QR Reds’ captain Sam Cordingley has been ruled out of Saturday’s Super 14 match against South Africa’s unbeaten Sharks in Durban and will be replaced at scrumhalf by Academy rookie Ben Lucas.
Reds Rugby reports that head Coach Phil Mooney said fullback Chris Latham will lead the side in the absence of Cordingley, who failed to recover sufficiently from a calf injury suffered in last weekend’s 24-24 draw with the Lions.
Lucas will run on in the number 9 jersey for the first time, with Will Genia taking Lucas’s spot on the bench after being flown over this week as a precaution.
Mooney said he hoped Cordingley would be fit in time for the following week’s match against the Cheetahs, but had full confidence in the ability of Lucas to step up to the challenge.
“Benny has handled every challenge we’ve given him – including broadening his skills to cover halfback in addition to flyhalf. We have every confidence he’ll do a great job for us against the Sharks. This is a fitting reward for the hard work and perseverance he’s shown since being drafted into the Reds’ training program during the pre-season,” Mooney said.
Queensland Rugby announced on Monday that Lucas had been signed to a fulltime, two year contract with the Reds for 2009-10.
Lucas, 21, has an impressive rugby resume having represented his state and country at schoolboy level and in the Australian Sevens team in 2007.
A gifted playmaker and goal kicker who claimed a personal tally of 35 points, including two tries, in Sunnybank’s record 85-19 win over the Gold Coast in the 2007 Trinity Premier Rugby Grand Final, Lucas went on to excel for the MFS East Coast Aces in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship, being named that team’s player of the tournament.
“Benny has come right through the pathway to the Reds. He’s a great advertisement for our development program,” said Mooney.
The QR Reds team:
Starting XV: Chris Latham (c), Clinton Schifcofske, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, David Croft, John Roe, James Horwill, Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes.
Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rodney Blake, Ed O’Donoghue, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Charlie Fetoai, Digby Ioane
Tweet
This is good news for the Sharks.
I hope this is not one of those low scoring games that these two teams usually dish up when they meet.
we might have some more space around the scrums now but latham still worries me,
The Sharks are raring to go this Saturday after enjoying a bye over the Easter Weekend, with skipper Johan Muller insisting their sole focus is on beating the Reds.
Some quarters are suggesting that the Sharks have one foot on the plane ahead of their five-week tour of Australia and New Zealand.
But Muller ensures that his team are not thinking about the long journey just yet.
“We aren’t speaking about the tour, we have the Reds this weekend and that’s the most important thing for us,” Muller told the Sharks official website.
“We will start the tour on Sunday, so Saturday is the big one for us.
“We know the Reds are going to be tough, so that’s all we’re focused on and preparing for,” added the skipper.
Muller said that the bye could not have come at a better time for the unbeaten Durban franchise.
“The break came at a really good time for us,” said Muller.
“You could see in training this week that the intensity is there, the guys are hungry and keen to get going again,” he added.
rugby 365
Sorry had to go to the shop for fresh bread. 😎
Yeah let’s hope the Sharks don’t repeat the Brumbies mistake they made last year.
hey whats this negative talk ??
imma make towel heads of u2
more barend hoe gaan dit ??
and gm ksa mate hope all is well
me reckons rob still got hangover he will be late lol
goed en da lover thanks vir gisteraand, was gr8t.
Morning Guys!!!! 😀 #
goed en da lover thanks vir gisteraand, was gr8t.
28.03.08 07:42:42 – barend 😯 😯
For the last few weeks Rob could excuse himslef by saying he was still on UK time and that is why he only rolled up at 11 each morning…..
Let’s see what he has to say this am. 😉
morning gentlemen
and Ice 😀
slowly we awaken Ice 😆
Morning kette et al!
KSA – it was a mellow party – very nice meeting the people – but alas no breaking tables and stuff – so Rob should be in, in a while!! 😉
Morning kette et al!
HEY What makes her special why does she get first mention???? Or did you mean, “Morning Kettle”? 😆
So Rob will get his security deposit for the tables back then? 😉
will have to arrange one when we’re home for a month in December 😀 always good to meet friends in person 😆
Ladies first you stupid!! 😉
I was very tempted, but thought rather to behave and not cause Robs trouble or having to pay for damages…. 😎
tread lightly there KSA tread vvvveeeerrrry lightly, if I’m a kettle, you’re a pot and you know where this is going 😉
slowly we awaken Ice
28.03.08 07:49:14 – barend Edit
That comment sort of implies barend thinks YOUR evening was not as mellow as you think it was 😆 Memory loss is one of the first signs of a heavy night. When you keep putting words like “apparently” in your sentences then you know it was a rough evening. Things like, “apparently the barman was hitting on me” “Apparantly the barmaid was hot” these type of sentences indicate a rough night. 😉
Kette – sounds good to me!! 😀 Thats if I count under the ‘friends” 😉
KSA 😀 😀
Apparently we took Rob home… 😉
nooooo KSA it was mild, besides for the Devil made me do it “batchelorette” we all sat and spoke softly and had 2 beers each and a small meal, but it was fun i think
You were there before me and you only had 2 beers? 😯 😯
Ok – i got a bit more value fo my money in the time frame… 😉
Man – i wanted to join that develish woman – she did quite a good table dance!! 😛 😛
Apparently we took Rob home…
28.03.08 07:58:28 – Ice Edit
PERFECT example
of course !!! 😀
Man – i wanted to join that develish woman – she did quite a good table dance!!
28.03.08 08:02:04 – Ice Edit
Tell us MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m home!
Was that supposed to be a question mark? 😆
as in “I’m Home?” 😆
Morning Rob! 😛
Ahhhhhh
She was at her bachelorette party. I thought she was part of the Sharksworld group. 🙂
Slow start today 🙂
morning rob, how’s the stay in SA going ?
thanks for the wishes btw
canes heading out
oops on the wrong thread, teaches me to have multiple tabs open 😳