Reds name team to take on Highlanders as their Super Rugby campaign begins

Jordan Petaia’s selection at outside centre is the first win for the Queensland Reds who have shown they are smart enough to be flexible in key selection ideas.

Jordan Petaia has been picked to play outside centre for the Reds.. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

• Qld’s hottest rugby talent: 50 to 41
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Update: Jordan Petaia’s selection at outside centre is the first win for the Queensland Reds who have shown they are smart enough to be flexible in key selection ideas.

Everything in pre-season work pointed to Petaia continuing to be groomed for Super Rugby as a winger so not to rush the 18-year-old talent.

Surprise, surprise. The Reds have picked their best backline formation to face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night with Chris Feauai-Sautia switched to the wing.

It means Petaia and his far superior ball-handling are in the centres outside captain and line-crusher Samu Kerevi.

Jordan Petaia has been picked to play outside centre for the Reds.. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

It’s the variety that Kerevi and Feauai-Sautia don’t offer as bludgeoning runners who often only try to offload in contact.

Petaia barely saw the ball on the wing in the Reds’ most recent trial against the Chiefs which was a waste of his quick footwork to open up a defence and his smarts to throw a good pass.

The Reds have the depth in the backrow to field a strong trio (Caleb Timu, Liam Wright and Angus Scott-Young) even without experienced former captain Scott Higginbotham, who has a shoulder niggle.

The front-row will miss key scrummager JP Smith (knee).

It does mean a debut for loosehead prop Feao Fotuaika, rousing reward for ditching McDonald’s fast food and ice cream binges to shed a staggering 16kg during the off-season.

“Feao is a feel-good story,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.

“He was out-of-shape and on the verge of giving up the game last year.

Petaia played on the wing for Queensland last year. (AAP Image/Albert Perez)

“His transformation has been something to admire and his scrummaging is now very dominant.”

Top recruits Bryce Hegarty (fullback) and flyer Sefa Naivalu (wing) bring the debutants to three.

Hegarty’s poise will aid the direction of young flyhalf Hamish Stewart while the Reds haven’t had speed like Naivalu on the wing since track sprinter Ricky Nalatu’s debut in 1998.

“The Highlanders are a quality team. It’s tough to win in Dunedin, so we’ll need to be at our best and execute what we’ve worked on,” Thorn said.

“We’re ready to rip in.”

Samu Kerevi will captain the team and partner Jordan Petaia in the centres. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The Highlanders have added All Blacks class with halfback dangerman Aaron Smith and winger Waisake Naholo returning to their starting side.

Thorn has no fear with selections. He has backed utility Isaac Lucas, fullback cover, and flanker Fraser McReight, both 20, for the bench after their impressive pre-season work.

Isaac may just be the best of the four Lucas brothers.

His footwork and step by four Chiefs defenders in the trial was superb and so was a quick, short pass to the wing at Monday training.

The 18-points start offered on the Reds at betting agency Ladbrokes is the bet of the year if the defensive gains of taskmaster Peter Ryan have been bedded down.

Either that or the Kiwis are still way out in front on their home soil.

Reds v Highlanders – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Friday, 4.35pm Qld time

1. Feao Fotuaika

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Taniela Tupou

4. Izack Rodda (vc)

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

6. Angus Scott-Young

7. Liam Wright

8. Caleb Timu

9. Moses Sorovi

10. Hamish Stewart

11. Sefa Naivalu

12. Samu Kerevi (c)

13. Jordan Petaia

14. Chris Feauai-Sautia

15. Bryce Hegarty

Reserves

16. Alex Mafi

17. Harry Hoopert

18. Ruan Smith

19. Harry Hockings

20. Fraser McReight

21. Tate McDermott

22. Duncan Paia’aua

23. Isaac Lucas