Samo returns for Reds to face Hurricanes - ABC Online

Updated February 26, 2013 18:12:27

Veteran back rower Radike Samo has been recalled to the Queensland Reds squad for Friday night's Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes at Lang Park.

Samo has recovered from a preseason knee injury and will come off the reserves bench as one of two changes to the Reds' matchday 22 that beat the Waratahs 25-17 last Saturday in Brisbane.

Aidan Toua will start at full-back, with Mike Harris dropped to the bench.

Toua played on the wing in round one against the Brumbies, but missed last week with a hamstring strain.

Director of coaching Ewen McKenzie decided the Reds could benefit from seasoned Wallabies campaigner Samo's inclusion on the bench.

Samo showed strong trial form before bumping his knee and causing minor damage in their 41-35 warm-up win over the Blues in Toowoomba earlier this month.

The Reds are again without captain James Horwill, who continues to battle an ankle injury.

"Having Radike healthy once again is pleasing," McKenzie said.

"We all saw the impact he made with his involvements during the trials and we'll be looking for a repeat performance when he's called upon on Friday night."

The Reds were good in patches against the Waratahs, but failed to put their rivals to the sword when they had the chance.

As a result McKenzie is looking for more consistency.

"We are a team that prides itself on being adaptable and capable of changing our game plan on a week-to-week basis and that is reflected in our team selections," he said.

"We have strong thoughts about how the game is going to be played and feel that Aidan really has something to offer in this match from full-back.

"We took a pre-emptive approach to his hamstring last week in resting him for the Waratahs and you can already sense the benefit it has had to his preparation for this game.

"However, before that, Aidan had earned his place in the starting side against the Brumbies, so we're excited to bring him back at his preferred position for a match we feel will suit the style of game that is going to be played.

"We're also happy with how our centre combination of Ben Tapuai and Chris Feauai-Sautia came together last week and we will again be expecting more from them against the Hurricanes."

The Reds are looking to build on their record at Lang Park, which stands at 22 wins from their past 25 matches at the venue.

However, the Reds have a bad record against the Hurricanes, with a win in 2007 their only success against the Wellington-based franchise in their past 10 encounters.

Reds squad:

Aidan Toua, Dom Shipperley, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk, Ed O'Donoghue, Rob Simmons, James Slipper (captain), Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes

Reserves: James Hanson, Albert Anae, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Radike Samo, Nick Frisby, Mike Harris, Luke Morahan.

AAP

Topics: super-rugby, rugby-union, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted February 26, 2013 14:52:51