James O’Connor starts at flyhalf for the Reds
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Utility back James O’Connor switches from inside-centre to flyhalf in what will be his second start in the Reds’ number-10 jersey after he made his Queensland debut in the same position back in Round 3 of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Hamish Stewart comes off the bench and slots into the vacant number-12 spot, while lock Izack Rodaa will also earn his first start of the season. Alex Mafi will start at hooker following an ankle injury to Brandon Paenga-Amosa during last week’s clash in Canberra.
Following consultation with a surgeon in Brisbane, Paenga-Amosa will be sidelined for the next six-to-eight weeks after suffering ligament damage. In one-of-four changes to the bench, potential Super Rugby debutant Sean Farrell comes into the 23 as a replacement at hooker
Prop Josh Nasser has also been brought-in this week, and like Farrell, could possibly make his Queensland debut as well. While lock Angus Blyth and utility back Isaac Lucas will both come-on as finishers in Saturday’s Round 2 fixture.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’ve got a tough game against the Lions at Ellis Park. They’ve been a good side over the past half-decade, and it’ll be a tough contest.
“We arrived in Johannesburg reasonably early after the Brumbies game. Since being here we’ve been acclimatising and started our preparation.
“As far as this trip – a round the world trip, no other sport really does it, let alone a contact sport. So, if you can get a victory on this trip you can call that a success,” said Thorn.
The Reds next travel to Argentina to take on the Jaguares in the final leg of their three-week road trip, before returning home to host the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 22 February.
