QUEENSLAND Rugby Union chairman Peter Lewis has delivered an astonishing plea to the Reds, imploring them to beat the "bastards" from NSW as revenge for selectors' snubbing of the state when they named the 1970 Wallabies to play Scotland in a one-off Test.
In his newsletter posted on the QRU website yesterday, Lewis, a hard-running centre in the 1970 Queensland side that beat NSW and Scotland, led from the front with some fiery words to arouse some tribalism among Queenslanders for tonight's Super 14 clash against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium.
"The history books show that Scotland (who were a force back then) toured Australia in 1970 with a team, including many British Lions," Lewis wrote. "The records will show in the two weeks leading up to the only Test that my Queensland team beat Scotland and NSW.
"The Wallabies team chose to play Scotland included only two Queenslanders - Stuart Gregory in the second row and Mick Barry on the bench (and he didn't get a run).
"That was unfair and I have never forgiven them and it went on for years! The bastards.
"To [Reds coach] Phil Mooney and his team and staff, make it right and ruin their party - please."
After more rambling, Lewis ended his two-page call-to-arms by expressing the hope that in his next newsletter he will get to "gloat over another famous victory over the Waratahs".
What may further anger Lewis is that he could have had more reason to feel bitter about NSW than he realised: records show the 1970 Wallabies actually had no representatives from Queensland.
Gregory was not even named in the starting second-row - NSW's Alan Skinner and Owen Butler were.
And to add a little more salt to his wounds, it seems the Wallabies selectors were vindicated by a 23-3 victory over Scotland at the SCG.
Still, Lewis deserves credit for trying to light the spark. For there were few of them at yesterday's Vintage Reds interstate rugby luncheon in Brisbane, despite all the promises of a verbal pummelling to be delivered to NSW by the greats of Queensland rugby.
While his team was training, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie had the seemingly dubious honour of representing NSW. He thought he would be a "punching bag" for Queensland taunts. Instead, he was applauded for his dignified explanation of his departure from NSW.
After he left the event, still dressed in the jeans and a Waratahs polo shirt that he wore on the plane to Brisbane, much of the lunch was spent recognising the feats of Reds breakaway David Croft, for whom tonight's game will be his last before retiring, and the historical rather than emotional significance of NSW- Queensland clashes.
Sure, there were constant reminders of Queensland's 42-4 victory over NSW in 1976, and their 48-10 win 1979. The highlights of those matches were replayed ad nauseum.
But it was a tame affair. What could beat Lewis's online vitriol and his hope the Waratahs get "smashed"? Nothing, it seems.
Rupert Guinness
