Queensland Reds look to heap misery on troubled tourists Wales

Queensland Reds are targeting an upset against Wales successful Friday's uncapped circuit finale successful Brisbane.

Wales person already been beaten 2-0 by Australia successful nan Test series, taking their losing tally to 9 world defeats.

That has seen Warren Gatland's broadside gaffe to 11th successful nan world rankings aft a drawstring of reverses that see finishing bottommost of nan Six Nations.

A assured Reds broadside will look to compound that misery astatine nan Suncorp Stadium, successful a fixture that will beryllium nan last crippled of nan play for some sides.

After taking complete from Brad Thorn, caput coach Les Kiss guided nan Reds to a Super Rugby quarter-final successful his first play successful charge.

"If we could get a triumph against an world side, that would beryllium awesome for us," said Kiss.

"They person a bully squad and we are going to person to beryllium astatine our champion to compete.

"Talking pinch Warren this week, they are hopeless for a win, truthful it will beryllium a bully match."

It will beryllium nan Reds' first lucifer against a touring world broadside for 20 years since they hit Scotland.

They are expecting a crowd of much than 20,000, which would beryllium nan highest for 4 years and surpass immoderate attendance they had successful Super Rugby this year.

"It's a monolithic juncture for america connected a number of levels," said Kiss.

"It's important we are creating these matches. It is thing that has dropped retired of nan rugby landscape, truthful for america to beryllium capable to ignite this is fantastic.

"It is sensational for nan organisation and an important portion of nan rugby communicative present to support that power going successful nan game.

"The Australian sides person performed amended successful Super Rugby this year, you person Joe Schmidt pinch nan Wallabies, truthful location is immoderate excitement present pinch nan game.

Kiss was talking astatine nan Reds' training crushed astatine Ballymore successful nan Brisbane suburb of Herston which holds galore memories and links pinch Welsh rugby.

The Ballymore gymnasium has been named aft erstwhile Cardiff and Wales coach Alec Evans, who is owed to be nan game.

There is simply a monolithic image connected nan wall of nan gym of Tony Rees, nan Welsh fastener who had a fewer games for Queensland and now lives successful Brisbane.

His engagement astatine Ballymore was little earlier becoming nan first Welshman to triumph nan Heineken Cup successful 1997 pinch Brive.

Ballymore was besides nan venue wherever Wales hit England successful nan 1987 World Cup quarter-final.

Four years later it was nan destination for nan Wallabies' 63-6 hammering of Ron Waldron's touring side, 1 of Welsh rugby's darkest days.

That 1991 circuit was besides nan past clip nan Reds and Wales played each other, pinch nan hosts winning 35-24 successful a star-studded broadside that included nan likes of World Cup winners Michael Lynagh, John Eales, Tom Horan and Jason Little.

The Reds will beryllium without their Australia internationals connected this juncture pinch nan Wallabies playing Georgia successful Sydney this weekend, but they tin still prime nan likes of 64-cap James O'Connor astatine fly-half arsenic 1 of 14 players pinch Super Rugby experience.

"When nan Reds played world teams successful nan past they had entree to each their Wallabies," said Kiss.

"Ours is simply a small spot of a different communicative this clip but what an juncture for our young guys."

Former Ireland and South Africa coach Kiss will besides renew his rivalry pinch Gatland having antecedently coached against nan Wales boss.

"He hasn't taken maine isolated successful nan media yet," said Kiss.

"He is simply a savvy usability and I person astir apt had astir 9 Test matches wherever I person coached against him."

Whatever happens connected Friday, Kiss believes Gatland tin move astir Wales' flagging fortunes.

"He is backing a young squad complete nan adjacent twelvemonth aliases 2 and processing a style of play wherever they tin compete astatine nan apical again," said Kiss.

"He has runs connected nan committee and knows really to put that together, truthful he will travel good.

"Hopefully conscionable 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.