Queensland Reds v Wales Tour Match

[Burgs]

The Queensland Reds are to host Wales on Friday night (5:30 WST on Stan).
Given the Wallabies are to play Georgia the next day in Sydney (therefore a Squad should already be fixed) I am hoping that all the Reds players are released to play and make a decent showing.
It is win-win or Australia as both matches are of Test intensity, and arguably the Reds match will offer greater benefit of players playing in a season familiar Squad.
I note that Reg Roberts was discussing similar in the last couple of days on X.
His respective XV's are-

Reg Roberts Queensland Reds XV

1 Hodgman A
2 Nassar J
3 Nonggorr Z
4 Canham J
5 Smith R
6 Uru S
7 Bryant J
8 Wilson H
9 McDermott T
10 Lynagh T
11 Greely M
12 Creighton L
13 Flook J
14 Ryan T
15 Campbell J

16 Asiata R
17 Fa'agase S
18 Toomaga-Allen J
19 Roiri T
20 Brial J
21 Werchon L
22 O'Connor J
23 Aubrey F

Reg Roberts Wallabies

1 Kailea I
2 Pollard B
3 Tupou T
4 Blyth A
5 Williams J
6 Wright L
7 McReight F
8 Valetini R
9 White N
10 Donaldson B
11 Daugunu F
12 Paisami H
13 Ikitau L
14 Pietsch D
15 Kellaway A

16 Faessler M
17 Slipper J
18 Alaalatoa A
19 Frost N
20 Hooper T
21 Gordon J
22 Stewart H
23 Lancaster D

Given the Gibbon and Lancaster development since his announcement he hasn't made that consideration.
As much as I hate dabbling with Test caps, under these circumstances I would be "all-in" with all available Reds being released for the Wales fixture.

Burgs Queensland Reds XV

1 Hodgman A
2 Nasser J
3 Nonggorr Z
4 Blyth A
5 Smith R
6 Wright L
7 McReight F
8 Wilson H
9 McDermott T
10 Lynagh T
11 Lancaster D
12 Paisami H
13 Daugunu F
14 Ryan T
15 Campbell J

16 Asiata R
17 Blake G
18 Toomaga-Allen J
19 Canham J
20 Uru S
21 Thomas K
22 O'Connor J
23 Flook J

Burgs Wallabies

1 Slipper J
2 Faessler M
3 Kailea I
4 Williams J
5 Frost N
6 Valetini R
7 Hooper T
8 Salakaia-Loto L
9 White N
10 Donaldson B
11 Pietsch D
12 Stewart H
13 Ikitau L
14 Kellaway A
15 Wright T

16 Pollard B
17 Alaalatoa A
18 Tupou T
19 Gleeson L
20 Cale C
21 Gordon J
22 Lolesio N
23 Feliuai D


* Have left Faessler as only three Hookers in Wallabies Squad and would be pushing the concept too far to bring in a new player.

[Garry Owen]

Lukhan at number 8 is a bit left field when you have Cale, Gleeson, Valentini etc so can’t see that happening but I agree it would be interesting

I really hope we see Stewart get a crack at 12, Schmidt has seen Paisami for 2 tests now and hasn’t shown a lot

[Burgs]

Lukhan at number 8 is a bit left field

Yep, acknowledge that.
The thinking was around giving LSL exposure there for contingency cover later in the year, moving him to the second row in the second half (explaining having both Cale and Gleeson on bench) and also ensuring a lung burster 80 on him.
He is recognised as playing there, just hasn't for a very long time as I recall and would give some extra scrum weight against the renowned Georgian pack.

Add- Just looking through the stats, he last played #8 for the Wallabies in 2020, but was running out for Northampton and Reds as #6 or Backrow cover fairly regularly.

[Burgs]

Jock Campbell named skipper, FOUR Rebels to feature in Reds v Wales

Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 9:00 AM
Lachlan Grey

Fresh from inking an extension with Queensland through 2025, Jock Campbell will be honoured with the captain's armband when he takes the field against Wales.

With doubt over the availability of incumbent leaders Liam Wright (injury) and Tate McDermott (Wallabies), many would've predicted veteran James O'Connor to once again lead the side on Friday night.

Reds coach Les Kiss, however, had other ideas with Campbell, 29, unveiled as the state's 127th skipper via social media early on Wednesday morning.

The silky 79-cap outside back is highly regarded by Kiss, who earlier this week branded Campbell's experience as "invaluable".

"When I first arrived at the Reds, Jock and Liam Wright were two senior players who helped me a lot around the coaching," Kiss said. “Jock is a good mentor for the young guys. He has an astute rugby mind and his flexibility to play fullback, wing and outside centre is the versatility you need in squad."

Campbell will lead the side from fullback with O'Connor to start at flyhalf with four Rebels also set to feature

Lock Josh Canham, outside back Lachie Anderson, former Wallabies prop Matt Gibbon and Mason Gordon are shaping up for potential Reds debuts off the bench.

Utility back Mason Gordon, who played with the Rebels this year, has been drafted from Wests Bulldogs as cover on the bench with Wallabies selections and injuries reducing the available backs.

Queensland Reds squad to face Wales Friday 19 July Suncorp Stadium - 7:55pm AEST

1. Sef Fa’agase – Sunnybank – Shailer Park State High School – Beaudesert Warriors
2. Richie Asiata – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths - Wellington College, NZ
4. Connor Vest – Souths - Grafton High School - Grafton Junior Rugby Club
5. Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
6. Seru Uru – Wests, Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli Rugby Club, Fiji
7. John Bryant - Souths - St Laurence’s College - Souths
8. Joe Brial – University of Queensland – Scots College – Easts, Sydney
9. Louis Werchon - Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Maroochydore Swans
10. James O’Connor - Brothers - St Joseph’s Nudgee College - Brothers
11. Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Downlands College – Souths Toowoomba
12. Dre Pakeho – Brothers – Anglican Church Grammar School
13. Tim Ryan – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
14. Floyd Aubrey - GPS - Marist College Ashgrove – GPS
15. Jock Campbell (c) – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders

16. George Blake - Bond University – The Southport School – Fasi Maufanga Eels, Tonga
17. Matt Gibbon – Bond University – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Wollongbar Alstonville Rugby Club
18. Massimo De Lutiis – Easts – The Southport School – Surfers Paradise Dolphins
19. Josh Canham – Bond University – Brighton Grammar, Melbourne - Harlequins, Melbourne
20. Connor Anderson – Wests – Brisbane State High School – Everton Park Roosters
21. Will Cartwright – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College - Brothers
22. Mason Gordon – Wests – Brisbane Boys’ College - Wests
23. Lachie Anderson – Eastwood – Oakhill College – Dural Rugby Club