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Match Report: Reds win spoiled by cards

The Reds beat the Sunwolves 48-27 in Brisbane on Friday, a game marred by questionable calls and controversial refereeing incidents.

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It was the ongoing inconsistencies that really spoilt this encounter.

New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe, who has been responsible for some of the most shocking match official mistakes this season, added another chapter to his growing resume of howlers.

First he issued a red card to Sunwolves loose forward Edward Quirk for a ‘closed fist to the head’ – which was no more than a rubbing motion.

Then he decided that Reds loose forward Caleb Timu’s driving shoulder to the head of a prone player on the ground was just a yellow card.

That and other questionable calls took all the gloss of what was otherwise an entertaining fixture.

Reds coach Brad Thorn slammed the red card shown to Ed Quirk in his side’s big win over the Sunwolves, labelling the alleged “closed fist” action as nothing more than a love tap.

Former All Blacks forward Thorn vehemently disagreed with the referee’s decision.

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“For me, for a red card, it has to be something really big,” Thorn said.

“[Red cards] are for horrendous spear tackles, someone kicking someone on the ground, eye gouging horrendously or something – not love taps.”

The contest was essentially over from the time of Quirk’s dismissal with the Reds leading the Sunwolves 22-13 before powerhouse tighthead prop Taniela Tupou stretched out to score moments before half-time.

@rugby365

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Nickers 22 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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