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Match Highlights: Kolisi sinbinning the turning point as Reds down Stormers

Queensland Reds will head to South Africa with wind in their sails after a 24-12 Super Rugby defeat of the Stormers.

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Both sides did everything but get on the scoreboard at Suncorp Stadium on Friday in the competition’s first scoreless opening stanza in six years.

But Stormers and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s sin-binning on half-time broke the shackles, with the Reds prevailing in a five-try second half.

Reds standout Samu Kerevi took 90 seconds to exploit the overlap with a lovely cut-out pass before he backed up to score the game’s first.

The Reds were through the line again thanks to speedy halfback Tate McDermott minutes later, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa claiming the five-pointer for an eventual 14-0 lead.

Kolisi’s return coincided with the Stormers’ first try, Kobus Van Dyk powering over from close-range next to the upright as the game opened up.

McDermott duly sniffed out his own five-pointer from a quick tap and – notwithstanding a Damien De Allende try for the Stormers – Bryce Hegarty booted the Queenslanders out of reach with a penalty goal.

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Coach Brad Thorn was proud of his side but was again left asking them to find the middle ground between expansive and safe rugby.

“Lots of positive rugby out there, lots of endeavour and there’s a part of me that loves that,” Thorn said.

“There’s a composure around that … often our biggest challenge is just us.”

The Reds now move to 3-4 ahead of a two-game trip to the Republic, although they will be without winger Filipo Daugunu (broken arm), a host of Australian under-20s representatives and most likely a rested Kerevi.

The Reds’ task was made easier against the Stormers by the absence of the injured Eben Etzebeth and fellow Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit, who flew home for the birth of his child.

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It didn’t slow the visitors early though, who were unlucky not to draw first blood through Damian Willemse and Sergeal Petersen.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck rued his side’s wastefulness.

“It’s pretty tough to swallow that and those first 10 minutes (with Kolisi sin-binned), the Reds were pretty good at executing that advantage,” Fleck said.

“We’re not really proud of that effort in the second half – too many errors, too many missed tackles.”

AAP

You may also like: Rugby Explorer – Big Jim visits South Africa

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Nickers 32 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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