Ben Lucas says Reds must fire up for clash with Waratahs as they look to avoid flogging

THE entire Reds side needs to fire up like Ben Lucas did in Perth or risk a hiding when the rampant NSW Waratahs hit Suncorp Stadium next weekend.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Sam Wykes of the Force gets tackled by Rob Simmons and Ben Lucas of the Reds during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Western Force and the Queensland Reds at nib Stadium on July 5, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

FEISTY Reds bantam Ben Lucas popped an aggro pill when he grappled with Western Force flanker Hugh McMeniman and ignored their 30kg weight difference in Perth.

The entire Reds side needs to fire up in the same fashion or risk a hiding when the rampant NSW Waratahs hit Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

With justified cause, Lucas jostled his far bigger rival after a tackle on half-time in last Saturday night’s wasteful 30-20 loss to the Western Force.

McMeniman had been back on the field for just two minutes after being sinbinned for cynically dropping a knee into the flyhalf’s ribs.

The act may cost McMeniman his spot in Friday night’s last round showdown against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra where the winner will earn a finals berth in the top six.

McMeniman was cited post match for foul play because it was regarded as a red card level offence for a judicial officer to examine.

“It was angry small man syndrome when I tried to rough up Hugh on half-time,” Lucas said with a grin yesterday.

“Tempers were up a bit with the way the game was going not with Hugh particularly.

“Things happen on the field and that’s where I leave them. Hugh messaged an apology and I’ll take that.”

The Waratahs locked up home ground advantage for the finals with Sunday’s impressive 44-16 thrashing of the Highlanders.

They could sleepwalk through the interstate game, lose by 20 and still keep their No.1 ranking but that is not their style.

“We want momentum going into the finals. It’s always tough to win there (at Suncorp Stadium) and we need guys putting their hands up,” Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper said.

Added Lucas: “Queensland-NSW is always a barnstormer.

“We have a bunch of longstanding players finishing with the Reds this weekend. Everyone wants to send them off the right way but also to finish the season feeling good.”

In Perth, Reds skipper James Horwill had two forehead cuts stitched, prop Ben Daley spilt blood from a cut under his left eye and flanker Beau Robinson also suffered a gash above the eye.

“An interstate game is big enough in itself but we also need to demonstrate to ourselves we can front up and deliver,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.

The Durban-based Sharks, now third on 46 points, may be sentenced to winning three times on the road to take their first title so costly was their 27-20 stumble to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The defending champion Chiefs (40) can jump from eighth into the top six by beating the Blues in Auckland on Friday night. The fifth-placed Hurricanes (41) are most vulnerable because they have played all their games.

Originally published as Ben Lucas says Reds must fire up for clash with Waratahs as they look to avoid flogging