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Reds go Upfield to score try of the season contender
More than two decades before the sport turned professional, Wales legend Gareth Edwards scored one of the greatest tries of all-time while playing for the Barbarians in 1973.
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Then, 21 years later, France fullback Jean-Luc Sadourny famously scored ‘The Try from the End of the World’ to win a thrilling Test at the death against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
But let the history books show that on May 26th, 2023, Reds replacement Jake Upfield may have scored the modern-day equivalent against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
On a night that will already go down in New Zealand Rugby history with legendary halfback Aaron Smith playing his final home match in Highlanders colours, Queensland shot out of the blocks in red-hot form.
Playing on the sacred turf at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Reds co-captain Liam Wright fought his way over for a try inside the opening 10 minutes – but went off immediately after.
After injuring himself while scoring the try – it looked like a wrist or an arm injury – Wright walked off with the green whistle in his mouth, and was replaced by Jake Upfield.
Upfield was brought on a lot earlier than he may have expected, but certainly seized the opportunity with both hands.
SEA OF @Reds_Rugby! 🤯
Is this the try of the #SuperRugbyPacific season?! pic.twitter.com/8S4pSOQlhh
ADVERTISEMENT— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 26, 2023
From practically his own try-line, Reds No. 8 Harry Wilson broke through the heart of the Highlanders’ defensive line.
Wilson threw an outrageous dummy as he galloped down the park, and ended up running about 50 metres before getting the ball off to teammate James O’Connor.
O’Connor was met by a monstrous tackle from former England flyhalf Freddie Burns, but somehow managed to stay in touch. The Wallaby got a ball off to halfback Tate McDermott, who created more magic.
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McDermott threw a brilliant flick pass to Josh Flook, and the ball went through another two pair of hands – ending up with Upfield about five metres short of the try-line.
Upfield had only been on the field for two minutes, and ended up getting on the scoresheet with what might just end up being the try of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
It doesn’t get much better.
The try helped the Reds race out to an early 14-nil lead, as they silenced a usually vibrant Dunedin crowd – a crowd hoping to farewell legendary halfback Aaron Smith in style.
But the Highlanders hit back, they had to be the next team to score and they were.
Winger Jona Nareki crossed for their first points in the 17th minute, and in-form backrower Hugh Renton added another 10 minutes later.
But the Reds had the last say, with Wallaby winger Suliasi Vunivalu splitting two Highlanders defenders to stroll over for the visitors’ third try of the night.
Vunivalu’s try was converted by flyhalf Tom Lynagh, so the Reds went into the half-time sheds up 14-21 away from home.
Comments on RugbyPass
Well 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 commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to comments