Reds show Brumbies that placing counts for naught with marker-laying win in final round of Super Rugby AU
The Queensland Reds will enter next weekend’s Super Rugby AU preliminary final in top gear after a slick 26-7 defeat of the Brumbies on Saturday.
Guaranteed top spot regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium, the Brumbies will await the winner of the Reds and Melbourne Rebels in the decider on home turf in a fortnight.
The Reds made sure they left an impression though, the victory coming after two closes losses to the Canberra-based Brumbies earlier this season and built on a quality first half and another supreme defensive effort.
“You’re pleased about it – good stuff, take some stuff to improve – but it’s a sober sort of mindset of (being ready) next Saturday,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.
“One minute past the 80 minutes next week is blankness to me; that’s all we care about.
“It is a grand final because if you don’t get the business done you’re not there.”
The Brumbies’ incumbent Wallabies halfback Nic White and emerging Reds star Tate McDermott waged a brilliant first-half battle in one of many jousts for a potential Test jersey later this year.
James O’Connor was assured again at No.10 for the Reds, while improved fullback Jock Campbell was central to both first-half tries.
He dummied and broke the line, flicking a pass to captain Liam Wright before laying on the assist for Chris Feauai-Sautia as the Reds burst ahead 18-0.
Pete Samu crossed after the siren for the Brumbies to finish the half but the Reds put the clamps on after that, keeping their opponents to one try or less for the third-straight game.
Flicked to the wing to finish the game, McDermott capped the win with a breakaway try as the Brumbies were guilty of poor handling and errant passing.
In another huge tick for the Reds’ improved defence, they were able to disarm a Brumbies rolling maul that had caused constant problems in both previous encounters.
Reds captain Liam Wright knows Wallabies jerseys are on the line as he pilots his side towards the #SuperRugbyAU final.https://t.co/er0S8odhmR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 4, 2020
“I don’t think we weren’t ‘on’, we just made too many mistakes,” Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.
“Twenty-three turnovers conceded, which is a lot… there was a lot of space out there we created but weren’t good enough to capitalise and they defended well on their goal line.”
A 9,922-strong crowd – the biggest Suncorp Stadium attendance for any code since sport was shut down by the coronavirus – relished the comeback from injury of Hunter Paisami, who produced some thunderous defence when called on in the final 20 minutes.
More will turn up to watch the Reds’ sudden-death clash with the Rebels next Saturday – the nomadic Melbourne outfit sneaking into the playoff courtesy of a last-minute try and conversion to beat the Western Force by four points.
– Murray Wenzel
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments