Mowen gets Reds berth

November 09, 2006 - 4:50pm
Story by: Sportal

Queensland Reds fans will get a glimpse of their team's future this Friday night with coach Eddie Jones naming a decidedly youthful squad to take on Japan in Tokyo.

The team flew out for Tokyo on Tuesday and Jones is set to play a side that contains a number of teenagers with half the players in his team aged 21 or under.

The call-up of utility back Mitchell Chapman to the touring Wallaby squad has forced changes with Ben Mowen promoted to the starting line-up and Reds Academy player and Australian U19 representative Josh Afu being drafted onto the bench.

Jones is hopeful the match - Japan's last before its World Cup qualifier - will provide a good test for his squad and prove to be a handy learning tool as he looks improve his side's away form.

"Training has been pretty good and the younger players are mixing well with the older guys," Jones said.

Star recruit Clinton Schifcofske will make his professional rugby debut at fullback after making the switch from the Canberra Raiders in the off-season.

The team does have a couple of injury concerns ahead of the game with prop Herman Hunt and centre Henari Veratau both carrying slight hamstring strains, but Jones was confident both would prove their fitness.

The team is:

1. Ben Coutts
2. Sean Hardman
3. Herman Hunt
4. Cameron Treloar
5. Ed O'Donoghue
6. Ben Mowen
7. David Croft
8. John Roe (c)
9. Nic Berry
10. Peter Hynes
11. Andrew Brown
12. Lloyd Johansson
13. Henari Veratau
14. Caleb Brown
15. Clinton Schifcofske
16. Geoff Abram
17. Ben Daley
18. Josh Afu
19. AJ Gilbert
20. Will Genia
21. Quade Cooper
22. Charlie Fetoai