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'Embarrassing': Reds captain Tate McDermott unloads after Highlanders loss
Queensland Reds skipper Tate McDermott has ripped his team’s “embarrassing” defence and complacency after surrendering another lead to hand the Highlanders just their third win of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
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The hosts led 12-0 but, for the third straight week against New Zealand opposition, couldn’t seal the deal in a 27-19 loss that’s all but buried their hopes of a top-four finish and home final.
The Highlanders copped two overlapping yellow cards in the early stages, giving the Reds a brief two-man numerical advantage they looked to have made the most of.
But the visitors hit back late in the first half – Thomas Umaga-Jensen slipping five tackles to score out of nowhere – and then had a lead nine minutes into the second half.
Coach Brad Thorn lamented their poor defensive mindset and “another wasted game”, admitting the ruthless visitors had shown them how to close out a contest.
But McDermott was far more scathing.
“The complacency … 12-0 up, we had worked so hard for our points … to have someone walk through our line, it’s embarrassing really,” he said.
‘We’re switching off in those moments, in those money minutes either side of halftime we’re opening the door.”
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The Reds (7-4), who were crowned domestic champions last season, now boast just two wins from their last 25 games against New Zealand opponents.
Injuries have not helped their cause, with Harry Wilson knocked out and taken from the field on the medi-cab attempting to regather a brilliant Jordan Petaia grubber after a linebreak early in the second half.
Influential Wallabies trio James O’Connor, Taniela Tupou and Hunter Paisami were already on the sidelines, while an ill Harry Hooper was a game-day withdrawal.
They were sorely missed when the Reds needed to steady and build on a solid start, a bench including ring-ins Sef Fa’agase and Albert Anae unable to match the output of their rivals.
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McDermott said O’Connor, who could return to face the top-of-the-table Blues at Eden Park next week, was a tough man to replace.
But he said his senior backline partners needed to offer more help to Lawson Creighton, who had been “thrown to the wolves” in the last three weeks.
“I’ve got to give better service to him but we have guys out there like (fullback) Jock (Campbell) and how many times did our centres kick tonight?,” he queried.
“There’s so much pressure on Lawson to steer the ship for us and I need to help him out more, particularly in those moments when things aren’t going our way.”
Highlanders co-captain Aaron Smith did just that before his replacement Folau Fakatava stole the show just as Ryan Smith’s try – after 17 Reds phases – had put the hosts up 19-13.
First he perfected a neat reverse flick pass back inside for Scott Gregory to stroll over before popping up again to score the match-sealer.
“Folau’s one of our best impact players … Aaron Smith’s had a big shift and we needed energy and impact,” proud coach Tony Brown said.
“He’s unreal … no-one plays rugby like he plays rugby; he can beat anyone in a phone box and create for other players.”
The win pushed the Highlanders, who came back to beat Fijian Drua in Suva last week, into eighth and ahead of the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.
Comments on RugbyPass
Will rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to comments