Davies cleared for fullback tilt - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Davies cleared for fullback tilt

By Laine Clark 01/03/2011 04:51:56 PM Comments (0)

Battered and bruised, Rod Davies has backed himself to fill injured Queensland Reds fullback Peter Hynes' boots against the ACT Brumbies on Saturday night.

Davies was considered one of the many Reds players in doubt for their Super Rugby clash in Canberra following a last round 30-6 thrashing by the NSW Waratahs.

Sporting a shiner and stitches around his left eye, Davies looked the worse for wear on Tuesday.

But the former Brisbane Broncos flyer confirmed he would run out against the Brumbies - and he hoped it would be in the No.15 guernsey.

Davies is in contention for fullback along with Ben Lucas, Luke Morahan and Aidan Toua after Hynes broke down with what could be a season-threatening knee injury against NSW.

"I broke the same cheekbone last year and obviously there are stitches but it looks worse than it is - I will be right to go this weekend," he said.

"Hynesy's knee always poses a bit of a question mark.

"He obviously won't be right but we have a few guys there who can step up and play fullback.

"One of them is me. I enjoy playing fullback, I came here as a fullback in '09 (from the Broncos) but haven't really had a chance to play there."

A regular Reds winger, Davies was used at fullback in a pre-season trial against the Crusaders in Cairns in what may be a sign of things to come.

Further scans this week will determine how far Hynes' recurring knee injury has set him back this season.

He is the most serious concern on an injury list that also features captain James Horwill (ankle), Scott Higginbotham (calf) and Eddie Quirk (ribs).

Horwill won't be available until March 18's home clash with Melbourne Rebels while scan results will determine the remainder's availability.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was the first to admit he had to go back to the drawing board to make his gameplan "relevant", following the defeat by the Waratahs.

But Davies believed the Rebels had already shown how much any side could turn things around in a week.

After being embarrassed 43-0 by NSW on debut, Melbourne pipped the Reds' next opponent ACT 25-24 last weekend.

"We are not on the mark at the moment but there is no need for crisis talks or anything like that," Davies said.

"We have a lot to work on but it starts this week.

"The Rebels did it. They turned a 43-0 loss around - hopefully we can do something similar.

"And if we can play a similar way to the Rebels that will put us in good stead.

"We know the areas we need to improve on and that is the breakdown, that's our focus."

The Reds have never beaten the ACT in Canberra and have won just once in 16 games.

"It's obviously a big challenge but we don't look at the records," Davies said.

"We look at making our own mark and it starts this weekend."

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