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Bold Reds to unleash their best for last

By Jim Morton 08/07/2011 05:12:54 PM Comments (0)

Queensland general Will Genia has boldly predicted the Reds will rise to another level to end the Crusaders' history-in-the-making Super Rugby quest at Suncorp Stadium.

Genia believes the home side is capable of a perfect 80-minute performance on Saturday night and will need it to overcome the seven-time champions in the fairytale decider.

The Australian Test halfback said the Reds are peaking, as shown by their 30-13 semi-final win over the Blues, and are poised to find a new gear in front of a sell-out crowd of 52,500.

"You want to be playing your best footy come finals time and I thought we did lift a level in that semi-final," he told AAP. "We've got more and we're going to have to do that again against the Crusaders because they are the best side in the comp.

"We feel we have it in us and that goal of playing the perfect 80-minute performance is still out there.

"We really want to dominate and impose ourselves on the game and that's what we're going to do."

While the Crusaders boast 10 starting players from their 2008 title-winning campaign, the nous and composure of Genia and the magical skills of Quade Cooper have the hard-working Reds equipped for an upset.

It's essential Queensland start well against a driven Crusaders' machine, motivated by the chance of registering the sweetest triumph in their remarkable Super Rugby dynasty.

They have been homeless for the entire season, due to February's devastating Christchurch earthquake, and have also been forced to fly to South Africa and back to make the final.

Skipper Richie McCaw has shrugged off concerns of fatigue, stressing they are fresh and holding extra motivation to also gain revenge for their 17-16 loss on May 29 in Brisbane.

The Reds earned that epic victory through a 25-phase surge from within their own 22 in the dying minutes before McCaw was controversially penalised in front of the goalposts.

"I know the guys are pretty motivated, perhaps there's a wee bit of an edge there because we were tipped up here a few weeks ago," McCaw said.

Cooper slotted the winning penalty that day but has question marks over his ability to match the goalkicking of playmaking rival Dan Carter after kicking just three from seven against the Blues.

But Cooper, a big-game performer who has thrived under pressure, has had a strange knack of finding his radar this season in the most important occasions and from the most difficult areas.

"I think Quade has responded to the challenge in the past. He's kicked some brilliant goals for us," said coach Ewen McKenzie.

"He's won us a lot more games than he's lost - he's well and truly ahead on the ledger."

The biggest concern for Queensland is how their improving scrum, with converted loosehead Greg Holmes packing down at tighthead prop, digs in against the most powerful pack in the competition.

The Crusaders forwards destroyed the Stormers' scrum in Cape Town and they have consistently won games through pressuring rivals into conceding penalties at the set piece.

"It's a points-scoring weapon for them to get penalties and put points on the board," said Reds' skipper James Horwill. "We're prepared for that."

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