Rugby: Line speed key to beating Reds - Brett

Stephen Brett. Photo / Getty Images

Speed off the defensive line is the key to shutting down the Queensland Reds' attacking threats in the Super 15 rugby semifinal in Brisbane on Saturday night says Blues playmaker Stephen Brett.

The pairing of first five-eighths Brett and halfback Alby Mathewson will be crucial at Suncorp Stadium as they go head-to-head with Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia.

Brett said allowing Cooper and Genia to guide their teammates to good metres over the advantage line would make the Reds hard to stop.

"If we can stop them, eliminate them, then hopefully it's going to be an even game."

"The key is just line speed, getting up on them, putting a bit of pressure on them, and whenever their forward runners come around, just try to get them back behind the gain line."

The Blues also know they need to make a better start than in their defeat to the Queenslanders at the same venue last month, when they were down 24-0 after just half an hour.

The did manage a comeback to claim two bonus points, but the 37-31 result saw the Reds leap over them to the top of the table.

They began slowly again in their semifinal qualifier against the New South Wales Waratahs in Auckland last Friday night, before grinding out a 26-13 win.

Brett cited missed tackles on both occasions as being costly, and put his hand up for the ones he failed to nail against the Waratahs.

Brett, 25, had playoff experience with the Crusaders before moving to the Auckland prior to the start of the last season.

His last appearance in finals football was at the semifinal stage in 2009, when the Crusaders fell to eventual champions the Bulls in Pretoria.

"Any opportunity to play in a semifinal is pretty exciting," he said.

"I haven't been in one for a wee while now, so it's going to be a good challenge."

The Blues are due to name their side tomorrow, a day before the Reds, who have winger Digby Ioane, centre Anthony Faingaa and flanker Beau Robinson back from injury.

Ioane, who missed two matches because of concussion, was a standout in the round-robin win over the Blues.

Brett said Ioane's strength and elusiveness made him a difficult opponent to stop.

"He probably benches about 180kg and squats about 240, so he's a pretty powerful and explosive man, and he's got good feet as well," he said.

"But, as I said, if we get good line speed against them, hopefully that will eliminate that."

Meanwhile, Brett revealed that he and Cooper had been trading "a couple of cheeky comments" on Twitter.

"We've been giving a bit of grief to each other,'' he said.

"He's a good player and I enjoy playing against him. I've played against him a few times now and I guess it's just whatever first five steps up to their game."

The Blues leave for Brisbane on Thursday, a day earlier than they did ahead of their loss in May.