Rebels v Reds takeaways: Tupou fails to fire again, McReight on another level
The Queensland Reds are clearly the best Australian team in Super Rugby Pacific at the moment after outclassing the Melbourne Rebels 53-26 at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Flanker Fraser McReight has continued to stand out with an incredible four try assists but it was a real team effort that saw the Queenslanders run away with a big win.
Before any games on Saturday, the Reds were second on the Super Rugby Pacific standings behind the undefeated Hurricanes. Here are some key talking points
Taniela Tupou is still yet to fire for his new club Melbourne
One of Super Rugby Pacific’s most recent TikTok videos is a clip of Taniela Tupou in his prime. Playing for the Queensland Reds against the Western Force in Perth some years ago, the ‘Tongan Thor’ beat five defenders and recovered from a slip to score a breathtaking try.
@superrugbypacific A human wrecking ball 👊 #rugby #superrugby #rugbyunion #tanielatupou ? original sound – Super Rugby
It was sheer individual brilliance. But that was then, and this is now.
Tupou is packing down for the Melbourne Rebels this season after signing a headline-grabbing deal about 13 months ago. It was a big signing for the Rebels which promised so much.
But Tupou just hasn’t looked like his old self this season. There haven’t been any terrorising runs down the field, and not many big hits to note either.
In two starts from four matches, Taniela Tupou has been quite poor and that’s putting it lightly.
Playing against his old club the Reds, Tupou didn’t carry the ball once. The tighthead prop also made the least amount of tackles out of any starting forward – and only one more than fly-half Carter Gordon who made four stops.
Inside the opening 10 minutes, Tupou was walking more than any other player. In one instance, he was the last to arrive at a lineout and one of the last to leave as the play moved on.
Tupou did receive some praise from the Stan Sport commentators after winning a penalty at the breakdown early on, but that was about as good as it got for the Tongan Thor.
Daylight to second behind Fraser McReight
Fraser McReight is the best player in Super Rugby Pacific and it’s not even close at the moment. Last week, the Reds flanker was named the best Australian in the competition after an impressive display in the win over the Chiefs.
But McReight has only gone and done it again – not that that’s a surprise. The Wallaby is just that kind of player.
McReight, 25, was compared to NRL immortal Andrew Johns by Morgan Turinui late in the match after a fourth try assist. Just a reminder that McReight is a flanker.
With a brilliant eye for the game, as well as elite traits of speed, strength and skill, McReight is proving to be a menace all around the park.
It would be unfair to say that he’s in a purple patch too because the backrower has been this good for a while. McReight was named Australia’s best Super Rugby Pacific player last season.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will love what he’s seeing
The Reds can win Super Rugby Pacific this season. Young players are stepping up as they begin to transition from good to great and that shows out on the field and on the scoreboard.
Fraser McReight has been the best player in the competition, Harry Wilson has continued to impress in an all-star backrow, and the backline has been masterful.
Lock Seru Uru and centre Josh Flook can take a bow after the Reds’ big win. Both men are playing their way into Wallabies jerseys going off their strong starts to the campaign.
Uru scored the opener down in Melbourne and added another later in the first half. During the match, two-time World Cup winner Tim Horan highlighted the second rower’s talents.
“If he keeps playing like this, Joe Schmidt is going to have a really good look at him… would like what they’ve seen so far,” Horan said on Stan Sport.
Rising star Josh Flook also impressed with a double, which included a gift of a try during the second term. But generally, the outside centre has been all class.
Flook scored tries, was solid in defence and even won a turnover at the breakdown.
Australian rugby has depth and class in key positions and that bodes well for the Wallabies ahead of the Joe Schmidt-era which gets underway against Wales in July.
Don’t forget about James O’Connor
It was quite tough to watch Isaac Henry leave the field during the second half on Friday. The inside centre, who has battled injuries for a couple of years, appears set for another stint on the sidelines.
Henry had been solid in the No. 12 jumper over the last two games. It’s a blow for the Reds to see him leave the field but the Reds have depth.
Don’t forget about James O’Connor.
O’Connor has missed the start of the season through injury. But when he returns, the veteran will add invaluable experience and composure to a championship contender.
The Reds will be a real force come playoff time.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
51 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
51 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
51 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
51 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
51 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
51 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
51 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
51 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
51 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
51 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
51 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to comments