Saia Faingaa and Reds eager to prove doubters wrong, starting with Brumbies at Suncorp

MILESTONE man Saia Faingaa has bristled at barbs that the Reds are a fading force and promises they have powerful story still to write.

Saia Faingaa will play his 100th Super Rugby game against the Brumbies, club he started with in 2005.

MILESTONE man Saia Faingaa has bristled at barbs that the Reds are a fading force and promises they have powerful story still to write.

The dreadlocked hooker said being prematurely written off as soon as a tough hurdle appeared had been fuel for years to prove doubters wrong again and again.

Another of those pivotal glory-or-bust moments arrives on Friday night when beating the in-form ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium is essential.

“As a team, we’ve always thrived on what people have told us we can’t do,” Faingaa said.

“When I started at the Reds in 2009, no one predicted a title was even possible. People said we could never beat the Brumbies in Canberra and we have, three times.

News_Rich_Media: Brumbies' hooker Stephen Moore expects heat against the Reds this weekend and says his side are welcoming the pressure

“We always lift for games like this one against the Brumbies. That’s not living in the past.

“The desire is there. We’ve had a few results not go our way but we’ve stuck tight and know it’s in our hands to decide the course of this season.’’

Faingaa, 27, grabs a piece of history on Friday night when he plays his 100th Super Rugby game against the club he started with as a rookie in 2005.

He is comfortable making his impact from the bench after two weeks off with shoulder trouble.

“The team comes first. For me, it’s more important to get that win and have my brother Anthony in the same side for my 100th game,” Faingaa said.

News_Image_File: Faingaa takes part in a running drill at Reds training.

The abrasive Anthony Faingaa has a key role to play at inside centre as the replacement for Mike Harris, who is unable to train because of achilles tendon soreness.

Young powerhouse Chris Feauai-Sautia, back after missing three games with hamstring trouble, is not on the wing to ease back in.

“His explosive running is a big asset for us and we want to make sure he’s involved early,’’ coach Richard Graham said.

Making too little of eight line breaks against the Western Force last weekend is a trend the Reds must reverse, Graham stressed.

“We are allowing teams to stay in the fight to the end. We have to be finish off our chances better.”

News_Rich_Media: ACT brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua says he is fit to play in their Aussie derby v the Queensland Reds despite coming off injured against the Blues

Harris is curiously bracketed on the bench with Dave McDuling, the burly lock-cum-flanker who will suit up for a possible debut if the centre can’t run.

The 115kg McDuling stays strongly on his feet in contact and an experiment to blood him as a sub at blindside flanker has merit to get more go-forward from the pack.

Ed Quirk retains the No.6 jersey. Graham revealed he had spoken to the red-haired flanker about backing his running game more.

Reds fans have waited too long for him to reprise the swerving, tackle-shedding try that killed off NSW at Suncorp Stadium early last season.

Reds: B Lucas, R Davies, B Tapuai, A Faingaa, C Feauai-Satutia, Q Cooper, W Genia; J Schatz, B Robinson, E Quirk, J Horwill (c), R Simmons, G Holmes, J Hanson, J Slipper. Res: S Faingaa, A Anae, J Owen, E O’Donoghue, C Browning, N Frisby, M Harris/D McDuling, J-J Taulagi.