Reds ready to put the blowtorch on Flavell

Troy Flavell's fiery temperament will get a heavy-duty inspection from a Reds side promising to put the blowtorch to other Super 14 packs.

After two years in Japan, Flavell will resume his Blues career as blindside flanker in the only change to the side for their bottom of the table clash in Brisbane on Saturday.

Injuries to Angus Macdonald and Justin Collins have created a rapid elevation for Flavell who returned last week claiming he had cleaned up his act and was intent on shedding his bad-boy image.

But the 29-year-old was simmering before he flew to Australia yesterday, disputing a weekend newspaper report that he had been dishonest about his disciplinary record in Japan.

"Obviously people are going to write stuff you can't control. The truth will come out," the flanker said.

Flavell said he wanted to shake his bad-boy tag but also vowed to continue with the aggressive attitude that has marked his turbulent rugby career.

"I've still got to be quite physical in my approach," he added.

Flavell played 15 tests for the All Blacks before shifting to play for Toyota in Japan after being banned for 12 weeks for stomping at the start of the 2003 Super 12 season.

"I'm in this team for a certain purpose and hopefully I can portray that in the match this weekend. I've been selected for a certain purpose - to bring some physicality into the match," Flavell said.

Those sentiments should spark some fiery moments with a Reds pack which pledged to raise their attitude this season. That promise was evident when they slugged it out with the Waratahs and produced some rugged work against the Crusaders.

"We've set a goal to be the most physical pack and the best pack in the Super 14," Reds flanker Hugh McMeniman revealed.

That response came after the frailty of the Reds forwards was exposed last season. The recruitment since then has reintroduced experienced lock Mark Connors, shifted the impressively mobile McMenamin from lock to flanker and pounded some fitness work into tighthead prop Rodney Blake.

The Reds pack have stood up in their opening two matches and the Blues will suffer in the humidity of Brisbane.

That was the thrust of five-eighths Tasesa Lavea's thoughts on this round three match-up between the winless sides.

"We have to read the game better and we have to improve our setpiece," he said.

"We have to get ourselves into the game whereas at the moment we are playing like we have the throttle open all the time."

Similar thoughts came from coach David Nucifora whose return to Brisbane pits him against his brother Garry, who manages the Reds, and old club, state and test teammate Jeff Miller who coaches the Reds.

The Blues had to rectify the standard of rugby they had produced in the opening two rounds.

"You can't pull it [the exuberance] in totally in this group but I think it would be naive to think we would totally go away from that.

"We do have to choose our moments far better than we have so far."

He said the Reds, who have made just one change, swapping hooker Stephen Moore for Sean Hardman, had shown a great deal more backbone in their defence this year.

* Blues v Reds, Brisbane, 10.35pm, Saturday

Blues team:

Isa Nacewa, Doug Howlett, Anthony Tuitavake, Rua Tipoki, Joe Rokocoko, Tasesa Lavea, Steve Devine, Nick Williams, Daniel Braid, Troy Flavell, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock: Tim Dow, Saimone Taumoepeau, Kurtis Haiu, Anthony Boric, John Senio, Vili Waqaseduadua, George Pisi.