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Reds eye on Stormers

Brisbane - Despite the Reds' spectacular victory over the Bulls to move into the top four, it doesn't get any easier for them.

Following one of the best Super matches in recent times when the Reds overhauled the tournament favourites at Suncorp Stadium, the Reds must now devise a plan to beat the Stormers - a team described by All Blacks coach Graham Henry as the standout line-up in the tournament - in Brisbane on Friday night.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie had only a short time to savour Saturday night's triumph before working on his next conquest.

''The Stormers have clearly the best defensive record in the tournament, and putting nearly 50 points against the Chiefs in Hamilton in their last game is a pretty good effort,'' McKenzie said on Sunday. ''They are looking pretty complete at the moment. We do have a few thoughts about how to counter them, but they are certainly a different style to the Bulls. So we will have to go back to the drawing board.''

The Stormers have conceded just 11 tries in nine matches, and have also been consistent scorers through clever variations of play. Nonetheless, the Reds will gain great confidence from the fact their tactics against the Bulls worked perfectly.

The Reds stayed away from the sidelines, limiting the Bulls' chances to use the lineout as an attacking springboard. This also nullified the Bulls' driving-maul game, while the Reds attempted to tire their large pack with a fast, expressive style.

The Reds' fitness levels came to the fore and they peaked in the final quarter - an impressive effort, considering they returned from a long trip through South Africa only last Monday.

A key factor, McKenzie said, was telling his players that jet lag was a figment of their imagination. ''We wanted to take them out of their [head] space,'' he said.

''Also, it goes to show that you can come back from South Africa and play well. It is just a mindset. I said to the players that no matter what, fatigue will not be used as an excuse. We didn't have a day off from training, and had 40-minute grabs same time each day. I said to them, 'You have 23 hours to sleep, and be awake for an hour to train.'''

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted the Reds out-thought his side. ''Hats off to the Reds. They played some of the best continuity rugby I've seen for a long time and we couldn't get our strengths into the game,'' Ludeke said.

The Reds' only casualty was lock Van Humphries, who damaged his ankle and is likely to be replaced by Adam Byrne for the Stormers match.


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