Reds grind their way past Western Force for Super win
Queensland are well on their way to Super Rugby Pacific finals after grinding out a 31-17 win against the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.
A masterful display from halfback Tate McDermott did his Wallabies credentials no harm, finding space at will and carving the Force open to set them on course for the important victory.
They were ahead 21-5 at halftime and looked on course for another whopping win against the Force, but skipper Liam Wright admitted they struggled to maintain their intensity through a scratchy second half.
“Probably not so good the second half, the first half was pretty nice,” he told Stan Sport.
“We stuck to our gameplan a bit more, we didn’t put them to the sword or anything but that’s credit to the team the Force are, they really stick in there.
“They matched it physically with us … they forced errors right on the line and we couldn’t close the door, but some good creation there which is good to see.”
The Reds’ win takes them to sixth on the table and they’re more than a game clear of ninth in the race for the top eight with five games left before finals.
McDermott, not picked in Eddie Jones’ first national team training camp squad, continued strong form and created two tries for Fraser McReight in a seven-minute stretch, smartly running from two quick taps to create room for the big flanker to power over the line.
Wright said the Reds found they were getting space in the middle of the park early and decided to exploit it with halfback McDermott steering the ship.
“He had ‘Suli’ (winger Suliasi Vunivalu) there on his hip, just people looking for work there,” he said.
“That’s where we found we were getting the most pay, trying to go through them a bit.
“We were copping some solid tackles from them, but we just had to stick to the gameplan.”
Queensland’s pack took control in all areas and forced penalties at will, discipline again killing the Force with the competi tion’s worst side for penalties per game conceding an other 12.
The Force’s rolling maul drove Michael Wells over to cut the margin back to 21-10 before Queensland’s George Blake marked his Reds debut with a strong effort from close range.
Zach Kibirige opened the scoring after capitalising on a poor Jordan Petaia handling error, while he picked off a Lynagh pass and took it home minutes from time for his eighth try of the campaign.
Queensland’s James O’Connor impressed at centre in the first half but was substituted at halftime due to an illness.
It wasn’t the 71-20 hammering they copped at the hands of the Reds in round two, but captain Michael Wells was far from pleased with the showing.
“It’s a better performance than that, but it’s a very grey silver lining,” he told Stan Sport.
“I’ll probably have to moderate myself a little bit because it hurts, I really don’t like losing, we didn’t come to lose.
“Discipline probably hurt us a fair bit again, we started good, scored early points, but then they got back in the game by us giving away penalties.
“They did a job on us at scrum time, we profiled what they were going to do and we just didn’t adapt.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments