Reds aim to be unbreakable in Super semi - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Reds aim to be unbreakable in Super semi

Jim Morton 27/06/2011 07:00:10 PM Comments (0)

Fit-again Queensland centre Anthony Faingaa rates the All Black-laden Blues among Super Rugby's most dangerous attacking teams but expects the Reds' defence will be unbreakable on Saturday night.

Queensland's defensive linchpin and best low tackler, Faingaa will ensure the Aucklanders' backline faces a tough assignment in their Brisbane semi-final.

The 24-year-old will start in the midfield after overcoming a grade-two hamstring injury which was supposed to sideline him until the following weekend.

In a remarkable recovery, which has impressed coach Ewen McKenzie, Faingaa has declared himself 100 per cent and in peak fitness for the Reds' first play-off in 10 years.

"For me, it's not even a mental thing. It's just a matter of getting out on the field and giving my best performance," he told AAP on Monday.

The Blues boast All Black attacking threats, Joe Rokocoko, Luke McAlister and Rene Ranger, and are one of only two teams to score four tries against Queensland this season - in the Reds' 37-31 win six weeks ago at home.

All four came after the Reds jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the opening 30 minutes and Faingaa puts the lapse down to a loss of focus.

"It's about us," he said. "If we can get our structure right and do everything right that we can, no one can break us.

"We let them back into that game and we won't be doing that again.

"I think when you get far ahead on the scoreboard, you rest up a bit and we did that then."

Faingaa and his twin Saia have been the most improved players in Australian rugby since McKenzie took over the Reds in late 2009.

Last year, they went from being rarely-used bench players to Wallabies and their continued rise has been a dream come true.

"I didn't know where my place was (18 months ago), whether it would be here or I'd be shafted off somewhere else again," said Faingaa, who was discarded in 2008 by the Brumbies.

"When I signed here, we signed to a team that was secondlast (but) both Saia and I are competitors and this is what we dreamt of - playing in a Super Rugby semi-final - and three years later, we're here.

"We won't be letting this game get past us."

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