'Australia hasn't lost to New Zealand in 14 days' - Reds captain taking confidence from latest Super Rugby streak
The Queensland Reds’ missed opportunities are putting Liam Wright’s leadership qualities to the test but the first-year captain is holding firm ahead of one of Super Rugby’s most daunting assignments.
All four Reds losses this season have come despite them holding second-half leads, with Saturday’s 33-23 defeat at home to the Sharks another jarring blow for a side optimistic of playing finals.
They meet the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday, Super Rugby’s three-time defending champions fresh from a bye and fuelled by national pride after the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels notched wins in New Zealand in the past fortnight.
The Reds (1-4 with seven competition points) missed a chance to draw within striking distance of the Brumbies (3-1 and 13 points) and acknowledge few give them a chance of continuing Australia’s rare and recent run of success across the Tasman.
“We were reeling a bit; it was another game we led at half time we could have taken and had plenty of opportunities we let slip and makes it tough going into a game against the defending champs,” 22-year-old Wright said.
“I saw a little thing on the internet that Australia hasn’t lost to New Zealand in 14 days or something … obviously our job’s pretty hard but it’s one we’ll make sure we’re up to.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Kv7VHAqGv/
“The way we respond to this will be big, not just in terms of wins-losses but the way we conduct ourselves, especially on the training paddock and I’m going to make sure the boys respond well during the week.”
The Reds’ rolling maul, in defence and attack, has struggled while their line-out and scrum was also exploited by the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.
It left Wright short on options when awarded penalties but aside from some basic skill errors, he said their blueprint was a winning one.
Related
A lack of mental toughness is a thorn in Queensland’s side
“Our group’s still very tight. We know what we’re capable of and that our systems work,” he said.
“It’s tough stuff but we’re still well within the fight and haven’t played many games against teams within our conference … so we can still get into the finals picture that way as well.”
James O’Connor (ankle) and Harry Wilson (head knock) were casualties on Saturday and are a chance of staying home this weekend despite the club’s confidence neither face an extended stint on the sideline.
Reds captain Liam Wright ahead of match against the Crusaders:
Comments on RugbyPass
Jordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
4 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
115 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
115 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
4 Go to comments