Queensland Reds fullback Karmichael Hunt says his side will need to be wary of the intimidation factor in their clash against the Bulls this weekend.
The Reds have arrived in Pretoria following their first win of 2016, over 2015 Champions the Highlanders on Saturday night.
Things won’t get any easier for the Reds who have won just two of their last 11 games on the road and prepare to take on the Bulls at Loftus Stadium.
“Last week was a great week for us,” Hunt said.
“We’ve got a couple of big tasks ahead of us here in Africa, starting this week against the Bulls.
Having played their last three matches at home, the Reds can expect a completely different atmosphere during their tour of South Africa with coach Matt O’Connor ensuring the side is ready for a brutal reception.
“In the team meeting Matty O’Connor touched on the intimidation of Loftus Stadium,” Hunt said.
“They’re a very vocal crowd so he wanted to make sure that the boys who haven’t been here before understand that we’re going into a pretty hostile environment.”
In what has been a season of change for the Reds, their 27-man touring squad features a host of youngsters who have limited touring experience.
Hunt who has been a professional athlete for over a decade said the two-week tour would be an opportunity for younger players to grow and develop their game.
“A big focus for the younger guys is to make sure they get into a routine quite quickly and don’t go too far away from things you do at home in preparation for a game,” he said.
“Two weeks in Africa is going to give us a great opportunity to hang out and get to know each other a lot more personally, just enjoy each other’s company, talk things other than footy and build our identity.”
The Reds take on the Bulls at 1:05am AEST, Sunday morning, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
