James Slipper
Reds captain James Slipper is hoping to use the nightmares of previous visits to Loftus Versfeld to charge up his team this week.
Slipper, speaking to the media following the team’s arrival in Johannesburg after 14-hour flight from Brisbane, said they are determined to turn around their faltering season.
The Reds, 2nd from last on the standings, have only 1 win from 7 starts – a Round 2 victory over the equally dismal Western Force, who also have just 1 win in 7 matches.
The Reds, having lost their last 5 matches, are looking to win at Loftus for the 1st time since 2001.
“We are looking forward to our game against the Bulls this week,” Slipper said, adding that his team will rely on character to get them over the massive Loftus hurdle.
“One thing we showed a lot of in the last game (a 15 / 23 loss to the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne last Friday) was character,” the skipper said of an encounter where the Reds played 60 minutes of the match a man down, with Wallaby James Horwill Red-Carded for foul play in the 20th minute.
“This group does have a lot of it.
“Yes, we are going through a hard time at the moment,” he said of their poor run, adding: “With that character it is easy to turn up for training and games.
“We are going out there to win and that is important, giving that we have a tough tour.”
Slipper admitted their encounter with the Bulls, who are coming of a painful last-minute loss to the Lions, will be a huge ask for his beleaguered team.
“We are just keen to get back out there and give it another go.”
However, playing at Loftus remains one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome.
“It is one of the hardest fields to play at,” Slipper said, adding: “I have been privileged enough to play there for the Reds and the Wallabies.
“Unfortunately I haven’t got a win for either team – hopefully this week is different.”
Loftus has certainly not been kind to the Reds.
“I remember a couple of years ago we had a really bad loss and that is always going to sit with me,” the Reds prop said.
Slipper played off the bench in the record 3 / 92 loss to the Bulls in the last Round of league action in 2007, as well as the equally demoralising 8 / 61 loss 3 years ago.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there and getting 1 back.”
Meanwhile Reds coach Richard Graham dismissed the notion that Horwill has been axed over his poor disciplinary record.
With Horwill’s departure to English giants Harlequins confirmed for next season, it seems his waning star and growing card collection (2 Yellows and 2 Reds) this season are beginning to count against him.
He was left out of the tour squad and his place went to Tom Murday, who made his Reds debut earlier this year, as 1 of 4 locks – with Simmons, Marco Kotze and Dave McDuling.
“The reason for leaving James Horwill at home is simply that we need a full compliment to prepare with and also to give ourselves options as to how we select the bench at the weekend,”Graham said of the lock – who is banned for 1 match and would have been available for the 2nd tour match, against the Cheetahs next week.
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