Prop James Slipper has been promoted to captain the Queensland Reds against the NSW Waratahs in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash in the absence of injured leaders James Horwill and Will Genia.
Going into his 50th game for the Reds, Slipper regains the captaincy role he held during the opening month of the competition with Wallabies captain Horwill (calf) and vice-captain Genia (knee/hand) to miss one week through injury ahead of next weekend’s start of the Super Rugby finals series.
While the Waratahs are out of contention, the ANZ Stadium match is crucial to the Reds’ finals series ladder position, with the Queenslanders locked in a battle for fourth place and a home qualifying final at Suncorp Stadium.
“I really enjoyed the experience and learned a huge amount from captaining this team earlier in the year,” said Slipper.
“It’s disappointing to be without James and Will, but to get this opportunity again is very rewarding and I’ll be doing everything within my power to get a Reds win on Saturday.”
In Horwill’s absence, Ed O’Donoghue will partner Rob Simmons in the second row.
Nick Frisby gets his second straight opportunity at halfback in place of Genia, having starred in Queensland’s tour match against The British and Irish Lions in June.
He will combine with flyhalf Quade Cooper while goal-kicker Mike Harris has recovered from an ankle injury to win his first starting opportunity since round five alongside Ben Tapuai in the centres.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie stressed the importance of the match.
“We’re in a unique circumstance where we’ve only got one game before the finals so it’s important we begin to get our combinations right and are choosing players who are completely fit and healthy for the next stages of our campaign,” McKenzie said.
“You never wish to see players of the calibre of James Horwill and Will Genia miss games but James Slipper did an outstanding job in the opening month of the season and will lead us well.”
Queensland Reds: Ben Lucas, Rod Davies, Ben Tapuai, Mike Harris, Luke Morahan, Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby; Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk, Rob Simmons, Ed O’Donoghue, James Slipper (capt), Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes. Res: Albert Anae, Jono Owen, Radike Samo, Jarrad Butler, Beau Robinson, Anthony Faingaa, Dom Shipperley, James Slipper.
