Rugby: Brett has to step up against fiery Reds

The Blues coaching staff have trusted their instincts and given Stephen Brett a further chance. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues have persevered with Stephen Brett at five-eighth this season. In most matches he has delivered the coaches' ideas and guided the side competently.

They like Brett in the No 10 jersey because they feel he is the best navigator in the side, an assessment which pushes prospective All Black goalkicking utility Luke McAlister into midfield.

There have been a few glitches, times when the twin-pivot system has looked a little brittle and Brett's organisation has slipped. He was on his own last week because McAlister was injured and there were a number of unsettled moments.

Too many for Pat Lam and his staff but they have trusted their instincts and given Brett a further chance to drive the team plan against the Reds tonight in Brisbane. It may not be the last chance for Brett but he needs to step it up.

He should take decent memories into the game after the Blues' 27-18 win last season at Suncorp Stadium.

Brett has eight other colleagues who fronted for that triumph while seven of the Reds return for a duel in which they are slight favourites to claim victory they have found just once in the sides' last five meetings.

Wallaby legend Tim Horan admired the Reds' form but urged them to beat a New Zealand side before they could think about challenging for the inaugural Super 15 crown. They had claimed a great away scalp against the Stormers but needed to reinforce that effort by beating a Kiwi side.

They missed a great chance against the Hurricanes when Aaron Cruden kicked an injury-time penalty.

The Blues were a tougher obstacle. They had a battle-hardened pack with some dynamic athletes while "they have guys like Rene Ranger out wide who are not only great finishers, but who create opportunities as well", Horan said.

"They've got guys that actually break the advantage line. Once they get in behind the defensive line - and they're probably the best team besides the Crusaders at doing it - they're getting offloads away.

"While the Blues will want to test the width of Suncorp, especially if the weather is fine, Horan thought the Reds needed to adopt a more cautious approach. He advised them to use the template they took to Cape Town where they upset the Stormers.

"They'll either kick into the third row of the grandstand or they'll kick down the centre, they won't kick to Rene Ranger, Jared Payne or Joe Rokocoko," he told the Courier Mail.

"They're some of the most damaging players in New Zealand rugby, particularly Ranger. You don't want to give him any space."

Ranger is the Blues' leading try-scorer this season with six, ahead of new fullback Jared Payne (five) and Rokocoko (three).

REDS v BLUES
Brisbane, 9.40 tonight

REDS
* Ben Lucas
* Luke Morahan
* Anthony Faingaa
* Ben Tapuai
* Digby Ioane
* Quade Cooper
* Will Genia
* Radike Samo
* Beau Robinson
* S. Higginbotham
* James Horwill (c)
* Rob Simmons
* James Slipper
* Saia Faingaa
* Ben Daley
Reserves: James Hanson, Guy Shepherdson, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Ian Prior, Will Chambers, Dom Shipperley.

BLUES
* Jared Payne
* Joe Rokocoko
* Benson Stanley
* Luke McAlister
* Rene Ranger
* Stephen Brett
* Alby Mathewson
* Peter Saili
* Luke Braid
* Chris Lowery
* Ali Williams
* Anthony Boric
* John Afoa
* K. Mealamu (c)
* Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu, James King, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Lachie Munro, Sherwin Stowers.