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Reds take Chiefs outside their comfort zone only to lose it late on

(Photo by Michael Bradley/AFP via Getty Images)

The Queensland Reds outscored the Chiefs by three tries to two but still lost 29-20 in Hamilton, Damian McKenzie’s perfect boot denying the Australians a slice of history in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final.

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Suliasi Vunivalu scored twice in arguably his best outing of the season for the Reds while Harry Wilson complemented his efforts with a try too.

But an opportunistic Chiefs’ try after the half-time siren and a perfect seven kicks at goal from their No10 McKenzie proved critical as the hosts triumphed in Hamilton on Saturday.

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It ensured the top-ranked side avoided becoming the first New Zealand team to lose on home soil to an Australian side in a Super Rugby play-off game.

The Chiefs had lost just once all season, but that blemish came against the Reds last month in a monumental New Plymouth boilover that was their first win across the ditch in 10 years.

The Reds (5-9) limped into the play-offs in eighth, but looked the part in a patient, tactical performance that took the Chiefs outside their comfort zone for 73 minutes. That was when big loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula rolled over under the posts to seal the win for the hosts.

Before that, the Reds pushed and prodded the favourites in a cagey effort featuring plenty of back-and-forth long kicks. Willing to back their defence, the Reds put several big hits on Chiefs playmaker McKenzie and through re-built No13 Filipo Daugunu forced errors.

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The Reds turned over a scrum on their own line, Josh Flook nailing a 50-22 kick on the run that lead to Vunivalu’s try off a James O’Connor cut-out pass.

Tom Lynagh missed the conversion and then an easier penalty kick from another crunching Daugunu tackle, the Chiefs edging ahead courtesy of McKenzie’s accurate boot. He kicked three straight three-pointers before Wilson timed his pluck from the ruck just right to roll over for the Reds’ second try.

Again, Lynagh missed the conversion but they threatened again when the Reds’ depleted pack won another penalty against the competition’s best scrum.

But their usually-reliable lineout let them down, the Chiefs hitting top gear to score after the half-time siren through Emoni Narawa and snatch a 14-10 lead.

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Daugunu went off with a shoulder injury to begin the second half but the Reds kept at it, Vunivalu grabbing the ball from the ruck and skipping to complete his try double.

Lynagh, who had kicked a long-range penalty then managed a superb 50-22 of his own, nailed the conversion to put the Reds ahead before a McKenzie penalty swung it again.

A Flook try-saving tackle helped the Reds win a penalty on their line but there would be no fairytale as the Chiefs scored last and departing Reds coach Brad Thorn was forced to sign off with a brave loss.

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AM 8 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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