1
Reds v Highlanders: Reds trio deserve Wallabies call-up, Highlanders rival Crusaders
The Queensland Reds have got their season back on track with an utterly dominant 31-nil win over the Highlanders at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
ADVERTISEMENT
For both teams, this match had a bit of a finals feel to it. While there are still almost two months between now and the playoffs, this seemed like an important match for the Reds and Highlanders alike.
Queensland had lost three on the bounce before this clash, while the Highlanders had also been beaten in their last four. With the Super Rugby Pacific season passing its halfway point, the significance speaks for itself.
Match Summary 
1
Penalty Goals
0
4
Tries
0
4
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
112
Carries
152
6
Line Breaks
2
13
Turnovers Lost
12
8
Turnovers Won
4
The Reds took control with tries to Hunter Paisami and Ryan Smith during the first half, and the second term was more than same as the Highlanders struggled to really fire a shot at the world-famous rugby venue.
Here are some takeaways from the Reds’ bonus point win over the Highlanders.
No McReight + McDermott = No McWorries for Reds
The Stan Sport broadcast panned to some Reds players in the stands during the first half. James O’Connor was there, as was young gun Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, but two men stole the show after being ruled out of this match.
O’Connor, who is still yet to take the field this season due to a hamstring injury, pointed towards Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott as the cameras began to linger. Both men have been ruled out for a series of matches after being sent off last week.
McReight is expected to miss two matches while the blazer-wearing McDermott has been suspended for three. The absence of the Wallabies duo leaves a big hole in this Queensland Reds side.
ADVERTISEMENT
Without both men, other players had to stand up against the Highlanders. It has to be said that a talented trio didn’t just do that, they went above and beyond. Ryan Smith, Liam Wright and Hunter Paisami have all proven themselves worthy of an international call-up.
Captain Liam Wright was a menace at the breakdown – having won a penalty during the first half – and was also the primary target at the lineout for hooker Matt Faessler. It was impossible not to notice the flanker’s impact on both sides of the ball.
Wright has played for the Wallabies before, but it’s been a while. With a new coach in Joe Schmidt, now would be the perfect time to reintroduce the Queensland Reds backrower into the test arena. After all, teammates Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson also in the conversation.
Harry Wilson with a cheeky flick 😉#SuperRugbyPacific #REDvHIG pic.twitter.com/eY4JcKzFq2
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 19, 2024
Then there’s Ryan Smith. Playing in his 50th match for Queensland, Smith won a lineout against the throw early on and later scored a try in the 27th minute. Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said it best: “He’s been everywhere in this first 28 minutes.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Smith has been knocking at the international door all season, but a performance like this is exactly what Joe Schmidt would’ve wanted to see from the lock in the absence of some of the Reds’ best players.
Finally, Hunter Paisami was brilliant. There’s just no other way to look at it. Not only did the centre score a try and win a penalty at the breakdown, but he also got stuck in with some no-nonsense carries and some clever work as a playmaker alongside fly-half Tom Lynagh.
Paisami also registered a try assist by sending Lawson Creighton over for a score inside the final 20 minutes of the fixture, and added another on the siren with a kick across field for Suliasi Vunivalu.
It was the icing on the cake for the Reds.
With no McReight and no McDermott there were no ‘McWorries’ for the Reds on Friday and the trio of Smith, Wright and Paisami deserve credit for that. All three men are there or thereabouts when it comes to an international call-up with the Wallabies.
Highlanders rival Crusaders as a struggling New Zealand outfit
A lot has been said this season about how impressive the undefeated Hurricanes have looked and how the Crusaders’ struggles have shocked pretty well every rugby fan in the world. These storylines have dominated Super Rugby Pacific in 2024.
But then there’s the other New Zealand teams. The high-flying Blues have received plenty of praise themselves as they look to keep close to the Canes on the ladder, and the Chiefs are not too far behind with Damian McKenzie at No. 10.
