Queensland Reds keen to test themselves against New Zealand opposition

Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn says Australian teams “have some work to do” to beat their New Zealand rivals.

Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn is sick of hearing about how much better New Zealand Super rugby teams are than their Australian counterparts.

He doesn’t need reminding of the dominance of New Zealand sides in last year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

For those who do, Australian teams won only two of 25 matches against Kiwi opposition.

“It wasn’t a very good tally, was it?” Thorn asked on Friday ahead of the start of the attempted redemption by the Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies, Rebels and the Force in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.

For the remaining six rounds of the regular season – starting with this weekend’s “Super Round” at AAMI Park in Melbourne – teams from the Australian section of the competition will play against sides from the New Zealand section.

“You can talk about it, but it’s at the stage where let’s just see where it sits after the weekend and the next five weeks that follow,” said Thorn, whose Reds side meets the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

“It’ll be interesting with the New Zealand teams, how they view us. We’ve got some work to do.

“I don’t want to talk anything up. I just know that we’ve worked hard. We have massive respect for the Kiwis, but also on the other side of that … we have belief in wanting to win games of footy.”

Lawson Creighton will replace the injured James O’Connor in the Queensland No.10 jersey. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Unfortunately for the Reds, they will be without their best player – Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor – for up to six weeks with a knee injury.

They are also missing star fullback Jordan Petaia (hamstring) this weekend, and have a host of other players sidelined, including forwards Seru Uru, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright and Josh Nasser.

“We’ve had quite a few injuries and niggles, but we haven’t talked about it at all. We’ve just got on with it,” Thorn said of Reds squad, which has won seven from eight this season.

“Obviously you want the whole squad, everybody to be fit and firing, but it doesn’t always happen in this game.

“I’ve been prouder and prouder of the guys. There’s a good way about the squad, a good energy and they’re looking forward to what’s in front of them.”

Thorn didn’t expect O’Connor’s replacement, the versatile Lawson Creighton, to be overawed in his first Super Rugby starting appearance.

“He’s been ‘Mr Fixit’ for us. That’s how I’ve seen him. He can play anywhere,” Thorn said.

“The cool thing is that 10 (flyhalf) is his natural position – that’s where he wants to play.

“He’s looking forward to the challenge. He doesn’t have to do anything special, just do what he does.”

Teams: Reds: Jock Campbell, Suliasi Vunivalu, Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu, Lawson Creighton, Tate McDermott; Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Connor Vest, Angus Blyth, Ryan Smith, Taniela Tupou, Richie Asiata, Harry Hoopert. Replacements: Matt Faessler, Dane Zander, Feao Fotuaika, Lopeti Faifua, Angus Scott-Young, Kalani Thomas, Josh Flook, Mac Grealy.

Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Bailyn Sullivan, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wes Goosen, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Blake Gibson, Reed Prinsep, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Pouri Rakete-Stones. Replacements: Leni Apisai, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Justin Sangster, TK Howden, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Billy Proctor.