RU: Beware the wounded Reds, says Barry

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2004
RU: Beware the wounded Reds, says Barry

By Steve Connolly

BRISBANE, April 6 AAP - Springboks and Stormers centre De Wet Barry is wary of a wounded
Queensland Reds resurgence in Saturday's Super 12 match at Ballymore.

The Stormers are riding high at third on the Super 12 ladder with realistic prospects
of a semi-final place.

They head a South African revival this season with three teams in the top five.

Their impressive form and 11th placed Queensland's disappointing, injury-riddled campaign
give the Stormers great hope of starting their difficult, four game Australasian trip
with a win at Ballymore.

The Cape Town-based side is fresh from a bye last weekend and has been in Brisbane
since last Friday preparing and recovering from jet lag as well as getting tips from Australian
and Brisbane Broncos rugby league coach Wayne Bennett.

Despite these advantages, Barry refuses to rate the Stormers as favourites on Saturday night.

"I wouldn't say we will start as favourites," Barry said today.

"These (Reds) guys are quite wounded at the moment and they're definitely going to
come out firing.

"They are like a lion coming out wounded and I wouldn't under-estimate them."

Barry's concern about the Reds is also due to their good record against the Stormers
with the two sides figuring in several close games, including a thrilling 49-46 win to
Queensland at Ballymore two years ago.

"We haven't been winning against them for two years now - we've thrown it away twice
so it's obviously a very important game for us," he said.

Barry looks forward to another stoush with Reds centre Steve Kefu, who was on the receiving
end of some crash tackles from the 25-year-old centre when South Africa beat Australia
26-22 in a Tri-Nations Test at Newlands last year.

"It's such a strange game and things happen differently in every game," Barry said.

"It will be a fair contest again on Saturday and I see Steve looks like he has put on some bulk.

"I get on with him very well and he's quite a nice bloke."

That win last July in Cape Town was one of the few highlights in a forgettable 2003
for South African rugby, which culminated in a quarter final World Cup exit.

"Last year for myself and I think most South Africans was quite a disappointing year
rugby-wise," Barry said.

"I prefer to forget about last year as quickly as possible.

"There was so much nonsense going on around the rugby and for us it's important that
we focus just on the rugby."

AAP sc/nh

KEYWORD: SUPER STORMERS

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