Top spot Reds hit by injuries before next clash against Western Force - Super Rugby news
The overall table-toppers for the current Super Rugby season, Queensland Reds, have been hit hard before the upcoming clash against the Western Force, on June 11. The Australian derby has been deprived of four of their main players in the defending line.
The Reds will go in the field without their four defenders including, Ben Lucas, Digby Ioane, Anthony Faingaa and Mike Harris. All the injuries were sustained in their previous match of Super Rugby against the Brumbies.
The previous match of the Reds brought devastating results for them as they lost their winning momentum and four key players for the next match. The Reds, earlier on remained unbeaten for eleven consecutive matches, including a stunning last minute victory
over the Crusaders on May 29.
The Reds are still topping the tables with 58 points, just one point above the South African derby Stormers, who are chasing them with 57 after playing 14 equal matches. If the injury ruined Reds lose their next match against the Western Force, the Stormers
could take the seat as the top ladder team.
The Reds coach, Ewen McKenzie, told the media today on June 6, that despite huge injuries his side would not let their chances slip away. He added such injuries are part of rugby. He further said, “It's not a crisis, I think it's just a standard rugby affair.
I always look at injuries as a coaching challenge. You've got to create things in a short space of time, you've got to come up with solutions, it's an opportunity for players to step up.”
Talking about the replacements for the injured players he said, “Hopefully we get Rocket [Davies] back and he's a different style of player, he's a threat in his own right. And Shipperley and the like are still there. So we've got guys, we just can't afford
to take any more damage.”
The Reds are left with two games in the current Super Rugby round matches against the Western Force and Chiefs on 11th
and 18th June.
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