Former Wallabies and Waratahs legend, Matthew Burke stoked the fire, predicting that the Reds would come down with a nasty case of second year syndrome. Burke believes that without star fly-half and goal kicker, Quade Cooper, the Reds will fail to recapture their form and success of 2011 and will not cope with being one of the frontrunners of the competition.
Reds halfback supremo, Will Genia responded with his own well aimed grenade, pointing to the empty trophy cabinet at Waratahs headquarters. "They have obviously fired off the first shot by saying we will have second-year syndrome. We'll see," Genia said. "The Brumbies are the only other side (from Australia) to have won a title so it's better to be a one-year wonder than a no-year wonder."
The Reds will not be short on motivation, having been thumped 30-6 in the corresponding fixture last year. That loss clearly still lives in the memories of those north of the border with Reds prop Ben Daley claiming "We've got plenty still to prove. Last year's visit to Sydney (for a 30-6 thrashing) was a bit of an embarrassment so it starts right there"
Both sides will be missing key players with Cooper (knee), winger Rod Davies (hamstring) and reserve lock Adam Wallace-Harrison (knee) missing for the Reds while New South Wales will have Test players Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner all on the sidelines.
In a boost for the Waratahs, coach Michael Foley has declared former Red Berrick Barnes and former Brumby Adam Ashley-Cooper fit and ready to play, despite not training on Monday.
Adam Schoenmaker is a high school chaplain in the northern suburbs of Brisbane for three days each week and serves two days a week in his local church. Adam loves a good book, a classic album and all Queensland sporting teams.
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