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Why ex-Wallaby believes Reds’ painful loss to Blues can be a ‘good’ thing
The Reds may have been beaten by the Blues 41-34 in a Trans-Tasman thriller on Saturday evening but that defeat could be the catalyst for future success according to former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles.
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Queensland had snapped a disappointing three-match losing streak just eight days earlier by thrashing the Highlanders 31-nil in Brisbane. In round 10, they looked to do the same against the Blues at the very same venue.
Playing against the Aucklanders at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on the ANZAC Day Weekend, the Reds showed plenty of fight and probably should’ve won the match but it wasn’t to be in the end.
The Reds were leading by 11 points with 15 minutes to play, but two late tries saw the Blues snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with Sam Nock crossing for a runaway match-winner in the 82nd minute.
While the Blues are riding high in second with an 8-1 record, Queensland occupy sixth place and still appear to be well on track for a spot in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in about six weeks.
“I reckon it’s going to be good for the Reds, to be honest,” Stephen Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.
“I think no matter where they play, if they get a home final or don’t, a game like this will be able to give them confidence that they can go anywhere and play good style footy and scare some teams and get a win.
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“I’m jumping ahead but sometimes you lose a game like that… I think what Les Kiss can be like, you can take a hep of positives out of that game.
“There’s no point sitting there going, ‘you didn’t do this, you didn’t do that.’ They did a lot of good stuff and I think that’ll help them in four to six weeks.”
Former Junior Wallabies winger Tim Ryan stole the show with a blistering hat-trick within a 15 minute span. If you’re a rugby fan, chances are you’ve seen Ryan’s third try replayed over and over.
Ryan, just 20 years of age, leapt about two metres to his right before stepping inside two Blues defenders, including All Black Mark Tele’a, on a sensational break up the field.
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Once the rising star dove for the in goal and completed the score, the Brisbane venue went berserk. Queensland were on the cusp of an incredible upset and an unlikely home-grown hero led the way.
But the Reds have failed to close out fight games before this season, and this was another case. Coach Les Kiss was understandably “filthy” at full-time after his team conceded 14 points in eight minutes.
“I had a quick chat to him after the game and he was just filthy they couldn’t close it out,” former Wallaby and Stan Sport commentator Morgan Turinui added.
“Obviously lost in golden point to the Hurricanes already once this year, he feels like they’ve left a few out there.
“But I said to him, ‘surely you now know you can beat anyone in the competition?’ Like there’s that level to it.
“Especially if they get one at home. If they can sneak into the top four that sets them up but they beat the Chiefs in Hamilton last year… they know they can go away (and win).”
Comments on RugbyPass
This has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
124 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
124 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
45 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
124 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to comments