Then there’s the Highlanders. The Dunedin-based outfit were sensational during pre-season but they’ve so far failed to repeat those heroics on a consistent basis when it counted. They’ve only won two matches from eight starts this season.
The Highlanders’ last win was on March 8 in Sydney. In that fixture, Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed missed a penalty attempt at goal which would’ve handed the hosts a famous win in front of their home fans at Allianz Stadium.
It’s been a long month and a half for the Highlanders since. They’ve lost five matches on the bounce now, including a 47-12 defeat to the Hurricanes at home last month, and remain inside the bottom four and away from a playoff spot at the moment.
The Highlanders rival the Crusaders as a struggling New Zealand side. Whether one or both are good enough to rally and make an appearance in the finals remains to be seen, but it appears quite unlikely that both teams can charge into the top eight.
Quick hands Hunter 🔥#SuperRugbyPacific #REDvHIG pic.twitter.com/PCCAt6Fblo
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 19, 2024
Folau Fakatava needs to start for Cam Millar to shine
There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Cam Millar in New Zealand. The young first five has shown plenty of promise throughout the ranks of New Zealand rugby and is considered a long-term prospect to wear the No. 10 jersey in Dunedin.
Millar was handed a start against the Reds but unfortunately failed to fire. Wing Connor Garden-Bachop came closest to scoring with a chip-and-chase but even that seemed like a long shot with a number of Reds players getting back in defence.
The New Zealander is a good player, and the same can be said about his understudy tonight, Ajay Faleafaga. But if either man is to step up and grow at Super Rugby Pacific level then the Highlanders need their best players on the park.
When All Black Folau Fakatava came on, the Highlanders looked a little bit more threatening. Fakatava utilised his experience and unique skillset to steer the visitors around the park as they continued to search for their first points of the contest.
The Highlanders still had an off night and Fakatava doesn’t fix that on his own. But in matches like this which may have big ramifications on playoff spots, every team needs their best players on the field when they’re available.
Comments on RugbyPass
Worst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
2 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
9 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
204 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
9 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
6 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
2 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
204 Go to commentsThanks Sam. Interesting read. Harder or easier for Parling to come into a completely new setup where performance was abysmal last time out? I’d suggest easier to be better but, as you suggest, will be a lot to do with how much latitude he’s granted. Hopefully all he needs. With hybrids like Holloway, Hannigan, Swinton and Leota as options at 6 we have the basics for a strong lineout. BPA returning means we have good options at 2 also with Faessler, Porecki and Uelese, although Jordan is a scrumming beast rather than a dart thrower. I’m typically a pessimist or realist but that’s never applied to the Wallabies
1 Go to commentsMad how this somehow contained absolutely zero information.
4 Go to commentsI’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
2 Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
10 Go to commentsWith Stuart Lancaster at the helm, Racing 92 looks more and more a mercenaries club like Toulon some years ago and they are not even performing despite all the money on offer.
4 Go to commentsCouple of things BS missed: wind was behind the Baby Blacks in the first half. Baby Boks got points from a scrum penalty in the final quarter against this ‘dominant pack’, and left three points on the park after a missed penalty.
10 Go to commentsSensible thoughts on this, Brett. Also worth considering we’ve sold 60k tickets for a game between the Rebels and the Lions next year. Got to be roughly $10m in ticket and game day revenue there.
6 Go to commentsUnsuccessful bitter ex Ulster player taking a pop shot at a side that isn't including his consistently poor mates up north
9 Go to commentsHis decision to play in France isn’t a petulant decision as this article suggests. I reckon that France is the perfect place to demonstrate that he can mix it in those battles Rassie references. It’s a good decision to try get into the squad. My personal opinion is that he wins more battles than he loses. I don’t have Rassie’s stats machine behind me, but Daymian’s is so strong moving through traffic and in the rip.
4 Go to commentsWow! Argie forward dominance is something I have not read in years….
1 Go to comments