Queensland Reds look to heap misery on troubled Wales

Queensland Reds reached the quarter-finals of Super Rugby in 2024

Queensland Reds are targeting a "fantastic" upset against Wales in Friday's uncapped tour finale in Brisbane.

Wales have already been beaten 2-0 by Australia in the Test series, taking their losing run to nine international defeats.

That has seen Warren Gatland's side slip to 11th in the world rankings after a string of reverses that include finishing bottom of the Six Nations.

A confident Reds side will look to compound that misery at the Suncorp Stadium, in a fixture that will be the final game of the season for both sides.

After taking over from Brad Thorn, head coach Les Kiss guided the Reds to a Super Rugby quarter-final in his first season in charge.

"If we could get a win against an international side, that would be fantastic for us," said Kiss.

"They have a good team and we are going to have to be at our best to compete.

"Talking with Warren this week, they are desperate for a win, so it will be a good match."

Welcome return

It has been 33 years since Queensland Reds last hosted Wales

It will be the Reds' first match against a touring international side for 20 years since they beat Scotland.

They are expecting a crowd of more than 20,000, which would be the highest for four years and surpass any attendance they had in Super Rugby this year.

"It's a massive occasion for us on a number of levels," said Kiss.

"It's important we are creating these matches. It is something that has dropped out of the rugby landscape, so for us to be able to ignite this is fantastic.

"It is sensational for the organisation and an important part of the rugby story here to keep that energy going in the game.

"The Australian sides have performed better in Super Rugby this year, you have Joe Schmidt with the Wallabies, so there is some excitement here with the game."

Home from home in Brisbane

Welshman Tony Rees with the picture in a Brisbane gym of himself as a player that is known as the "Ballymore Man"

Kiss was talking at the Reds' training ground at Ballymore in the Brisbane suburb of Herston which holds many memories and links with Welsh rugby.

The Ballymore gymnasium has been named after former Cardiff and Wales coach Alec Evans, who is due to attend the game.

There is a massive picture on the wall of the gym of Tony Rees, the Welsh lock who had a few games for Queensland and now lives in Brisbane.

His involvement at Ballymore was brief before becoming the first Welshman to win the Heineken Cup in 1997 with Brive.

Ballymore was also the venue where Wales beat England in the 1987 World Cup quarter-final.

Four years later it was the destination for the Wallabies' 63-6 hammering of Ron Waldron's touring side, one of Welsh rugby's darkest days.

That 1991 tour was also the last time the Reds and Wales played each other, with the hosts winning 35-24 with a star-studded side that included the likes of World Cup winners Michael Lynagh, John Eales, Tom Horan and Jason Little.

The Reds will be without their Australia internationals on this occasion, with nine players involved in the Wallabies squad facing Georgia in Sydney this weekend

They only have nine players in the 23-man match-day squad that were involved in their Super Rugby quarter-final defeat last month, but can still select the likes of 64-cap James O'Connor at fly-half.

"When the Reds played international teams in the past they had access to all their Wallabies," said Kiss.

"Ours is a little bit of a different story this time but what an occasion for our young guys."

Rekindling rivalries

Queensland Reds boss Les Kiss had previous coaching stints with Ulster, London Irish and the Waratahs

Former Ireland and South Africa coach Kiss will also renew his rivalry with Gatland, having previously coached against the Wales boss.

"He hasn't taken me apart in the media yet," said Kiss.

"He is a savvy operator and I have probably had about nine Test matches where I have coached against him."

Whatever happens on Friday, Kiss believes Gatland can turn around Wales' flagging fortunes.

"He is backing a young squad over the next year or two and developing a style of play where they can compete at the top again," said Kiss.

"He has runs on the board and knows how to put that together, so he will come good.

"Hopefully just not this Friday."

Queensland Reds: Jock Campbell (capt); Floyd Aubrey, Tim Ryan, Dre Pakeho, Mac Grealy; James O'Connor, Louis Werchon; Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Connor Vest, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial.

Replacements: George Blake, Matt Gibbon, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Connor Anderson, Will Cartwright, Mason Gordon, Lachie Anderson.

Wales: Cameron Winnett; Rio Dyer, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Regan Grace; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Evan Lloyd, Archie Griffin, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (capt), Christ Tshiunza, Taine Plumtree, Mackenzie Martin.

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Corey Domachowski, Harri O'Connor, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady.