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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Coach Les Kiss of the Reds is seen during the warm up before the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium, on May 10, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Wallabies skipper won’t pressure Reds coach

Reds mentor Les Kiss is considered the favourite to replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies mentor, but for now his sole focus is guiding Queensland to Super Rugby Pacific glory, according to Australia’s captain, Harry Wilson.

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Australia's Maddison Levi (L) runs past France's Hawa Tounkara (R) to score a try during the third place play-off of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series women's rugby match between France and Australia at the Cape Town stadium in Cape Town on December 8, 2024. (Photo by Rodger Bosch / AFP)

Aussie star’s big World Cup move

After being crowned the best Rugby Sevens player in the world an Australian try-scoring machine is taking a big step towards possibly earning a World Cup spot.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 31:  Josh Flook of the Reds scores a try during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium, on May 31, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

‘Daunting’ task awaits Reds

If the Queensland Reds are to remain alive in the Super Rugby Pacific finals series, they must do what they couldn’t achieve last year against the same team at the same venue.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: Liam Wright of the Reds Fergus Lee-Warner of the Waratahs challenge for the ball during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium, on February 24, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia.  (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Reds primed for interstate grudge match

Regardless of where the Reds and the Waratahs are placed on the ladder, whenever they meet, it’s the ‘most important game in the calendar for Australian rugby’, according to Queensland coach Les Kiss.

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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 03: Waratahs coach Darren Coleman during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and NSW Waratahs at Sky Stadium, on May 03, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

NSW coach cops the axe

He had to loan players from other clubs to cover for injuries this year but that excuse didn’t help the Waratahs coach keep his job.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Tate McDermott of the Reds runs with the ball during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds at AAMI Park, on March 15, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Reds make mass changes

With Reds coach Les Kiss wanting to ‘refresh’ some players, he has made a host of changes to Queensland’s starting team.

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HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 04: Kurtley Beale of the Western Force warms up during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Chiefs and Western Force at FMG Stadium Waikato, on May 04, 2024, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Returning Beale must ‘find his feet’

Kurtley Beale hasn’t played for the Wallabies in two and a half years, but new national coach Joe Schmidt has been keeping a keen interest in the veteran’s progress at Western Force.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 03: Tom Lynagh of the Reds kicks during the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Queensland Reds at AAMI Park, on March 03, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Reds lose hamstrung Lynagh

The Reds have lost a key member of their side but will welcome back a Wallabies flanker for their clash with the Crusaders.

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 11:  James O'Connor of the Reds looks to pass during the round three Super Rugby Pacific match between ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds at GIO Stadium, on March 11, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Star Reds playmaker hamstrung

James O’Connor’s injury means it’s a battle of three for Queensland’s No.10 jersey for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash with NSW.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 29: Suliasi Vunivalu of the Reds looks on during the round 10 Super Rugby Pacific match between the Queensland Reds and the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium, on April 29, 2023, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Suli set for sizzling year

It’s been a tougher than expected road but the rugby union career of former Melbourne Storm star Suliasi Vunivalu is finally set to hit top gear.

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DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 26: Peni Ravai of the Reds charges forward during the round 14 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Queensland Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on May 26, 2023, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Late try sinks shattered Reds

The Queensland Reds threw away a 14-0 lead to suffer a loss that has endangered their hopes of contesting the Super Rugby Pacific finals series.

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TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Reds coach Brad Thorn looks on before the start of the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, on May 06, 2023, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Reds make mass changes

Unhappy with the Reds’ performance against the Blues, Queensland coach Brad Thorn has dropped almost half of his starting team.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/super-rugby