Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Reds spark new-look Super Rugby AU season into life with crushing win over the Waratahs

(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Nine minutes of brilliance were all the Queensland Reds needed to spark the new-look Super Rugby AU season into life during a crushing 41-7 home win over the NSW Waratahs. The hosts had scored 24 of their points by the 18th minute but only after the Waratahs had scored first – their only points of the night – in a whirlwind opener that did justice to the rule tweaks made to encourage attacking play.

ADVERTISEMENT

A red card late in the first half to Izaia Perese and second-half injuries to Jake Gordon and Joey Walton complicated things for the Waratahs but the Reds’ sloppiness meant they were unable to completely put them away until the final ten minutes.

Half-back Gordon scored inside three minutes of his first game as skipper as the Waratahs threatened a boilover but, led by interim captain James O’Connor, the Reds piled on 41 straight points for their seventh-straight Suncorp Stadium win.

Video Spacer

Who were the best players of Six Nations round two

Video Spacer

Who were the best players of Six Nations round two

Leading the Reds in place of the injured Liam Wright, O’Connor slotted a penalty to begin proceedings and was then given the benefit of the doubt when his final pass to try-scorer Jock Campbell looked to have floated forward.

Hooker Alex Mafi then hung on to a low pass and twisted over from close range before Filipo Daugunu finished a Hunter Paisami linebreak. Suddenly it was 24-7 with 22 minutes still to play in the half, Angus Scott-Young’s terrific low tackle on the line denying Gordon a second try to maintain their advantage.

https://twitter.com/SuperRugby/status/1362723686504034305

The Waratahs’ task was made tougher with the loss of former Queensland Reds and Brisbane Broncos talent Perese in the 36th minute for a dangerous throwing tackle on Paisami. He was able to be replaced after 20 minutes as part of the tournament’s rule tweaks and the Reds threatened but were unable to exploit the numerical advantage before that.

Half-back Tate McDermott laid a razor-sharp tackle on drifting Waratahs playmaker Will Harrison to stop a promising raid while second-year lock Seru Uru was a standout in the Reds starting side. Gordon looked to roll his ankle in a tackle with 15 minutes to play, O’Connor then drilling the game’s first 50-22 kick and Daugunu skipped through the line from a scrum to seal the contest.

ADVERTISEMENT

Deployed off the Reds bench, Taniela Tupou made a late impact with a huge push to win a Waratahs scrum in front of their own posts before Ilaisa Droasese scored with his first touch on debut on the stroke of full-time.

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

B
BeamMeUp 2 hours ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

12 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Let's be real about these All Blacks Let's be real about these All Blacks
Search