Reds make changes for Sharks
Coach Jeff Miller has sprung a few surprises in the Queensland Reds team announced today to take on the Sharks
in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday night.
Rookie Caleb Brown has been rewarded for his exciting cameos this season with a place in the starting
line-up, while utility forward Tom McVerry also comes into the run-on side with the experienced Mark Connors
moving to the bench.
| QLD Reds Team |
| 1. | Greg Holmes |
| 2. | Stephen Moore |
| 3. | Rodney Blake* |
| 4. | Mitchell Chapman |
| 5. | James Horwill |
| 6. | Tom McVerry |
| 7. | David Croft (c) |
| 8. | John Roe |
| 9. | Sam Cordingley |
| 10. | Berrick Barnes |
| 11. | Peter Hynes |
| 12. | Julian Huxley |
| 13. | Ben Tune |
| 14. | Caleb Brown |
| 15. | Drew Mitchell |
| Reserve Bench |
| 16. | Sean Hardman |
| 17. | Anthony Mathison# |
| 18. | Ben Mowen |
| 19. | Mark Connors |
| 20. | Josh Valentine |
| 21. | Lloyd Johansson |
| 22. | Henari Veritau |
| *#Subject to Fitness |
Australian 2005 Under-21s captain Ben Mowen is in line to make his Queensland Super 14 debut from the bench
at the expense of Cameron Treloar and he couldn’t be more thrilled.
“I’ve been on the phone all night ringing all my family and making sure the stay up and watch it so I’m
looking forward to it,” he said.
Mowen impressed on the Reds Argentinean tour last October and was well placed to come into the side early
in the season but broke his jaw.
“Unfortunately at the start of the year I had my broken jaw which was a real set back to the start of my
season but I’m very glad to get the opportunity now.” Mowen said.
There is no chance that he will be nervous at the point of contact.
“I’ve had a couple of Queensland A games now to really get my feet and find my way in those contact
situations so I’m looking forward to the confrontation with the Sharks.”
At 6’5” the team loses no height with his inclusion and forwards coach Alec Evans can see Mowen being an
asset in the lineouts.
“He’s an outstanding lineout person and he’s little bit lighter than normal so we can get him up quickly
and compete.”
Evans also said that McVerry’s promotion into the run-on side was just reward for the bulked-up utility who
has worked his way into the team into the No. 6 jumper where he will partner up-and-coming hitman Mitchell
Chapman in the second row.
“It’s really a change over in acknowledging that Tom’s in form,” Evans said of the changes to the forward
pack.
“Mark (Connors) has done a great job. One of the reasons for getting him into the squad was to help these
young guys come through which he’s done superbly.”
A final decision on the fitness of Rodney Blake will be made later in the week with Aniva Niumata on
standby should he not be available.
Rugby Super 14 - Round 8
Coastal Sharks vs Queensland Reds
ABSA Stadium, Durban
Saturday, April 1
Kick-Off: 5:00pm (RSA), Sunday 1:00am (QLD)
Exclusively Live on Fox Sports from 1:00am (QLD time, Sunday morning)
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