Reds Super Rugby coach keeps faith
AAP
Jim Morton
May 15, 2014, 7:30 am
Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham has kept the faith with his Super Rugby team despite being blitzed 57-29 by the Crusaders on the weekend.
Graham has stuck by his starting 15 and eight-man bench, opting against making a single change for Saturday night's clash with the Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds led 17-16 at halftime before conceding five tries in a dreadful second-half display.
"I thought the team played some very good rugby in the first half last weekend against the Crusaders," Graham said.
"We continue to work hard and there is an incredibly strong desire to correct our path and get back to winning games."
Fullback Mike Harris will play despite a badly broken nose while under-fire rookie winger Jamie-Jerry Taulagi has also kept his spot.
The Reds are desperate to end a five-match losing streak and also keep their unbeaten record against the Rebels intact.
The sides have played six times with Queensland triumphing on each occasion.
However, the Rebels are a stronger outfit in 2014 and sit above the 13th-placed Reds on the table.
Aggressive NSW-bred flanker Beau Robinson plays his 50th match for Queensland on Saturday night, a milestone achieved after his career looked over in 2010 before accepting an offer from Ewen McKenzie to train with the Reds.
"Beau has worked incredibly hard to get to this point," Graham said. "No one could ever question his commitment to Queensland.
"He's a very passionate player and has always given everything for the team."
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...h-keeps-faith/
Reds: Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Fainga'a, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Jake Schatz, Beau Robinson, Curtis Browning, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, James Hanson, Ben Daley. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Albert Anae, Jono Owen, Ed O'Donoghue, Dave McDuling, Nick Frisby, Ben Lucas, Rod Davies.
