Error-riddled Queensland Reds are their own worst enemies

The Reds may be facing the Highlanders but perhaps the team they should fear the most is themselves.

James Slipper at Reds Training.

The Reds are facing defending champions the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, which is daunting enough, but perhaps the team they should fear the most is themselves.

Captain James Slipper will be back in the starting line-up at loosehead for the first time this season, Liam Gill should squeeze out 60 minutes after playing only half a game in his comeback match against NSW, while Chris Feauai-Sautia has recovered from the flu that forced him out of the interstate match but presumably will find himself in a tight selection contest with the man who took his wing spot, Junior Laloifi.

With the exception, then, of World Cup lock Kane Douglas who is expected back after the June internationals, the Reds are at full strength for the first time this season.

Queensland have the worst attacking record in Super Rugby, with only seven tries. However, save for the Stormers who have let in five tries, the Reds have the best defence, conceding only 11.

With the Highlanders having scored precisely half of their 20 tries from turnovers, steals or kick returns, the Reds cannot afford to keep making mistakes at the rate they have averaged of late.

“The challenge for us is to make sure we play accurate rugby so that we don’t beat ourselves,” said co-coach Matt O’Connor.

But as the Western Force showed last weekend, the game must also be taken to the New Zealanders as much as possible. By scoring two tries in the first 10 minutes, the Force applied significant scoreboard pressure and although the Highlanders regrouped to go into halftime all square, they managed only to pull more than a try in front with less than 10 minutes to play.

O’Connor and co-coach Nick Stiles have used the bye to desperately try to bring the skills of the Reds up to Super Rugby standards but it is a task that will take seasons. “There’s no aspect of our game we’re entirely happy with so we’ve got huge growth potential,” said O’Connor.

Ben Smith, who established himself as the best fullback in rugby at the World Cup, has been rested by the Highlanders to aid his recovery from a head knock, but ace goalkicker Lima Sopoaga returns from injury to form a formidable halves pairing with All Blacks No 9 Aaron Smith.

Meanwhile, the Western Force might be back home in Perth, but after playing the Brumbies, Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders in the past month, there is still no respect for them, as they play the Crusaders on their way home from South Africa tomorrow night.

Ross Haylett-Petty will need at least another week for his head wound to heal after his “friendly fire” clash with second-row partner Adam Coleman, which gives Steve Mafi a chance to start in the only change to the starting XV.

Loose-head Francois van Wyk is set to make his first appearance off the bench after recovering from wrist surgery. He has played only four games for the Force since joining them in 2014.