Queensland Reds go for aggression as Chris Feauai-Sautia gets the nod to take on Cheetahs

QUEENSLAND Reds coach Richard Graham has recruited a shy church youth-worker to his backline for this weekend’s clash.

Chris Feauai-Sautia has been selected to add some aggression to the Reds backline against the Cheetahs.

SEARCHING for greater grunt following last week’s pummelling by NSW, Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham has recruited a shy church youth-worker to his backline.

While Ipswich’s Chris Feauai-Sautia may be a quiet 20-year-old off the field, he is a brute on it and has forced his way into the starting XV with two bruising cameos this season.

His aggression has been enlisted to a team that rarely stampeded the advantage line against a dominant Waratahs side.

Despite a 32-6 loss to NSW, the Reds have largely backed the same line-up with most of the five changes forced.

Three-quarter Ben Tapuai is the biggest casualty, with Feauai-Sautia injected for his ability to run-over opposition centres.

News_Image_File: Feauai-Sautia is a hard-running centre who loves the contact, and he replaces Ben Tapuai.

“Chris has the ability to get over the advantage line quickly. He’s an abrasive guy and explosive,” Graham said.

“Chris has been there or thereabouts throughout the pre-season. I gave Taps the nod on the way we wanted to play a little bit earlier.

“Chris will do a good job for us in that outside channel.”

Currently fourth of the five-team Australian Super Rugby conference, the Reds clash with a seething Cheetahs team that were upset by the Melbourne Rebels last week.

It is the Reds first game at Suncorp Stadium this year and the short Super Rugby season means home losses, even this early, carry immense weight.

News_Rich_Media: A visibly disappointed Reds head coach Richard Graham believes it was simply a case of giving away too much in teh second half.

Graham’s changes for Friday’s clash include Mike Harris returning to inside centre, after he was a late withdrawal last week while Rod Davies earns a start on the wing for the injured Lachlan Turner who is battling a knee complaint.

There are two changes to the front-row with James Hanson to make his first start of the year at hooker, replacing Saia Fainga’a and prop Ben Daley taking over from James Slipper at prop.

Graham said those two players were going back to the bench largely due to the short back up between games.

Graham has retained his backrow trio, resisting the urge to inject the bullocking running game of young gun Curtis Browning.

“We were disappointed with the result but we have a group pretty keen to resolve that,” Graham said.

News_Image_File: Lachie Turner, James Horwill and Richard Graham at Reds rugby training at Ballymore.

“The way we planned through pre-season was right. We had a loss but it is not time to panic.

“You have to put it in context. Four of our first five games are away from home.

“We didn’t play well the other night and it was not what we were capable of.

“Good thing about sport is there’s next week.”

While the Reds loss to the Waratahs was emphatic, it came against an exceptionally polished side.

There is no panic at Ballymore, knowing the Waratahs have the talent to put on a show against any team in this competition.

The game against the Cheetahs will be crucial.

Queensland needs the momentum of victory because they fly out for a two match South Africa 12 hours after the game.