Super Rugby
James O'Connor, Adam Thomson start for Reds
ESPN Staff
February 19, 2015
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James O'Connor and Adam Thomson will each make their Queensland Reds debut against Western Force at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, the high-profile recruits among four personnel changes to the team humiliated by the Brumbies in their season-opener in Canberra.

Thomson will start at blindside flanker, with Curtis Browning shifting to the bench, while O'Connor will wear the No.10 jumper with Karmichael Hunt returning to fullback. On the bench, former Australian Schoolboys and Under-20 representative Tom Murday replaces Ed O'Donoghue at lock while utility back Sam Johnson replaces Duncan Paia'aua, who has been ruled out with a head knock sustained in Canberra. Johnson, a bruising centre for Brisbane club GPS, made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds last season while Murday is set to debut. Muray left the Reds Wider Training Squad in 2013 to join ITM Cup side Northland in New Zealand, and he was a member of the Blues' Super Rugby Extended Player Squad in 2014 before returning home to train with the Reds.

James O'Connor has faced the media for the first time as a Queensland Reds player, Super Rugby, Ballymore, Brisbane, January 6, 2015
James O'Connor will run out for the first time in a Reds jumper © Image Supplied: Queensland Rugby Union
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Reds head coach Richard Graham is happy finally to welcome O'Connor and Thomson to the match-day squad after they weren't fit to face the Brumbies, saying he has "been talking for a while now about James and Adam making their debuts for the Reds".

"With some certainty I can finally say after a good week's preparation that both of the boys will start this weekend," Graham said. "Adam has only been with the group now two weeks but has fitted in superbly. As a leader and a footballer he has been able to contribute positively to what we are doing.

"James will wear the No.10 jersey. He has spent the last two weeks training fully with the team and looks settled. He is motivated to help the team around the field and allow the side to find their attacking framework. Karmichael and he will split the role on some first phase and phase attack.

Graham said the Reds had focused "mainly around getting our set piece and defence right" after their shellacking in Canberra. He said also that Western Force would test his side up front.

"The game usually flows on the back of controlling the collision zone and they start with the [set piece and defence]. The Force played well last weekend. They were strong defensively and controlled field position well. We know that physicality will play a big part in this match."

Reds: Karmichael Hunt; Chris Kuridrani, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Lachie Turner; James O'Connor, Will Genia; Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Adam Thomson; James Horwill, Marco Kotze; Sam Talakai, Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper (captain). Replacements: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Tom Murday, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Sam Johnson, Campbell Magnay.


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