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The Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels played out the first draw in Super Rugby AU after a scoreless period of extra-time in Manly. Discipline hurt the Reds throughout the match, with unnecessary penalties and poor handling costing the visitors in the wet in a contest that ended deadlocked at 18 points all.
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The Rebels led by 10 points late in the match but a penalty, followed by an Alex Mafi try in the 79th minute, allowed James O’Connor to send the teams to the first-ever super time with his conversion on the siren.
The Reds were arguably the better of the two teams in the added ten minutes and nearly walked away with the win.
Bryce Hegarty lost the kicking duties to O’Connor this week, but he stepped up to take a penalty from halfway that would have handed his side a golden point win.
He showed plenty of confidence in taking the kick but his shot fell just short. Hegarty later kicked the ball into touch to end the match with the Reds facing plenty of pressure late.
Honours even in rain affected slugfest https://t.co/yYasmiEsHr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 10, 2020
The back row once again stood up for the Queenslanders, demonstrating a skill set that was simply beyond their years with a high work rate. JP Smith was also a standout off the bench for the Reds, having a big impact on the dominance of the scrum alongside Taniela Tupou.
Here are RugbyPass rated the Reds players at Sydney’s Brookvale Oval:
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1. Harry Hoopert – 5.5/10
The Reds scrum wasn’t as dominant while Hoopert was on the field. He did get his hands on the ball more than he did last week, though.
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 5.5
Poor night again from the lineout. Battled the elements but often came out second best with inaccurate throwing. Clever set-piece link-up with Harry Wilson early on for a small gain.
3. Taniela Tupou – 7
Had a poor first half, giving away two penalties inside the first six minutes, and was uncharacteristically outmuscled in scrums. Was more lively in the second half but still far from his best around the park. Better scrummaging performance after the break. Alongside JP Smith the Reds were dominant.
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4. Angus Blyth – 5
Struggled to make an impact during his time on the field. Subbed off at half-time.
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 7
Did his job in the first half at the lineout. Was an improved showing after the break where he carried the ball better and stood up as a leader.
6. Liam Wright – 7.5
The captain was impressive in defence, making 14 tackles and not missing any. Held his own in the breakdown but failed to make an impact in attack. Outshone by his partners in the back row.
7. Fraser McReight – 8
Dangerous again around the breakdown, constantly looking for chances of securing a turnover. Impressed in attack and defence with his high work rate.
8. Harry Wilson – 8.5
Reminded Wallabies selectors about what he can do with ball-in-hand, showcasing his offloading ability in particular. Also impressed in defence with eleven tackles. Demonstrated an elite work ethic that would add value to any team.
Shots fired ? Morgan Turinui suggested Wessels "is not the answer" to the Rebels' succeeding. pic.twitter.com/qUdCdM5HzM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2020
9. Tate McDermott – 7.5
Was impressive in spurts during the first half but upped the tempo in the second. Proved a useful exit option with his kicking ability, but stood out once again for sniping around the breakdown. Not as notable as last week but certainly showed glimpses of what he could do.
10. James O’Connor – 8
Great try-saving tackle on Josh Kemeny during the first half to keep the Reds within three. Showed plenty of courage when taking the line on as well. Just as he did last week, set up Filipo Daugunu with a brilliant cut-out pass. With under 15 minutes to play, he missed a penalty before having a pass intercepted by Billy Meakes that pushed the scores out to beyond seven. Handled pressure well to slot the conversion on the full-time siren that sent the game to extra-time.
11. Filipo Daugunu – 7.5
Was quiet in the first half but tried to get involved where he could. A bit of deja vu to open the second half, scoring just as he did last week with a left-foot step from five metres out. Was much more involved in the second half.
12. Hamish Stewart – 6.5
Held his own in defence but once again struggled in attack. Was yellow carded on the stroke of half-time for slowing the play down.
13. Hunter Paisami – 6.5
The former Rebel was impressive in attack, finding space with hard and sharp lines through the opposition defence. Reckless swinging arm to the head of Marika Koroibete during the second half saw him join his centre partner on a yellow card.
14. Jock Campbell – 6
Got more involved this week. Great try-saving tackle on Richard Hardwick to keep the Reds within seven heading into the break.
15. Bryce Hegarty – 5
Struggled to get involved again this week. Was monstered by Pone Fa’amausili in the second half in one of his few involvements. Lost the kicking duties to O’Connor after struggling last week, but had a chance to win the match with the boot during super time but the shot fell short.
Replacements:
16. Alex Mafi – 6.5
Crossed for a crucial try in the 79th minute.
17. JP Smith – 7
Made an instant impact, helping the Reds front row earn a scrum penalty in the 51st minute. Won another with 20 to play in an impressive performance.
18. Josh Nasser – N/A
19. Tuaina Taii Tualima – 6
Did his job when others struggled.
20. Angus Scott-Young – 5.5
Struggled to make an impact after coming on at half-time.
21. Scott Malolua – 7
Controlled the tempo of the match quite well after coming on with 20 minutes to play.
22. Chris Feauai-Sautia – 7
Set up Mafi with a brilliant run and pass with a minute to play. What an offload! Continued to make a big impact throughout super time.
23. Josh Flook – 5
Finally made his Reds debut after spending 80 minutes on the bench last week. Ball didn’t come his way.
The trans-Tasman plot thickens https://t.co/sa42t14IQU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments