Cooper to add spark to Reds rugby side
Apr 14, 2017 - 4:57 AM Acting captain Samu Kerevi is tipping returning playmaker Quade Cooper to add some much-needed creative spark in Queensland's battle of the Super Rugby stragglers on Saturday night.The Reds are one from seven and on a six-game losing streak since an opening round win, while the visiting Southern Kings are one from seven and winless in a month.
Queensland have struggled to score tries without Cooper, with the five-eighth missing the Reds' past three games after being suspended for a dangerous tackle.
The Reds have scored just four tries in those matches and their tally of 15 for the season is the lowest among the five sides to have played seven games.
"I'm pretty sure he (Cooper) will try and pull something out of the rabbit's hat to showcase his skills," Kerevi said on Friday.
"He's been doing really well the time that he has had off to work on his game and work on his body as he gets ready for this weekend."
The Reds must win on Saturday to have any chance of staying within sight of the conference-leading Brumbies, who are 10 points and three places above them.
"It is an important game for us heading into the bye week, important for us to play well especially in front of our home crowd as well," Kerevi said.
Kerevi will lead the Reds with regular captain and Wallabies captain Stephen Moore being rested.
The hard-running Wallabies centre has been one of the Reds' few shining lights this season.
Heading into this weekend's round he led the competition in carries and defenders beaten.
Asked about his style of captaincy, Kerevi said he would just be doing his job for the team.
"If that's in the carries, if that's in defence, whatever it is, I'll just put my best foot forward.
"It's just that 'C' beside my name that says I'm captain but I think there's a lot of leaders in our team that will play well."
He was wary of a Kings outfit that scored six tries last week in a high-scoring loss to the Western Force in Perth.
"They like to play in behind us with little kicks and little trick plays, but our main focus for us is our shape this weekend and making sure we stay consistent the whole 80 minutes," Kerevi said.
The Kings, who look certain to be one of the two South African teams cut from next year's competition will be without injured fullback Malcolm Jaer, who scored a hat-trick of tries last week.
Source: AAP
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