Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'At Super Rugby level you can't waste those sort of chances' - Reds lament poor execution in Sharks frenzy

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Queensland Reds playmaker James O’Connor is facing an injury lay-off after rolling his ankle in a 10-point loss to the Sharks on Saturday that dented their Super Rugby finals chances.

ADVERTISEMENT

The hosts were run down 33-23 by a slick Durban outfit that will return to South Africa with a 3-1 record on their tour of Australia and New Zealand.

It left the Reds 1-4 ahead of their trip to face the defending champion Crusaders, last weekend’s historic 64-5 defeat of the Sunwolves a distant memory.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

Thorn said O’Connor, replaced by Isaac Lucas after 50 minutes, may have sprained his ankle but was hoping it was only a minor concern.

Wins this weekend against foreign sides to the NSW Waratahs (five points) and Melbourne Rebels (eight) also hurt the Reds (seven), who missed a chance to make ground on the conference-leading Brumbies (13).

Thorn had hoped his side could match the highly-fancied South Africans and they did in the first 40 minutes, but just weren’t able to show it on the scoreboard.

His men had all the ball and earned nine penalties that put them in prime position to strike.

But, four times from line-outs and another from their usually dominant scrum, they coughed up possession.

ADVERTISEMENT

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KhjEGgx2z/

“At Super Rugby level you can’t waste those sort of chances,” Thorn said.

“They executed when they needed to do and we didn’t.”

Tries to O’Connor and Taniela Tupou in the first and second half were also overturned and the Sharks made them pay behind Curwin Bosch’s supreme boot and Lukhanyo Am’s intercept try.

Conversely, Jock Campbell struggled off the tee, missing two conversions and spraying several field kicks, while O’Connor was also ineffective by foot.

The Reds’ scrum was slowly worn down by the Sharks too and Thorn knows they’ve got plenty of work today before Friday’s steep ask.

“The best team in comp for last three years, so from our end nothing to lose there,” he said of their next challenge.

“We’ll keep working … they’re a world-class side and we’ll be throwing our all into it looking for a win.”

ADVERTISEMENT

-AAP

NZR weighing up investment options:

Video Spacer

 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING 'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England' 'I don't think Borthwick picks Willis even if he's playing in England'
Search