Jonah Placid will give Queensland rugby another reason to see red after being named as the Melbourne Rebels fullback for their Super Rugby clash with the Lions on Friday night.
The embattled Reds are already ruing the loss of talented backs Mike Harris and Dom Shipperley, who joined fellow Wallaby Scott Higginbotham at the Rebels, with Placid now another former Queenslander in the run-on side.
That doesn’t count work-horse flanker Sean McMahon, who was born and raised in Queensland but snapped up as a teenager by the Rebels.
Placid, 19, will start at fullback with Harris switching to five-eighth to cover for Jack Debreczeni, who has been ruled out with a minor knee injury.
Melbourne’s other injury concern, lock Lopeti Timani, was passed fit to play after a head knock in the win over the Western Force last week.
Placid played one Super Rugby match for the Reds before switching to the Rebels for the 2015 season.
A former under 20s representative, the speedster got plenty of game time for the Melbourne Rising in their impressive National Rugby Championship campaign.
Coach Tony McGahan said he was confident that Placid would make the most of his first opportunity with the Rebels.
“Jonah is somebody who we believe has a very exciting future, and all the signs in training indicate he is ready to play at this level,” McGahan said.
The game is a milestone for both Harris and Shipperley, who bring up 50 Super caps with five in Rebels colours following 45 with the Reds.
Shipperley, who scored his first try for the Rebels last round, said moving south with Harris had made the transition easy.
“We actually live a street apart as well and drive in the same car to training most days,” Shipperley said.
“I’m glad I made the move here with him.”
Rebels: Jonah Placid, Dom Shipperley, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman, Tom English, Mike Harris, Nic Stirzaker, Scott Higginbotham, Scott Fuglistaller, Sean McMahon, Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith. Res: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Steve Cummins, Colby Fainga’a, Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Sefanaia Naivalu.
