Super Rugby 2015 season: Queensland Reds unsure about who will fill flyhalf spot
JAMES O’Connor or Nick Frisby loom as short-term fixes at flyhalf for a Reds side with 80 minutes to discover if they can gamble on kid playmaker Duncan Paia’aua.
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JAMES O’Connor or wildcard Nick Frisby suddenly loom as short-term fixes at flyhalf for a Reds side with just 80 minutes to discover if they can gamble on kid playmaker Duncan Paia’aua.
Who will play No.10 in the Super Rugby opener against the ACT Brumbies on February 13 became murkier rather than clearer in Saturday night’s drenching humidity in Cairns.
If anything, back-up halfback Frisby has emerged as the shock frontrunner. He hadn’t played flyhalf for six years since school days at Marist Ashgrove when he slipped into the role for the final 20 minutes of the 28-13 trial loss to the Melbourne Rebels.
It was an emergency choice only hatched when Quade Cooper went down with his cracked collarbone 11 days ago.
He has a sharp pass, speed and spies opportunites quickly with an adventurous spirit.
Most importantly, he has the composure of having played around this squad for three seasons which is the key element that raw new boy Paia’aua, 20, is missing.
Frisby will see more experimental time at No.10 in Friday night’s appealing trial against the Crusaders at Ballymore when All Blacks legend Dan Carter will continue his comeback.
Reds coach Richard Graham yesterday admirably promised that Paia’aua would get a significant second chance at Ballymore when the ball isn’t a slippery cake of Cairns soap because he sees him as a long-term prospect in the position at the club.
Urgent short term needs to best guarantee a strong season start are also vital.
Graham admitted Frisby and possibly O’Connor are in the frame for trial minutes at No.10 against the Crusaders.
“You’ve got to have a few scenarios in play not just one for a key position,” Graham said.
“James is one of the experienced players now available (after a knee niggle) for his first trial so we’ll discuss his position.”
O’Connor, signed as a winger, is the logical flyhalf choice in many ways. He might have had shortcomings as a Test No.10 in 2013 but this is stepping up at the level below.
He’s performed in the role before for the Rebels and, significantly, started three times at flyhalf for French club Toulon late last year when he was also used there four times off the bench.
Paia’aua played like the rookie he is for an hour and spilt two passes when he might have stood closer to Will Genia to receive the ball in the tricky wet-ball conditions.
“Duncan played a bit wider and flatter than perhaps he could have with the ball so slippery. He put himself under more pressure than he needed too with the defence rushing up but he’ll work on adjustments which is all part of his initiation,” Graham said.
Paia’aua was a hard marker on his own performance.
“I was a bit disappointed in myself and there are no excuses for a bad performance like that,” he said.
“I’ll be working a lot more on my catch and pass this week and hopefully I do get to play against Dan Carter because it would be surreal playing against another of my heroes.”
“The boys are still backing me 100 per cent which is good to feel.”
Originally published as Super Rugby 2015 season: Queensland Reds unsure about who will fill flyhalf spot
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