Rugby: Black night for Reds with six of the best in doubt

BRISBANE - The Crusaders late charge into playoff contention received a boost over the weekend as the Reds' injury woes deepened.

The Reds face the bleak prospect of confronting a hungry, playoff-minded Crusaders outfit on Friday without more than half their best team.

Reds coach Phil Mooney is desperately hoping for a major reversal in fortunes heading into their Christchurch trip after a dreadful injury crisis rubbed salt into their wounds from a 52-13 caning by the Brumbies.

Not only are six players in serious doubt on top of the certain loss of in-form halfback Will Genia, who requires finger surgery, they are the most influential players in the team.

Skipper James Horwill (foot), vice-captain and playmaker Berrick Barnes (groin), dynamic backline stroke weapon Digby Ioane (shoulder), Wallabies winger Peter Hynes (knee), fullback Mark McLinden (knee) and open-side flanker Tasi Luafutu (broken hand) were all struck down on a black night at Suncorp Stadium.

The injuries came on top of the midweek loss of Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman for the rest of the season because of ankle surgery, the second flanker to go under the knife in a fortnight after former All Black Daniel Braid ruptured his Achilles.

The Reds are most optimistic about the chances of Ioane and Luafutu lining up at AMI Stadium against the defending champions who sit equal fifth and need wins from the final two rounds to make the semifinals.

But Mooney said he would have to look outside his squad to Brisbane club rugby for forwards and backs reinforcements, which could include retired Reds veteran David Croft.

Horwill and McLinden require scans while Hynes has fluid on his knee and will be hard pressed to play another Super 14 match this season.

Key man Barnes, who sustained a grade one adductor strain while kicking in the pre-game warm-up, will be given a couple of days before medics assess his chances of playing.

Mooney said test aspirations would be a factor in the 13th-placed side's decision-making at the selection table, denying they would risk potential Wallabies' international seasons.

"If a guy is at risk of a long-term injury we won't expose him to that risk," he said.

On Saturday, the Reds struggled in both attack and defence without five-eighth Barnes, missing his organisation as much as his classy kicking, passing and courageous defence.

"He's so integral to our team and the great thing about Berrick that I've always liked is he does a lot of things that people don't see," Mooney said.

Mooney said reserve halfback Ben Lucas may be an option at first five-eighths as a second ball-player to the erratic Quade Cooper, with Brendan McKibbin a possible replacement for Genia.

The 21-year-old, who scored two solo tries to put the Reds back into the game at 24-13 down, has been the form halfback in the country along with Josh Valentine.

- AAP