Reds flank Liam Gill said his side is not worried by the Israel Folau factor, and hopes both teams bring an attacking game plan when they meet the Waratahs on Saturday.
Gill admitted that the Reds were nervous when they saw that their Super Rugby season would begin with away games against major Australian conference rivals the Brumbies and Waratahs.
rugby365
However, he said that had changed following their season-opening 27-17 win over the Brumbies and they were confident – despite Folau’s hat-trick heroics in the Waratahs’ 43-21 triumph over the Force.
Gill said the Waratahs “would be crazy not to” unleash their backline with fullback Folau lurking to inject himself from the back, and the Reds flanker would prefer it that way as they attempt to claim a sixth straight win over the Waratahs.
“It’s almost like a Test match, [it’s] like a must-win game.
“We would love to see an open game and I think it will [be] once the forwards get tired and the backs throw it around a bit”, Gill said.
When asked about the Folau threat, Gill said: “We understand where their threats lie. It is nothing we can’t handle.
“It doesn’t faze us.”
In fact, the openside flank believes his team can handle anything the Sydney-based side throws at them, even if forced into trench warfare against a Waratahs pack 47kg heavier.
“We showed on the weekend how well we can adapt.
“If we stick to our strong defence and work out of the trenches we can fight out of a slow game.
“I think they have got a strong line-up, their set piece will be big and that is where they will come at us in the forwards.
“But there’s nothing we can’t handle in this Waratahs pack.
“We go in very confident,” Gill added.
NSW convert Lachie Turner is looking forward to meeting his former team on their home turf after a strong start to his Reds career against the Brumbies.
“He [Turner] settled his nerves on the weekend,” Gill said.
“He had a great game. He put what he has to offer a Queensland jersey out there.
“It will be tough for him to go home but he’s not fazed, [he’s] more excited,” the Wallaby flank concluded.