‘Not here (just) to participate’: Reds keen to tame touring Lions

To this day, Matt Faessler is still confused by it all. On a quiet day in early June, as he went through rehab training at Ballymore, the unassuming Queensland hooker was shown a graphic that had him ranked as one of the most marketable athletes in Australia.

In a Gemba study measuring athletes’ profile and social media clout, Faessler was ranked fourth and second for ‘interest’ and ‘influence’ respectively, ahead of names like Pat Cummins, Sam Kerr, Gout Gout and Oscar Piastri.

Faessler is happy to admit his sleepy social media footprint, with a couple of thousand followers, isn’t a buzzing hive of activity.

“It was as big a surprise to me as it was everyone else,” Faessler said. “I thought it was one of the boys in the team had edited it, to take the piss. I am not sure how they worked that out, but it gave us all a good laugh.”

Faessler’s best guess is the snapshot was taken around the time the 14-cap Wallaby scored a hat-trick for Australia in their win over Wales on their spring tour last year - the first ever by a Wallabies hooker - and duly made a few digital waves.

Heaven knows what fame and online virality might be unlocked, then, if Faessler and his Queensland teammates make some much bigger waves on Wednesday night, by toppling the mighty British and Irish Lions in a midweek tour game in Brisbane.

Matt Faessler celebrates scoring his team’s third try against Wales in Cardiff last year.Credit: Getty Images

In their second stop on a nine-game tour of Australia, the Lions will meet the Reds at a near sold-out Suncorp Stadium and the hosts are aiming to make an historic night, by causing an upset and downing the famous Home Nations team.

It’s not done very often. Away from Test matches, only the Brumbies (2013) and Australia A (2001) have managed to claim wins over the Lions in the past two tours.

“We’re not going out ... just to participate,” Faessler said on Monday.

“By no means are we going into this game just going, oh, it’s great to be here. We want to play our style of footy and take it to them when we can.”

Maro Itoje is making his return to the Lions side to meet Queensland.Credit: Getty Images

On a day when the Lions named a predictably powerful side, with a large number of players likely Test starters, the Reds unveiled a team featuring nine capped Wallabies.

Faessler will start at hooker for the Reds. He has not played since April 12. On that day, he badly tore his hamstring. He targeted a return against the Lions and was released from Wallabies camp last week for the Reds’ clash, along with Hunter Paisami.

“I am buzzing. When I got told that I was able to come back and get among the Reds boys again and play at Suncorp in front of a full house, it couldn’t wipe the smile off my face,” Faessler said.

Lions coach Andy Farrell picked a team that saw captain Maro Itoje return, and pointed strongly towards the preferred halves partnership for the first Test on July 19, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell paired up for the first time.

Welsh halfback Tomos Williams was ruled out of the rest of the tour with a hamstring injury.

As seen with ‘Saturday teams’ on previous tours, there was speculation Farrell would pick a Test-strength to meet the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium, but he instead opted for big names to play against the Reds, potentially in a nod to the fact it will be one of the toughest tour games.

The Reds have 11 players with Test experience, including new signing Aidan Ross at prop, just two weeks after the one-cap All Black finished up with the Chiefs. NSW-born Ross will become eligible for the Wallabies early next month.

And, unlike the Western Force, the Reds have some strength and depth on the bench.

“They’re a great side - that’s obvious,” Farrell said of the Reds.

“If you’ve watched the games, not just this year but last year as well, Les has done a fantastic job with them. They play a great brand of rugby and are able to play in many different ways, so this will be 100 per cent a big step up for us on Wednesday night.”

Queensland coach Les Kiss said the Reds will have to match the Lions in their “effort areas” and not have lapses of concentration, given the lethality of Russell’s kicking game.

The bookies don’t rate Queensland’s chances as $17 outsiders, but there is belief at the Reds.

“It [beating the Lions] would be right up there for sure,” Kiss said. “When something’s so rare, if you can nail it, that makes it even more special.

“We certainly believe we’re capable.”