and leadership and is said to be honoured with the captaincy. He will no doubt have looked back on the previous games that the Lions have played and with experience and strategic implementation could prove a threat to the Lions, a dangerman in the field like this will mean that the Lions will need to up their tactics.
Along with Cooper also starts 9 capped Australian players, this Reds team want to make history by being the first provincial team to beat a touring Lions team since 1971, if they succeed they will be deemed heroes in their own right and will will put a severe dent in the Lion's plans to come back to the Northern Hemisphere undefeated Down Under. The Lions team with the exception of Rob Kearney have all had a chance to show Gatland why they were selected to go to Australia, Sam Warburton captains the side tomorrow and it goes without saying that it will be Last Chance Saloon for many of them. Competition for test positions has never been more of a headache and if Gatland doesn't see consistency within players then they may say goodbye to starting in two weeks.
With injury stricken Cian Healy cleared of all biting allegations, it all ended bitter sweet when a scan on his ankle clarified that it would be the end of his Lions tour and putting him on a flight back home this Sunday. With Gethin Jenkins cautioned after it was revealed that he was suffering from tightness in his calf, it looks as though Mako Vunipola will start tomorrow and it's believed that Glasgow Warrior's Ryan Grant will be flown in to replace the injured Healy. Both Bowe and Tuilagi will once again start against the Reds after playing Western Force on Tuesday. Bowe scored a fine try but still looks to be a little sluggish since returning from injury, in previous matches in the Pro12 and recently in the Pro12 final, his usual encounters with the high balls have not been pristine, knock ons have occured once to often and mistakes like that tomorrow may give the Reds something to ponder on. Tuilagi on the other hand is going from strength to strength, his partnership with O'Driscoll was poetry in motion, his offloads immaculate and tomorrow sees him in the centre with Davies, both players possess animalistic qualities, a dog eat dog approach to rugby and will tyrannically destroy all opposition that get in thie way.
Tomorrow Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane will be the awash with 40,000 plus Reds fans cheering on their beloved team. Just like Moses led his people, so too will Quade Cooper, although parting the Red Sea that will come crashing down on him and his fourteen men may prove a little more difficult!
St.George Queensland Reds
1. Ben Daley (58 Reds - 3 Wallabies)
2. James Hanson (50 Reds - 1 Wallabies)
3. Greg Holmes (103 Reds - 13 Wallabies)
4. Adam Wallace-Harrison (vc) (32 Reds)
5. Ed O’Donoghue (40 Reds)
6. Eddie Quirk (27 Reds)
7. Beau Robinson (35 Reds - 1 Wallabies)
8. Jake Schatz (47 Reds)
9. Nick Frisby (16 Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (c) (87 Reds - 38 Wallabies)
11. Luke Morahan (44 Reds - 1 Wallabies)
12. Anthony Faingaa (58 Reds - 23 Wallabies)
13. Ben Tapuai (38 Reds - 7 Wallabies)
14. Rod Davies (43 Reds - 1 Wallabies)
15. Ben Lucas (60 Reds)
16. Albert Anae (15 Reds)
17. Sam Denny (Queensland debut)
18. Jono Owen (Queensland debut)
19. Radike Samo (32 Reds - 23 Wallabies)
20. Jarrad Butler (12 Reds)
21. Jono Lance (18 Reds)
22. Mike Harris (30 Reds - 8 Wallabies)
23. Dom Shipperley (33 Reds - 8 Wallabies)
British & Irish Lions
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
13. Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers/England)
12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales)
11. Tommy Bowe (Ulster/Ireland)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
1. Makovina Vunipola (Saracens/England)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
3. Matt Stevens (Saracens/England)
4. Richie Gray (Scotland)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers/England)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales)
7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
8. Tangaki Taulupe Faletau (Dragons/Wales)
Replacements
16. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
17. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers/England)
18. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
19. Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland)
20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys/Wales)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
22. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Ireland)
23. George North (Scarlets/Wales
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