Former Wallaby forward Radike Samo will make his Queensland debut at lock in one of five changes to the Reds' starting lineup for Friday's Super 14 clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Head Coach Ewen McKenzie made seven changes in total as the Reds welcomed back another experienced lock in Van Humphries but were forced to leave out former All Black flanker Daniel Braid because of a knee injury suffered against the Brumbies last weekend. Humphries was also named as vice-captain in the absence of Braid.
Having lost the two locks who started last time out against the Brumbies - Adam Byrnes (knee) and Rob Simmons (facial facture) – McKenzie replaced them with Samo and Humphries, while tearaway youngster Andrew Shaw gets his first crack at the number 7 jersey this year as Braid's replacement.
Up front, former Wallaby Greg Holmes gets his first starting appearance this year as tighthead prop, with QAS Reds Academy prop James Slipper coming into the 22 on a forward-heavy 7-2 bench. Pocket battleship flanker Lei Tomiki comes into the 22 for the first time this season after joining the Reds from a lengthy stint in Europe.
In the backs, speedster Rod Davies returns from a hamstring injury to take over the right wing spot from Brando Va'aulu, who drops back to the bench.
"Having lost Braidy in addition to Simmons and Byrnes, we took the opportunity to change things around a bit more to give us different options in the starting side and off the bench," McKenzie said.
"We'll be looking to guys like Shaw and Tomiki to give us immediate impact and putting Holmes into the starting side gives us a bit more experience there and is a reward for what he's delivered for us off the bench this year.
"In the backs, now that he is fit Rod Davies deserves the opportunity to start after being in such good form before he was injured," McKenzie said.
If he comes off the bench Tomiki will be making his Queensland debut, after earning six caps (5 Super Rugby) for the Waratahs between 2002-4, before he headed overseas.
Fijian-born Samo, who joined the Reds from Japan after a stint in France, made his test debut in 2004 against Scotland and played six tests that year. He played 35 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies between 2000 and 2006.
Shaw made his run-on debut against the Crusaders last year but has played only one game off the bench this year, in round one against the Waratahs. Slipper made his Reds debut in that match.
The team is (from fullback):
Peter Hynes, Rod Davies, Will Chambers, Anthony Faingaa, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Leroy Houston, Andrew Shaw, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Radike Samo, Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley.
Reserves: Sean Hardman, James Slipper, Ezra Taylor, Jake Schatz, Lei Tomiki, Ben Lucas, Brando Va'aulu.
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