New Reds prop ready for Waratahs

Former All Blacks prop Hodgman will make his aggressive debut for Reds on this weekend’s opening spherical of the Super Rugby Pacific season after becoming a member of Queensland from the Auckland-based Blues.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” 30-year-old Hodgman stated when requested if was anticipating choice within the beginning group.

“There’s so much competition among us front rowers, and I was quite shocked, but I’ll take anything and I’ll make the most of it.”

Hodgman couldn’t have requested for a extra intense battle to make his official begin to his Reds profession than a sport in opposition to the Waratahs.

“I can feel the passion in the change-room,” he stated.

“It’s ramping up nicely, and for us it’s the tale as old as time, the Queensland-New South Wales rivalry.

“It’s almost comparable to a Blues-Crusaders (rivalry). I can feel the emotion, I can feel the passion.”

Hodgman backed the collection of Tom Lynagh, regardless of the 20-year-old flyhalf’s pre-season having been hampered by again grievance.

“He’s proved it out on the training field. He drives us wild, he yells at us forwards, so I guess that’s a good side when the (fly-half) is yelling at you and directing you,” he stated of the son of Reds and Wallabies nice Michael Lynagh.

“I’m getting that exact response from him, so for me it’s how can I work around him and how he chooses to play the game, and how can I pick off the opportunities that he’s looking (to create) for us.”

Reds coach Les Kiss stated the competitors for spots was “fantastic”.as he defined his reasoning for a bunch of picks, together with the selection of Wallabies excitement-machine Jordan Petaia at fullback forward of Jock Campbell, who was named on the bench.

“It was a tough one, and (outside centre) Josh Flook has to come into the equation as well.” Kiss stated.

“He’s been playing really solidly at 13 so we’ve gone with that combination for this weekend. I’m happy with it.”