The “embarrassed” Queensland Reds are determined to forestall departing coach Brad Thorn’s tenure ending with 4 successive losses,
Having scraped into the Super Rugby Pacific finals collection regardless of being thrashed 41-17 by Fijian Drua final weekend, the Reds face a troublesome quarter-final process in opposition to the Chiefs in Waikato on Saturday.
Giving the Reds some much-needed perception is that they have been the one crew to beat the top-of-the New Zealand outfit through the common season.
While it was an understrength Chiefs that Queensland defeated 25-22 on May 12 in New Plymouth, it was a drought-breaking win on Kiwi soil for Thorn’s aspect.
But since then, the Reds have suffered a hat-trick of defeats, together with final Saturday’s demoralising loss in Suva.
“We were embarrassed last week and we took that personally,” Reds centre Josh Flook mentioned.
“We just want to play for pride this week and put a really good performance that we’re proud of.
“It’s a good thing to know that we can go over (to New Zealand) and do it. All the boys are really confident. We’re excited to go back over there and face them with their full-strength side, and put it to them.
“We’ve got to really turn up in defence this week, which we didn’t last week, which was really disappointing.”
Flook mentioned the Reds additionally owed Thorn – who guided crew to the 2021 Super Rugby AU title – the favour of extending his stint as Queensland coach by no less than yet another week.
“All of us have in the back of our mind that we’re playing for (Thorn). He’s done a lot for this club,” he mentioned.
“This is the fourth year in a row that we’ve made the finals … so he’s done a really good job.
“He’s not a selfish person. He’s making it all about us.”
Source: www.news.com.au
