The spoon is not ours

Quade Cooper’s return as well as the prospect of a taking home the dreaded wooden spoon, has the Queensland Reds set to fire against the Force.

A loss would drop the Reds to the bottom of the Australian conference with only two games left to play after the Force clash.

“I’m not worried how we win it, just that we win it,” Reds coach Richard Graham said. “No one wants to win the wooden spoon, that’s something you want to avoid.”

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The Force have proven a bogey side for Queensland with just the one win in the last six meetings, although that victory did come in Round Two this year.

“We have got a clear way we want to play the game, it worked well for us in the second round. We need to be disciplined to that and Quade has been one of the key drivers in that this week.”

Jake McIntyre drops to the bench in place of Cooper, who has three games to show Wallabies coach Michael Cheika that he’s ready for a World Cup charge.

“The point of difference with Quade is he sees the game ahead one or two phases, he’s able to construct the attack to manipulate the defence. And his set of skills, he passes better than anyone in Super Rugby.”

Lachie Turner is the only other change to the starting side, with Chris Kuridrani out with a calf injury. Beau Robinson will feature off the bench for his first appearance of the season.