Ioane wings it for Reds

Speedster Digby Ioane has completed his recovery from off-season knee surgery and will join a full strength Reds side when they face the Highlanders in their opening Super 14 match in Brisbane on Friday.

Speedster Digby Ioane has completed his recovery from off-season knee surgery and will join a full strength Reds side when they face the Highlanders in their opening Super 14 match in Brisbane on Friday.

The Wallaby wing, who switched from the Western Force to link up with the Reds this season, was rested from the pre-season trial matches to fast track his rehabilitation.

With Ioane emerging untroubled from a final fitness test, Reds coach Phil Mooney was able to name 13 current or former Wallabies in his starting line-up, with another two on the bench.

“This is the match we've been working towards during the pre-season and with Digby back on deck, we're at full strength. We're looking forward to it,” said Mooney.

Former Waratahs Morgan Turinui and Chris Siale will earn their first Reds caps, after being selected as the centre pairing, while Ioane will also be making his Reds' debut.

While there is a wealth of experience in the run-on XV, Mooney has added a new face to the bench, with Reds Academy prop Dayna Edwards getting an opportunity to win his first Super 14 cap.

The 23-year old moved to Brisbane from Sydney this year, following a strong performance in the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC).

“It's important for us to develop depth in our front row stocks,” said Mooney.

“Dayna has been training with the senior squad and impressed during the trial matches, so we've moved him up another level by naming him on the bench,” Mooney said.

Reds: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Chris Siale, 11 Clinton Schifcofske, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 John Roe (captain), 7 David Croft, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Greg Holmes
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Dayna Edwards, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Will Genia, 21 Andrew Walker, 22 Peter Hynes

Date: Friday, February 15
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19.05 (09.05 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Geoff Acton (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)