Reds back-row Fraser McReight keen to test himself against Chiefs’ All Blacks star

Reds openside flanker Fraser McReight is relishing the prospect of facing Chiefs legend Sam Cane in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Hamilton on Saturday.

Their back-row battle should be one of the standout features between the table-topping Chiefs and eighth-placed Reds, who handed their hosts their only defeat of the season when the sides met in a Round 12 encounter during the league phase of the competition.

In fine form

McReight has been one of the Reds’ best players during their 2023 Super Rugby Pacific campaign and a knows that giving a good account of himself against All Blacks skipper Cane could clinch his spot in the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad.

“Sam has been All Blacks captain for a lot of years now and he’s played a lot of games and had a lot of success, so for me this is a great opportunity to go against one of the best and I’m really looking forward to it,” McReight told AAP.

“It’s been a good season, every year I am trying to get better and I’m perfecting these little areas of my game that I want to work on.

“I’ve been able to play a lot of minutes this year, and for me I’ve been able to do that week in, week out.

“Another result this weekend and another performance is what’s needed.”

In their previous fixture against the Chiefs, the Reds clinched a memorable 25-22 victory in New Plymouth but Cane was one of several of their opponents who were rested for that encounter.

That was arguably the Reds’ best performance this season and McReight was one of their star performers, but the 24-year-old expects a much tougher assignment against the Chiefs this weekend.

“Finals are a new competition,” he said.

Fully focussed on the Chiefs

“It’s great and awesome to make the top eight and obviously we’re a bit upset and gutted after the result on the weekend (the Reds’ loss to the Fijian Drua) but we can put that behind us and we can move on and can put all our attention to Chiefs this week.

“Obviously they’re gonna be a different team to when we played them last … defence is crucial, holding the ball and kicking really well … for us to get a result we have to do those areas really well.”

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