Will Genia bidding to overcome ankle injury and be part of Quade Cooper’s Red-letter day
WILL Genia’s determination to beat his ankle injury has been driven by his fierce desire to share Quade Cooper’s 100-game milestone.
WILL Genia’s determination to beat his ankle injury has been driven by his fierce desire to share Quade Cooper’s 100-game milestone on Friday night.
Running for a second time at training in Auckland on Tuesday confirmed that the champion halfback will definitely be wearing the No.9 jersey and still be capable of telling runs despite some pain.
The Reds have several key selections on their plate for Friday night’s desperation clash against the dangerous Blues, who through all their inconsistency have won four from four at their Eden Park home this season.
Rookie Jamie-Jerry Taulagi’s defensive frailties on the wing against the Hurricanes last week must necessitate a recall for the experienced Rod Davies.
Taulagi has plenty of promise but the Blues have the backline firepower to slice through even alert defences so there can be no more costly defensive misreads.
Blues winger Lolagi Visinia, at 101kg, is still 10kg lighter than juggernaut Frank Halai on the other sideline so the Reds have plenty of telling tackles to make because Charles Piutau, one of the fastest men in New Zealand rugby, and All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu will also command the ball.
Playing Mike Harris at fullback is shaping as a key Reds move. Blues skipper and form flanker Luke Braid (shoulder) has been ruled out, which gives Liam Gill the chance to impose himself even more now he is fit for a return to the starting side from hamstring trouble.
For Genia, there is no looking beyond this 80 minutes when the Reds will strive to repeat the 23-11 droughtbreaker at Eden Park two years ago.
“This is must win, do-or-die. I’m not worried about winning the next three or four. It’s winning this one game,’’ Genia said between showers in Auckland.
“The swelling is down on the ankle. I feel confident on it. No problems.
“First and foremost, it’s incredibly special for Quade to play this 100th game for Queensland and it was one of the driving factors to push through the pain so I could play with him.
“It's not a game I would want to miss beside a good mate, a friend since juniors together.
“What you want is someone who wants the ball to take on the game. Over the years, backing himself in any situation is what sticks out the most.’’
Cooper’s precision has to be spot on to make the most of that mindset because a couple of wobbly kicks in Wellington were costly.
Like Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, Eden Park has floating sidelines in the middle of a cricket ground that make it tougher for line-kickers to get their bearings.
The Reds kickers will again be instructed on the importance of banging the ball wider over the sidelines to prevent quick Blues throw-ins. Failing to follow that command against the Hurricanes meant six quick throws, which fed their relentless attack.