Two of the Qantas Wallabies key players, Will Genia and James Horwill, got up close and personal with the British & Irish Lions for the first time this month as they cheered on their Queensland Reds team mates at Suncorp Stadium.
Genia was so keen to be involved in the sell-out occasion in Brisbane that he asked his coach, Ewen McKenzie, if he could act as a water boy. Not only that, he took part in the warm-up before the game.
As for second row James Horwill, the man who led the Reds to their Super Rugby title two years ago and who is expected to be named as the Qantas Wallabies captain to face the Lions, he preferred a seat in the dug out alongside his fellow international squad members from the Reds camp.
“It was very, very hard not playing and it was very difficult to watch. But the Reds put up a great show and did themselves proud,” said Horwill, one of seven Reds players currently in the Qantas Wallaby camp.
“The Suncorp Stadium is a great place to play and the crowd really turned up and got involved. They saw a good game and that try from Luke Morahan was really special.
“It was good to get a first hand look at the Lions. They are still trying out combinations at this stage, but we will take a look at the tap to see what they are up to.
“We will review things as we always do and we will probably get a few tips from the Reds players as well. What this game has done is ignite the prospect of a great Test series.”
