Queensland are determined not to post back-to-back Super Rugby losses for the first time since 2010, when they clash with the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning (AEDT).
The Reds went through their triumphant 2011 campaign without incurring successive defeats and are keen to keep that streak going after losing to the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
“What we’ve done well in the last year in particular was when we had a loss we got straight back on the horse and won,” Reds’ coach Ewen McKenzie told AAP.
“You don’t want to have back to back losses, the competition is too tight to be doing that, so we’re very keen to get back to winning ways.”
The Bulls are also coming off a last-start loss, though they had the bye last week.
“They will be sitting there worrying about whether they are going to win or not, that will be in the back of their minds,” McKenzie said.
While Loftus Versfeld has a reputation for being one of the more intimating venues in world rugby, McKenzie relishes the confrontational atmosphere.
“I quite enjoy the experience, I think it’s a really good challenge from a coaching point of view,” McKenzie said.
“We’re really looking forward to it. The enthusiasm in the squad has been great, they’ve trained really well.”
Queensland will field a side featuring seven personnel changes and a couple of positional switches.
Losing playmakers Mike Harris and Ben Lucas to injury and winger Digby Ioane to suspension forced three changes to the backs, while Ben Tapuai moved from outside centre to inside centre
Five-eighth Dallan Murphy gets his first start, while McKenzie revealed Wallabies’ back rower Radike Samo could be used off the bench as either a back or forward
McKenzie also made four voluntary changes to his pack and a positional switch in the front row.
“We’re just confident about the guys that come in that they will step up,” McKenzie said.
The centre pairing of Tapuai and Jono Lance reunites a partnership that has existed since their school days.
“There’s definitely a bit of cohesion there with Ben,” Lance told AAP.
Lance was wary of a Bulls side which won their first two games against the Sharks and Cheetahs prior to a home loss to the Blues.
“They got off to a good start to the year and a lot of people said they wouldn’t be able to do it with a lot of their good players leaving,” Lance said
“But they’ve proved a lot of people wrong, so they are going to be a very tough challenge.”
