Western Force young gun Byron Ralston to face off against his former side the Queensl
Go for it young man
Western Force young gun Byron Ralston to face off against his former side the Queensland Reds
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Thursday, 16 July 2020 4:50PM
Young winger Byron Ralston will go down in Western Force history as the club’s first try scorer in the new edition of Australian Super Rugby.
The junior Wallaby, snatched from under the nose of the Queensland Reds, retains his place against his former club in Friday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Coach Tim Sampson has kept faith with the starting side that went down 23-14 to the Waratahs last weekend.
Raston, 21, blew away early nerves last week to cross in the corner after a swift handling move. “It was a bit surreal. It’s always nice to get over the paint,” he said.
“It’s going to be a bit strange being back home with lots of mates family coming out to watch hopefully.
“I’m sure the nerves will kick in again and the adrenalin will be running high.”
Ralston received a surprise call from Sampson last year - after finishing top try scorer in the Queensland competition with the Brothers club - inviting him to play against Tonga in a World Cup warm-up match.
He then joined the Force’s National Rugby Championship winning team.
“To live out a childhood dream of playing Super Rugby, to have that ticked off, is pretty surreal. I’ve had to pinch myself a few times,” he said.
The Force were unable to maintain their momentum in the second-half of the loss to the Waratahs.
“That was a big learning curve for us. We just have to stay composed in those moments when we don’t have momentum and go back to what we do well,” Ralston said.
“We have to be in the moment. We know we have to wait for the momentum shift and when it comes our way be ready and clinical.
“Being switched on for the full 80 minutes is one thing that we have to keep that in the back of my our minds.”
The only change Sampson has made for tonight’s match is in the reserves where second-rower Ollie Atkins, who returned to the Force last month from Exeter, replaces Johan Bardoul.
“Ollie has played high level football for a number of years, just want to see something different off the bench,” Sampson said.
He resisted throwing new signing, former All Blacks centre Richard Kahui, and other recent acquisitions like scrum half Nick Frisby into the squad.
“...not putting them into the storm too early. You can’t underestimate what four months without playing does to the body,” he said.
“The bonus this week is keeping continuity which is important.”
