The Trump 'turn of the cheek' that saved icon's face as Matt Burke recalls Reds-Waratahs war stories

Matt Burke achieved pretty much everything there was to achieve in the world of rugby.

Atop a glittering list was slotting all nine of his shots at goal in a 25-point haul as the Wallabies won the 1999 Rugby World Cup final against France in dominant fashion.

But...

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"I never won against Queensland, and that just breaks me," NSW great Burke told Stan Sport this week.

It's a remarkable stat, and certainly Australia's biggest rivalry couldn't have been contested any closer in the 21st century.

The Reds and Waratahs have both lifted the Bob Templeton Cup 20 times since it was introduced in 2000.

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They will do battle again on Saturday night in Brisbane in a match that could also have major ramifications for the Wallabies.

Reds coach Les Kiss is viewed as the favourite to succeed Joe Schmidt in the Test hot seat but Waratahs mentor Dan McKellar is also in the hunt and hasn't lost this season.

Injured Queensland star Lukhan Salakaia-Loto set the tone for a spicy clash by declaring he'd love to "head high" NSW defector Taniela Tupou "off the ball" at Suncorp Stadium.

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And Burke dug up some nefarious state-versus-state acts of yesteryear on Stan Sport including Damian Smith's infamous rampage in 1996.

Queensland winger Smith tried to take David Campese's head off with a swinging arm after he dropped a high ball and then aimed an angry fist at the NSW superstar as he lay trapped on the turf.

"If he got him, Campo's head would have been flattened on the ground," Burke said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.

"Smithy literally looks at the referee and goes, 'Right, I've got a chance here', and lines up. And it was Donald Trump-esque, it was just the turn of the cheek and he missed him and he punched the ground."

Smith wasn't finished unleashing terror on his Wallabies teammates.

He'd copped a yellow card for his attack on Campese but then got himself sent off for another ugly high shot on Burke.

"He took my head off so he got sent," Burke said.

"Damian Smith is a big lad, he's about 6'3, 6'4, he played at probably about 105, 108kg, and he was strong.

"I don't think he realised how strong he was ... but he was just an angry man."

Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs

SAT, March 15: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7.35pm kick-off AEDT)

REDS (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Lachie Anderson, Heremaia Murray

Replacements: Richie Asiata, Alex Hodgman, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Dre Pakeho

WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Hugh Sinclair (c), Ben Grant, Rob Leota, Charlie Gamble, Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Lawson Creighton, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, Henry O'Donnell, Triston Reilly, Andrew Kellaway

Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Siosifa Amone, Felix Kalapu, Jamie Adamson, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed

Referee: James Doleman

Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon

TMO: Richard Kelly