Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Queensland’s starting side for Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Highlanders will BE boosted by the inclusion of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and star off-season recruit Carter Gordon.
Wilson and Carter missed the Reds’ first-round 36-12 loss to the NSW Waratahs on February 13 at Allianz Stadium with respective knee and leg injuries.
With Queensland having a bye last weekend, the key pair’s absence has been restricted to just one competitive game.Wilson will replace Vaiuta Latu at No.8 in Friday’s Suncorp Stadium battle, while flyhalf Gordon will start in the No.10 jersey worn by Harry McLaughlin-Phillips in the loss to NSW.
It will be Sunshine Coast product Gordon’s maiden Super Rugby appearance for the Reds.
The 25-year-old Wallabies playmaker played for the now defunct Melbourne Rebels for four seasons. He then switched codes for a short stint with NRL club Gold Coast before signing with the Reds.
Latu and McLaughlin-Phillips will drop back to a Reds bench that will also include another three Wallabies returning from injury – halfback Kalani Thomas, hooker Josh Nasser and outside back Filipo Daugunu.
“We have been working hard on areas that will be important against the Highlanders,” Reds coach Les Kiss said.
“We know how getting all those little moments right do add up in rugby.”
Reds captain Fraser McReight said his team was prepared for a “bag of tricks” from the Dunedin-based Highlanders, who have a 50 per cent record after two games of the new season.
“They’ve got some very talented players,” McReight said.
The Reds’ extensive injury list still includes Wallabies trio Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh and Seru Uru as well as Ben Volavola, Charlie Brosnan, Nicholas Conway, Massimo de Lutiis and Will McCulloch.
Queensland Reds: Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight (c), Harry Wilson, Louis Werchon, Carter Gordon, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami. Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell. Bench: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Hamish Muller, Vaiuta Latu, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu.
