Stephen Moore vows to show future club the Reds no mercy this season

RUTHLESSLY rolling the Reds this season is the aim for ACT Brumbies captain Stephen Moore regardless of his allegiance switching to Queensland next year.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 27: Stephen Moore of the Brumbies is tackled during the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Hurricanes and the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

RUTHLESSLY rolling the Reds three times this season is the aim for ACT Brumbies captain Stephen Moore regardless of his allegiance switching to Queensland next year.

“It’s not weird. That’s the way professional sport is,” Moore said.

“I haven’t thought too much about next year because my full commitment is to the Brumbies this season and staying focused on maximising our opportunities is really important.”

The Wallabies captain could not think any other way. Being uncompromising about excellence and ignoring distractions were a hallmark of his impressive World Cup leadership.

Moore will lead the Brumbies as co-captain tonight at Ballymore in a final trial of vital importance to both Super Rugby sides.

The Brumbies flogged the Reds 47-3 and 29-0 last season when they were far more cohesive in every way, and Moore wants the dominance to continue.

“We want to do as well as we can and it starts at Ballymore because it’s a first trial for a lot of us, me included,” Moore said.

The angst from the Brumbies top brass when Moore announced in December that he had signed a three-year deal with the Reds from next year has eased to get-on-with-the-job commonsense.

The Brumbies seem settled, with 10 Wallabies starting, long-term playmakers in Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano and extra spark from running Argentinian halfback Tomas Cubelli.

The Reds have question marks to answer everywhere on raw combinations, inexperienced halves, lack of backrow firepower and an untried attacking scheme.

The Brumbies are the blueprint for workrate from their wingers Henry Speight and Joe Tomane.

Reds wingers Eto Nabuli and Chris Feauai-Sautia need to play copycat because their 200kg of running power is wasted if they hang back on the sidelines rather than roaming for impact.

Youngster Sam Greene will play at flyhalf in the second half, which will be a good pointer to the team’s depth in the key playmaking position.

He is the Reds’ best kicking No.10, feeds a slick pass and has fearlessly felled 106kg Samu Kerevi in club footy.

Stephen Moore will show his future club no mercy this season.

He is also a top goalkicker who will enjoy training beside Japanese sharpshooter Ayumu Goromaru, who will be blooded with 20-30 minutes at fullback tonight.

There is nothing wrong with the Reds development pathways because seven of the Brumbies starting team got their initiation in Queensland school or club ranks.

REDS: B Daley, A Ready, G Holmes, C Neville, R Simmons (c), L Fakaosilea, L Gill, J Schatz, N Frisby, J McIntyre, E Nabuli, H Taefu, S Kerevi, C Feauai-Sautia, K Hunt. Res: S Faingaa, S Fa’agase, S Talakai, B Matwijow, C Browning, H Tui, S Gale, S Greene, J Laloifi, C Magnay, A Goromaru

BRUMBIES: A Toua, H Speight, T Kuridrani, M Toomua, J Tomane, T Cubelli, C Lealiifano (c), I Vaea, D Pocock, S Fardy, S Carter, R Arnold, B Alexander, S Moore (c), A Alaalatoa. Res: R Abel, S Sio, L Leuluaialii-Makin, B Enever, J Butler, M Dowsett, N Jooste, A Smith, T Staniforth, J Smiler, N Ah Wong

Originally published as Stephen Moore vows to show future club the Reds no mercy this season