Hurricanes come back from 17 points down to tip over Reds
The Queensland Reds saw a Super Rugby Pacific victory go up in smoke after blowing an early lead to crash to a painful 35-17 defeat to the Hurricanes.
The Reds couldn’t have asked for a better start in their Super Round clash at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday night, looking to make a mark in their first match against New Zealand opposition this season.
They raced out to lead 17-0 after 30 minutes with tries from centre Hamish Stewart and flanker Fraser McReight, but then didn’t manage to score another point.
“Pretty gutted and I know the players are as well,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.
“These New Zealand sides, they’ll make you pay if you make those errors, play too much footy in your half, lack of discipline.”
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“Credit to our opponent – they were under pressure and they battled away and then the game went their way and we didn’t handle that pressure as well so, we’ve got to take those lessons.”
The Wellington-based Hurricanes struggled with discipline early, copping a 9-2 penalty count and both centre Bailyn Sullivan and prop Pouri Rakete-Stones were shown yellow cards for dangerous tackles.
McReight’s five-pointer came while Rakete-Stones was on the sidelines, with the livewire flanker popping out of a maul to score.
But momentum shifted in the 36th minute after the Reds failed to play to the whistle, when an intercept attempt by Hurricanes winger Julian Savea was ruled to have gone backwards and was scooped up by Sullivan who raced to the line unchallenged.
The absence of Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor through injury was felt as the Reds appeared to become rattled while their kicking game was mostly ineffective.
They lost Connor Vest to a yellow card and then let Tyrel Lomax score right on halftime as their lead was whittled back to 17-14.
With their tireless skipper Ardie Savea urging his team on, prop Lomax was in again just a minute into the second half as the Hurricanes took the lead for the first time.
Sullivan then crossed again in the 70th minute when he pounced on a perfectly-weighted kick into the in-goal by reserve playmaker Jackson Garden-Bachop, pushing the margin out to 13 points.
With the Waratahs going down to the Chiefs on Friday night, it continued the misery for Australian teams against their trans-Tasman rivals.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland was thrilled with the way his team responded.
“To come back from 17-0 down and win is in its own way pretty satisfying,” he said.
“It took a while for us to adjust to a few things and what we’ve learned is that possession is key.
“So, when we got that right and we sorted out some discipline we were able to adapt and get into the game so I’m pretty happy with that.”
– Melissa Woods
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments