Queensland Reds v Wales: Warren Gatland looks for ray of hope

Another Wales season will finally finish in Brisbane on Friday.

There have been plenty of dark days over the last 12 months, but Warren Gatland’s side are looking for one final ray of hope in Australia’s ‘Sunshine State’.

The international campaign was completed last weekend with a 36-28 loss against the Wallabies, which wrapped up a 2-0 series win for Joe Schmidt’s men.

Instead of heading off on their holidays, Wales have one more date with this uncapped fixture against the Queensland Reds.

Just like in Melbourne last week, Wales’ rugby team visiting this major Australian city is not the main sporting event on show.

In Victoria’s capital, it was an Australian Rules regular club match that attracted 73,000 fans, compared to 20,000 at Wales’ second Test defeat.

In Brisbane, rugby league fever has dominated this week with New South Wales defeating hosts Queensland in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.

The Wales squad witnessed first hand more than 50,000 passionate fans packed into the Suncorp Stadium for a spectacular occasion described by some as ‘Australia’s Superbowl’.

A Welsh-qualified performer provided the crucial moment with centre Bradman Best, whose grandmother is from Wales although he does not know where exactly, powering over for a vital try.

Wales will be back at the same venue 48 hours later when they are the major players and not just interested observers, with Queensland’s best Tom Jones impersonator providing the half-time entertainment.

So it is just one more game and the Welsh players will be able return to the green grass of home.