Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Reds to focus on the man in the mirror

(Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

The Queensland Reds will spend more time this week looking in the mirror than at their next Super Rugby AU opponents NSW Waratahs after their heart-breaking loss last round. The Reds looked like they would inflict the Brumbies’ first loss of the season before conceding a penalty after fulltime, which Mack Hansen slotted for a 22-20 victory.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before their clash with the Waratah on Saturday night at the SCG, Queensland skipper Liam Wright says they were their own worst enemy against the Brumbies, incurring a 12-7 penalty count.

“Our discipline was a big factor throughout the game,” Wright said on Monday.

“We knew that their game plan would be to get penalties, go to a lineout and go to their maul which they did and our defence held really strong, which was a positive, but we didn’t restrict their game plan.”

Video Spacer

Waratahs assistant Jason Gilmore

Video Spacer

Waratahs assistant Jason Gilmore

In addition to ill-discipline, the Queensland Reds were let down by their lineout as they lost five including one in the dying minutes to hand over critical possession.

The Waratahs impressed in that area in their round three clash with the Brumbies, putting Wright on high alert.

“That plagued us earlier in the season and it cost us in crucial moments – we had a must-win ball at the end which we lost and it gave them another opportunity to win the game,” Wright said.

“The Waratahs took apart the Brumbies with their lineout and set-piece so it’s a part of their game they’re really strong at and we’re going to have to fix up.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Reds defeated NSW 32-26 in their Super Rugby AU round one encounter and Wright said they would revisit the match this week, but that most attention would be inward.

“The focus will be on ourselves as it’s been more us shooting ourselves in the foot so it be will be on our game and our discipline,” he said.

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

M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

67 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Joel Merkler: Meet the colossal Spaniard playing with Antoine Dupont's Toulouse Joel Merkler: Meet the colossal Spaniard playing with Antoine Dupont's Toulouse
Search