The Reds have made two changes to their starting line-up for Saturday's Super Rugby grudge match with the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium.
Rob Simmons will be joined in the second row by lock Ed O'Donoghue, replacing Adam Wallace-Harrison, while youngster Chris Feauai-Sautia has earned an opportunity at outside centre.
Feauai-Sautia replaces Aidan Toua in the number 13 jersey with the Reds continuing to manage the workload of the young flyer who has now featured in three straight matches following an off-season rehabilitating his hamstring.
Simmons will play his milestone 50th game for Queensland.
Meanwhile, Anthony Faingaa has also been ruled out of Saturday's match by medical staff with the Wallaby being given a further week to heal ligaments in his hand after he was unable to function at full capacity during training.
Last time the Reds and Waratahs clashed was in the final regular season round of the 2012 Super Rugby competition where only a victory with a four-try bonus point would secure the Queenslanders the Australian Conference and a place in back-to-back play-offs.
The Reds did just that as they piled on five tries in a one-sided 32-16 affair.
The Reds have now won three straight matches against the Waratahs and a win on Saturday would not only extend their recent dominance over their Aussie rivals but would also strengthen their proud record at Suncorp Stadium, where the Reds boast an impeccable record having won 21 of their past 24 games.
In Super Rugby history, the Reds and Waratahs have gone head-to-head on 19 occasions and it's the Queenslanders who have the advantage with 11 wins, seven losses and one draw.
In 10 total Super Rugby games played between the two sides in Queensland, the Reds have won six, lost three and drawn once.
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Chris F'Sautia, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper (c), 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Jono Lance, 22 Luke Morahan.
Date: Saturday, 23 February
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19:40 (08:40 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Comments
Trinats2 says...
2EyedKiwi:
Funny mate, for a kiwi. Yes that's why he gets through gaps so often, because he is soft and wirey !!!
kiwilad:
Teams like the Chiefs ?? who got trashed last year !!! You're funny too, for a kiwi !!!
Posted 11:25 22nd February 2013
2EyedKiwi says...
"Copperman"? Because he's soft and wirey?
Posted 02:19 22nd February 2013
Ripzy007 says...
Looking fwd to the new kid F'Sautia...saw some glimpses of the potential in him last week and I must say he's one secret weapon that the Reds have in store...Let him loose and with Digby, this could be a very dangerous and entertaining back line. I may not be a Reds supporter but I like what I saw last week in this kid...looking fwd to his season, and hope he plays well...
Posted 21:48 21st February 2013
kiwilad says...
Trinats, I am a huge fan of the current Reds side, they will make it easy for Kiwi teams, and for that I like them.
Posted 20:33 21st February 2013
georgesmith says...
Great going for a young player like R. Simmons who will play his 50th super rugby game. This guy is quality and future Wallabies captain.
Posted 20:23 21st February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Not only Ramage's but yours too J4, you were first on here !
Then again, I think you two are really secret admirers of Copperman, the Reds and their style of rugby !!!
Posted 11:04 21st February 2013
new_j4a says...
Whew! Relief. I saw 2 changes and thought they were going to drop Cooper. Go the Reds! --Ramage's new team... :)
Posted 08:42 21st February 2013