Ioane returns in centres

Updated April 26, 2012 14:13:38

Wallaby winger Digby Ioane will return from suspension at outside centre for the Queensland Reds against the Blues in Auckland on Friday night.

Ioane was suspended for five weeks for a dangerous tackle in his side's loss to the Sharks in round four.

He will mark a milestone on his return, playing his 50th game for the Reds.

"It has been a long five weeks watching from the sideline, but I'm glad to be back now and to be playing my 50th game for Queensland," Ioane said.

Anthony Faingaa also returns from a foot injury and will start the game on the bench for the Reds.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said he had no reservations about starting Ioane at outside centre rather than on the wing.

"Digby has also played a lot of rugby at outside centre and is familiar at the position so we won't lose much there," McKenzie said.

"Digby has been a man possessed at training during his suspension and is raring to go. Everyone is excited to have him back."

In the backs McKenzie will start Ben Lucas at fly half after he played 76 minutes agianst the Stormers replacing the injured Sam Lane.

Queensland will be without injured replacement lock Van Humphries in Auckland while regular starting number eight Radike Samo has been left out of the squad.

Scott Higginbotham will start at number eight and Liam Gill comes off the bench to play flanker.

The Reds and Blues last met in the 2011semi-final in Brisbane which the Reds won on their way to the Super Rugby title.

The Blues have won only one match this year but a victory at Eden park won't come easy for the Queenslanders.

Queensland: Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Digby Ioane, Mike Harris, Rod Davies, Ben Lucas, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Beau Robinson, James Horwill (c), Rob Simmons, James Slipper, James Hanson, Ben Daley. Reserves: Albert Anae, Greg Holmes, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Ed Quirk, Nick Frisby, Anthony Faingaa.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, australia, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted April 26, 2012 13:07:25

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Rebels shift Gerrard to centres

Updated April 13, 2011 20:38:00

The Melbourne Rebels have reshuffled their backline with coach Rod Macqueen finally having most of his players fit and available.

After a wave of injuries, all of the backs except Julian Huxley (groin) were up for selection for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders at AAMI Park, with the Rebels gunning for their third successive victory.

Former Test full-back Mark Gerrard has shifted to the centres, with blossoming custodian Richard Kingi named at the back.

That allowed Macqueen to accommodate the return from injury of bustling winger Cooper Vuna.

Lachlan Mitchell, who played outside centre in their win over the Force before last weekend's bye, is on the right wing with Luke Rooney relegated to the bench.

In the forwards Rodney Blake has returned to the starting 15 and replaced Nic Henderson at loose-head prop.

Flanker Hoani Macdonald will make his return from a long-term hand injury on the bench.

For the visiting Highlanders, All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan has been relegated to the bench.

Cowan, who has started all of the Highlanders' matches in 2011, is replaced by Manawatu and NZ Maori half-back Aaron Smith.

Rebels (15-1): Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (c), Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (vc), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake. Res: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Hoani Macdonald, Luke Rooney, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted April 13, 2011 18:49:00

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Reds centres told to grab attention

Updated June 17, 2011 16:14:00

Stand-in Queensland centres Ben Tapuai and Will Chambers are on notice to gate-crash the Chiefs' farewell party and safeguard the Reds' number one position in Super Rugby on Saturday.

Much-loved captain Mils Muliaina, respected playmaker Stephen Donald, star finisher Sitiveni Sivivatu and long-time coach Ian Foster are among the seven local stalwarts to be farewelled in a sentimental last-round clash at Waikato Stadium.

But Reds coach Ewen McKenzie only wants to see his table-topping team take centre stage by sealing Super Rugby's top spot and gain the important inside running to a July 9 home decider.

It is Tapuai and Chambers who have the biggest personal assignments in producing their defensive A-games after the Reds' midfield was exposed in last week's 24-21 escape act against Western Force in Perth.

The new combination - filling in for injured pair Anthony Faingaa and Mike Harris - must rise to the challenge against one of the most unpredictable and dangerous teams in the competition.

McKenzie was pleased with Tapuai and Chambers' ball-running games in Perth but they were caught out with slow line speed and reactions in two early tries by opposing centre Rory Sidey.

"We were disappointed about our defence against the Force, it wasn't up to our usual standard ... it's normally an area of strength," McKenzie said.

"These guys have stepped up and it is draining when you haven't played that much before.

"But we weren't happy with it and we want to do better, and we know we need to do better."

The Chiefs boast a highly mobile back row and can be near unstoppable if their halves Brendon Leonard and Donald receive quick ball to feed their dangerous outside men.

Despite the Reds' standing, the Chiefs will start slight favourites at home with injury-hit visitors missing their entire starting backline besides Wallabies duo Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

McKenzie has promoted versatile back rower Jake Schatz at the expense of Radike Samo to help nullify the influence of All Blacks flankers Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer.

Reactivated winger Caleb Ralph, who started his 135-match Super Rugby career with the Chiefs 14 years ago, will made an unlikely Reds debut from the bench with rookie Dom Shipperley selected to replace Luke Morahan (hamstring).

Shipperley will line up opposite tackle-busting Lelia Masaga, while Rod Davies has overcome a shoulder problem to mark Sivivatu, who scored a hat-trick on the Reds flyer when he made a forgettable 2009 debut.

"The worm turns," McKenzie said.

"He (Davies) is definitely a better player than he was then."

A Chiefs loss would see them finish at the bottom of the New Zealand conference.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, brisbane-4000, new-zealand

First posted June 17, 2011 16:07:00

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Rebels shift Gerrard to centres

Posted April 13, 2011 18:49:00

The Melbourne Rebels have reshuffled their backline with coach Rod Macqueen finally having most of his players fit and available.

After a wave of injuries, all of the backs except Julian Huxley (groin) were up for selection for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders at AAMI Park, with the Rebels gunning for their third successive victory.

Former Test full-back Mark Gerrard has shifted to the centres, with blossoming custodian Richard Kingi named at the back.

That allowed Macqueen to accommodate the return from injury of bustling winger Cooper Vuna.

Lachlan Mitchell, who played outside centre in their win over the Force before last weekend's bye, is on the right wing with Luke Rooney relegated to the bench.

In the forwards Rodney Blake has returned to the starting 15 and replaced Nic Henderson at loose-head prop.

Flanker Hoani Macdonald will make his return from a long-term hand injury on the bench.

For the visiting Highlanders, All Blacks half-back Jimmy Cowan has been relegated to the bench.

Cowan, who has started all of the Highlanders' matches in 2011, is replaced by Manawatu and NZ Maori half-back Aaron Smith.

Rebels (15-1): Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (c), Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (vc), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake. Res: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Hoani Macdonald, Luke Rooney, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.

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