Once again Queensland rugby is the backbone of Australian rugby stocks when the chips are down. As an adolescent I remember the Scottish routing at Ballymore in 1983 only to see it turned around a week later in Sydney with the inclusion of Queensland greats, Paul McLean and Roger Gould, ahead of Dwyer’s Ella brother preference of Mark & Glen the week before. Last year we at Brisbanerugby.com had been pushing Will Genia’s barrow when the Wallabies were getting beaten and we were vindicated with the match in Brisbane against the Springboks giving hope from a disastrous season. This year we have been promoting Quade Cooper and his promotion to national pivot has justified that position.

Now we see 21 year old loose-head prop Ben Daley receiving a debut call-up to the Wallabies along with Reds hooker Saia Faingaa and Reds & Gold Coast Breakers front row pairing, James Slipper, on the bench. Son of Rugby League legend, Phil Daley, Ben was schooled on the Gold Coast at All Saints Anglican School debuting for the Reds in 2006 has been one of Ewen McKenzie’s most dedicated apostles in arguably the toughest place on a rugby paddock, the front row. Talking with his father last year I was pleasently surprised by the ex-NSW Origin Great's studious appreciation and knowledge of one of rugby union's most unexpainable facet being the front row.

Tonight’s match against England will be test of cool headedness as much as skill and will be the start of a Queensland resurgence or our Waterloo.