Forced out Red has point to prove
Centre Joel Rapana will be out to prove a point when he makes his debut for the Queensland Reds in Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Western Force at nib Stadium.
Rapana, 25, was cut from the Force after just one appearance two years ago and Saturday's game cannot come around fast enough.
"It has all come about quickly and it's something I never would have predicted a few weeks ago, but I'm excited about the chance and can't wait to play," he said.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said Rapana would not be overawed.
"He's got every reason to put his best foot forward," he said.
"There will be plenty of people in the crowd that know him, but he's been in our A program and he's a very cool guy.
"We like what we have seen from him during the short period of time he has spent with the team so far."
Saturday night will be something of a family affair with Rapana's younger brother Jordan, 22, now in the Force squad. He will be watching from the stands as he recovers from a shoulder reconstruction.
Jordan joined the Force this year. Both brothers signed in similar circumstances after two years of Mormon missionary work and having played NRL with Gold Coast Titans.
Rapana was training for club rugby in Queensland when McKenzie called him into his injury-hit squad for the game against the Bulls in Pretoria.
His inclusion is one of five changes, four in the forwards, that McKenzie has made to the side that was thumped 61-8 by the Bulls.
He replaces Jono Lance, who broke a leg in that game.
Radike Samo was the biggest casualty from last week's loss, with the Wallabies flanker replaced by Eddie Quirk on the bench.
Liam Gill starts at openside flanker, James Hanson takes over from injured hooker Saia Faingaa, veteran Van Humpries moves into the second row and James Slipper replaces Greg Holmes at prop.
McKenzie's selection of Gill, Beau Robinson and Eddie Quirk in the reserves shows his focus will be on combating the Force's strength at the breakdown.
He said it was frustrating trying to keep back line combinations with a mounting injury toll.
When he thought he had a settled side there was another injury.
"There's a reality there that a dozen players aren't available ... but there's no point offering it up as an excuse," McKenzie said.
"But we are unfortunately getting them in the same positions.
"Every half a game you seem to be trying to develop a new combination either on the field or for the next game. It is frustrating because your training time should be about taking your team further rather than starting again.
"So it's been a bit like a game of snakes and ladders."
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