The Reds targetting of Mo'unga backfired and they were punished by the Crusaders for playing small
The Reds first attacking opportunity against the Crusaders made decent inroads.
Two strong phases over the gain line setting up a great platform for a strike play. With no break forthcoming, James O’Connor thread a grubber into the backfield putting pressure back on and forced a goal line drop out.
The promising start was to be undone very quickly as poor handling from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto gave possession back straight after David Havili’s drop out. The Crusaders were then given the same attacking platform at the other end from a penalty.
They tried to whip the Reds early like they had the Brumbies the week before, going side-to-side from edge-to-edge in search of the weak link. The Reds actually held strong, forcing the visitors back about 20 metres over four phases before forcing a turnover.
It was good signs for the Reds. It’s one thing to pressure them, but another entirely to withstand a few punches. They passed the first test.
And then, just like that, they shipped seven points from the scrum trying to pull a rabbit-out-of-a-hat, throwing a complex strike play from their own 22.
With Richie Mo’unga defending at centre, it looked like an opportunity to expose the slight frame of the All Blacks first-five. Hit them while they weren’t expecting anything, perhaps. It was bold and confident, yet stupid at the same time.
The wide play called sent Jock Campbell and Bryce Hegarty running into Mo’unga’s channel. Of all the players to send at Mo’unga, those two aren’t the ones to terrorise and torment the Crusaders’ main man. At least find a way to get Suliasi Vunivalu or Hunter Paisami in Mo’unga’s path.
The shifty Campbell may have great feet but is no bigger than Mo’unga himself, while Hegarty is an old-timer in the side for experience with no top end speed or great attacking reputation.
Mo’unga covered both with ease, holding off Campbell and then chopping Hegarty in half once he had the ball. He was up on his feet faster than the Reds runners could get around the corner, and pounced immediately on the dropped pass on the next phase to stroll over for a gift try.
It was a failure by the Reds that backfired in the worst possible way. Attack the Crusaders’ best player and then have him shut down the play, steal the ball and grab a demoralising try.
The ambition was commendable, the execution far off the pace and set the tone for the match.
Then came the Reds’ kicks, which were attacking-focused but inaccurate and uncontested. A few long nudges tried to force the Crusaders back to hold some territorial advantage. It worked for a bit before an O’Connor chip kick couldn’t find the mark.
Within two phases, Mo’unga was through the Reds’ line and into the open field. Square passing and fast hands by the Crusaders forwards freed their first-five, exposing fragilities in a tired line between Hegarty and Hamish Stewart trying to recover from attack into defence.
Mo’unga linked with Sevu Reece out wide and the Crusaders were up 14-0 in a flash after just 12 minutes.
The Brumbies showed the way last week but the Reds hadn’t paid attention. Despite being a frustratingly agonising watch, keeping the game slow worked in the Australians’ favour.
Scrum reset after reset helped keep fuel tanks full and the game close. It disrupted the Crusaders rhythm completely.
You do not kick frequently downfield and in play to the Crusaders. Get it out. Stop the flow. Trying to play at the Crusaders’ tempo is a recipe for disaster on a dry track.
Another O’Connor chip kick, this time for himself, was an easy recovery for the Crusaders and ended up with Cullen Grace galloping over 40 metres to score before the 15th minute.
For all intents and purposes, the game was over right then at 21-0.
Just 11 percent of the Reds’ kicks on the night were contestable compared to the Crusaders’ 38. Nearly 70 percent of the Reds’ kicks were attacking chips, grubbers or cross-field kicks but failed to yield any major results other than giving away ball which the Crusaders capitalised on.
In spurts, the Reds were able to trouble the New Zealand champions and make in-roads with ball-in-hand.
Vunivalu, Harry Wilson and Taniela Tupou were dominant ball carriers who made the gain line regularly, setting up great platforms to attack from. Tate McDermott was also a handful around the ruck and made a quick play to catch them napping for a smart try.
Wilson, in particular, was a warrior among men for the Reds. In addition to his hard work in close, he came up with two big plays while his side was down a man to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
However, a few stars cannot make up the difference against the Crusaders. The weak links will be found.
It was not a happy night for Hegarty and Campbell out wide. The Reds fullback’s overall performance was simply not up to scratch for this level, the less said about it the better.
They are by no means responsible for all the blame, but playing small-ball has to come with trade-offs in playing style. You cannot run Hamish Stewart on a crash line off set-piece and expect not to get held up for example.
It is not enough for Hegarty, Campbell and Stewart to make one-on-one tackles on forwards when the offload option is available, and when they completely whiff on the tackle altogether, well, there is no hope.
When the kicking is hopeless and plays into the Crusaders’ hands, there is no hope. When you fall down 21-0 after a quarter of the game, there is no hope.
Is this a harsh assessment of the Reds? Should we expect more? Yes, we need too.
This is largely the same Reds side and coaching staff that pushed the Crusaders in early 2020 at home and finished with a 24-20 loss. A 63-28 scoreline a year later cannot be passed over lightly, for the sake of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
Although the Reds are Australia’s champions this year, this isn’t the Wallabies and little should be read into the grim scoreline between the two clubs when projecting how things will play out later this year. Or the rest of the results so far that have fallen 10-o in New Zealand’s favour.
All it shows is the depth possessed by the two counties is on a different scale, and Australian teams can self-destruct easily as a result.
The performances of players like Wilson shows there is genuine quality available to the Wallabies, and, when put together, they will present a much tougher ask than their Super Rugby sides.
The good news for the Reds is it is only up from here. The bad news is clear for everyone to see until internationals return.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments