The greatest Aussie Super Rugby clash ever?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/4ad96a65-c11f-4290-8cd8-453187c46c57\")
<\/p>\n
Thorn said O'Connor would "probably" continue to captain the Reds when Wright does enter the fray.<\/p>\n
He was asked how Wright had taken the demotion for such a big match.<\/p>\n
"He'd seen those guys do that work through the season and he's a team man. Obviously he wants to start but Eddie Jones said it a couple of years ago \u2013 the game's changed.<\/p>\n
"The pressure moments in the back 20, 30 minutes\u2026 he'd like to have the starting jersey on his back but he's a great team man and that's why he's captain."<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/e4849f12-2979-4af5-8b91-d7e7c1983a36\")
<\/p>\n
While the captaincy call was a massive one, the decision to hand teenager Josh Flook the No.13 jersey was a no brainer following Hunter Paisami's facial fracture.<\/p>\n
Flook also filled in for Paisami in Queensland's round eight win over the Brumbies and handled the occasion superbly.<\/p>\n
"Just a class footballer," Thorn said, before delivering an almighty compliment.<\/p>\n
"Reminds me a lot of Conrad Smith, my old mate, but a lot younger version.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/6f516d75-e31c-4b91-b4ca-1b7b85adb7a3\")
<\/p>\n
"He may not do X-factor stuff but he does his job and he does it well.<\/p>\n
"We think he's got a big future here. Guys come in and get the job done.<\/p>\n
"Flooky's no fuss for a young guy, just came in and did the job.<\/p>\n
"A big challenge for him on the weekend and it'll be a good contest."<\/p>\n
Reds winger Jock Campbell agreed, declaring Flook a "brilliant defender" in one of rugby's most difficult and pivotal positions.<\/p>\n
Campbell will start ahead of Wallabies squad members Filipo Daugunu and Suliasi Vunivalu, the latter deemed not quite ready to return from his hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/c97d64c8-6d2f-4993-8322-1520a474f661\")
<\/p>\n
"Those high octane athletes, you've got to be a bit careful with them," Thorn said.<\/p>\n
"Not quite there yet but you'll be seeing him in the future. He could possibly do it but you don't want to set a guy back. I wouldn't say he was available \u2013 just maybe a game too early. Sometimes you've got to do right by the player."<\/p>\n
Thorn, the ultimate trophy winner during a glittering dual code playing career, was relishing the prospect of 40,000-plus in the stands as the Reds seek revenge for last year's grand final loss.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/74083497-bf46-4908-a175-65347ad01640\")
<\/p>\n
"What a great thing for Australian rugby," Thorn said.<\/p>\n
"They're talking around 40,000 spectators and you think back to last year, there was times there was a lot of doom and gloom, wasn't there?<\/p>\n
"Was the game going to be still running and it just shows that people love their rugby.<\/p>\n
"It should be quite an event."<\/p>\n
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Reds coach Brad Thorn has explained his shock decision to bench captain Liam Wright for Saturday's Super Rugby AU grand final, while comparing teenager Josh […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67866"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67866"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67868,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67866\/revisions\/67868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=67866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=67866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}