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Round three of Super Rugby AU kicked off this weekend with the galvanising Queensland Reds edging the Western Force 31-24 at Suncorp Stadium. Coming off the back of a victory against arch-rivals New South Wales in round one and a gritty draw against the Melbourne Rebels in their next outing, the Reds were keen to put in a performance that would not only ensure victory, but play a style of rugby that would bring fans back through the turnstiles.
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Coach Brad Thorn made a number of changes to his 23, seeking more power in the backline with veteran Chris Feauai-Sautia earning a start on the right wing. That allowed Jock Campbell to move to the full-back role. In the forwards, Angus Scott-Young, usually a back row, accompanied Lukhan Salakia-Loto in the engine room.
Both sides looked to play some expansive rugby and despite an array of penalties and errors, a highly entertaining game of rugby ensued. The most pleasing aspect was the young talent on display, such as Dane Zander and Filipo Daugunu, coupled with veterans such as Feaui-Sautia and James O’Connor putting in quality shifts.
This was eventually enough to get the Reds over the line and leave them unbeaten in their last four outings, a streak they haven’t enjoyed since 2013. Here is how RugbyPass rated their players:
15. Jock Campbell – 6.5/10
Just brings an honest effort each and every week and never takes the opportunity to play for Queensland for granted. While there were errors in his performance, they were errors of execution and not inability.
14. Chris Feauai-Sautia – 8
Best performance in a Queensland jersey since 2013. It was a controlled display but one not lacking in desire to impose himself on proceedings. Queensland started slowly, but his storming run down the right flank laid the platform for his side to score several phases later. If he backs up this performance with similar in the near future, he will push to add to his two Wallaby caps.
13. Hunter Paisaimi – 6
Not his greatest night out but had some quality touches. He is the best angled runner in the Australian game yet uncharacteristically he dropped off the odd tackle and was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
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12. Hamish Stewart – 6.5
The most unheralded player in the Australian game. Despite one poor kick, Stewart was in everything without being spectacular. He plays a role for the Reds similar to that of Jack Goodhue for the Crusaders, acting as a distributor, runner but also as a fourth backrower at times. He brought all that tonight and did it well.
11. Filipo Daugunu – 8.5
Man-of-the-match performance – he simply was the most threatening player in the game. Not only could he run in space, when receiving the ball in tighter situations he was consistently beating first-up defenders. He was solid in defence but showed his commitment to the cause when charging down a Jono Lance conversion attempt. Will look better in a Wallaby jersey.
A streak of form that has been 7 years in the making https://t.co/WVir0yNUXX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 17, 2020
10. James O’Connor – 7.5
Ran his side well and more often than not took the right options. Is looking more and more comfortable in the fly-half role and his side is reaping the reward.
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9. Tate McDermott – 7.5
Another performance that will bring him closer to a Wallaby jersey. He played with energy and intelligence and looked to create opportunity for others, not just looking for opportunity that may be on for himself. Has a fine blend of running, passing and kicking acumen that were all on display tonight.
8. Harry Wilson – 7.5
His numbers may suggest he had a quite night, but in context to the game Wilson was enormous in making the hard two to three yards to get his side over the advantage line consistently. There were the odd errors but, akin to Campbell, they were errors in execution not in inability. A good shift.
7. Fraser McReight – 7
Inexhaustible performance, again showing he is more than capable at this level. He made twelve tackles and secured two turnovers.
6. Liam Wright – 7.5
The most intelligent player on the field, he contributed to the cause by making his tackles time and time again, securing turnovers and nearly stealing a try when the Force were looking to exit from their line. It was the second time he nearly achieved that in this competition.
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 7.5
Big night out for him and a definitive performance. Looked more astute in the locking role as opposed to back row. Was a giant in the lineout and worked himself in the tight while leaving enough in the tank to deliver some thundering runs in possession.
4. Angus Scott-Young – 6.5
Brought plenty of linespeed in defence and played the workhorse role. Made a decent effort of playing out of position.
3. Taniela Tupou – 7.5
A far more disciplined effort. His intent to bring physicality has at times cost his side in the past few rounds, yet he brought a greater control but no less grunt. A quality shift.
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 7
Scored a try out wide, but had his hand in Touopo’s by giving him the drive from behind to get over the paint. Starting to play the style of rugby that may see him add to his four Wallaby caps.
1. Harry Hoopert – 6
An honest effort, worked hard in all the unfashionable areas and didn’t let his side down in the set-piece. Brought some good linespeed to pressure the Force in tight.
Rugby Australia has issued a statement in the wake of the announcement by New Zealand Rugby that it will effectively sever ties with SANZAAR and Super Rugby in pursuit of a new franchise tournament next year.https://t.co/7Z6MkApN7J
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 17, 2020
Replacements:
16. Alex Mafi – 6.5
Brought some energy when he came on, made his tackles.
17. Dane Zander – 6.5
Impressed in the scrum as few props disturb former Wallaby Greg Holmes as he did tonight. Kid has a big future.
18. Jack Straker – N/A
Not on long enough.
19. Ryan Smith – N/A
20. Tuaina Taii Tualima – 5
Did his job but needs to address his body height going into contact if he is going to go further at this level.
21. Scott Malolua – 5.5
Did his job.
22. Josh Flook – N/A
23. Bryce Hegarty – 6
Nearly scored a try running into a yawning gap but was just caught. Brought his calmness and experience to assist in closing out the match.
It's been long road to professional rugby for Byron Ralston, but the Western Force star flourished in his #SuperRugbyAU debut last week.https://t.co/gC21o1gdKH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 17, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Dagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
4 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
3 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill 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..
6 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.
6 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.)
3 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.
37 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?
3 Go to comments