Queensland produced one of their most stunning Super rugby upsets on Friday night with a rousing 23-18 comeback win over the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Down 15-0 after conceding three tries in the first 20 minutes, the injury-hit Reds fixed their leaking defence and outmuscled the home side to end a five-year drought against the Waikato outfit.
Ewen McKenzie’s men, without their classy back three of fullback Peter Hynes and wingers Rod Davies and Digby Ioane as well as skipper James Horwill, were $8 outsiders against the previously-unbeaten Chiefs but rallied courageously around new team leaders Will Genia and Daniel Braid.
Former All Blacks flanker Braid, opposing younger brother Luke, was outstanding in all facets and produced the two pivotal plays which underpinned the shock result.
Trailing 18-16 midway through the second half and with the Chiefs deep in attack, Braid pounced on a Mils Muliaina fumble and hoofed it 50m down field for blazing teenage fullback Luke Morahan to outsprint his rivals, toe ahead and score next to the posts.
The Kiwi back-rower also snuffed out an almost certain late Chiefs try by forcing a penalty from Liam Messam after the Reds soaked up a series of pick and drives on the line.
It was also a long-awaited happy homecoming for mercurial Reds playmaker Quade Cooper, raised in Waikato, who put a poor history and a disastrous start behind him to continually ask questions of the defence and kick five from six efforts with the boot.
It ended up being the difference in the game as opposite number Stephen Donald kicked just one from five attempts at goal.
“We really dug deep and it was an outstanding effort,” enthused Genia, whose composure, service and vision were superb.
“Attitude was something we really wanted to change (in our team) and that’s shone through with our performance.
“A lot of people questioned our depth but our young guys really stood up.”
Without Hynes, Davies and Ioane, it was fitting Morahan, a surprise Wallabies tourist last year, scored the match-winner.
NRL recruit Will Chambers crossed for the Reds other try but his run-on debut was a mixed bag as he was exposed in defence early and botched a try that would have sealed the result earlier.
Both sides went into the round four opener with off-field issues plaguing their franchises with the cash-strapped QRU asking for an ARU bail-out and the Chiefs investigating an incident involving suspended star forward Sione Lauaki.
It promised to be a long night for the Reds when Sitiveni Sivivatu crossed from just the Chiefs’ second phase of play after Chambers was caught in no man’s land in defence and the All Blacks winger brushed past Cooper and Genia.
As dangerous as ever, Sivivatu then played a major role in a follow-up five-pointer to fellow winger Lelia Masaga from a punishing kick-return.
Nothing was going right for the visitors and when prop Arizona Taumalolo barged over for a third try following a Donald break they trailed 15-0.
But the tide turned and Cooper finally pulled the right rein by holding up a beautiful popped pass for Chambers to cross under the posts for his first Super 14 try.
Even the sin-binning of Brando Va’aulu for a desperate spearing tackle on Sivivatu didn’t stop their momentum as the 14-man Reds outscored the Chiefs 6-3 to close the gap to 18-13 at halftime.
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March 6th 2010 @ 7:52am
stillmissit said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:52am | Report comment
There was one outstanding thing that happened in this game and that is that we may have a genuine full back with great pace to play for the Wallabies. I wondered what was going through Robbie Deans mind when he picked a guy I had barely heard of to tour last year. Proves again that he has a great ability to pick future Wallabies.
I thought the game was great if you are a Reds supporter of which I have to be a closet member due to a lifetime of Tahs support. There was no shortage of mistakes on both sides so lets get off ORA’s back and the proof of this Red pudding is still a fair way off.
McKenzie inherited a great group of youngsters created by Phil Mooney and lets not forget it. Coaches have an impact but anyone who knows anything about rugby would have seen this coming over the last season and even earlier. McKenzie has given them order and structure and as a young team they believe in him. They may not believe in him in 3 years but at the moment he is what they need, and they are what he needs.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:42am
The Bush said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:42am | Report comment
re McKenzie inherited a great group of youngsters created by Phil Mooney…
Here, here, I noted that to my brother last night as we were watching the game. McKenzie did no recruiting, if anything the Red’s only lost players, so this season can only reflect the depth of scouting and recruiting done by Mooney’s team.
March 6th 2010 @ 9:20am
Chris said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Or perhaps it is a reflection of how much better McKenzie is as a coach that he has been much more successful with a worse team on paper. Mooney’s coaching record was abysmal, he wasn’t building up for anything, in fact quite the opposite as quality players were leaving in droves. I’m sick of this myth perpetuated by consistently bad sides that is takes years at the foot of the ladder to “build” up for success. It’s been used by the Reds, Carlton, West Coast, Fremantle (to name a few) for years. Teams like the (Canterbury) Bulldogs (16th in 08 to 2nd in 09) and the Reds (this year) have shown its complete tosh – often all it takes is a new coach and perhaps one or two new players.
March 6th 2010 @ 10:14am
The Bush said | March 6th 2010 @ 10:14am | Report comment
I’m not disagreeing, the Red’s shouldn’t have taken this long to build, but there are a few points you’re missing. One, Mooney wasn’t the coach for seven years of losing, just for two, so maybe he deserved at least to finish his contract?
Secondly rugby league benefits from a properly enforced salary cap that forces players to leave successful clubs once they are worth too much, enabling weaker clubs who have the same budget to grab these players and build good squads quickly. In Australian Rugby Union the salary cap is more a gentlements agreement and the talent pool is miniscule to recruit from, thus it’s easier to stay rooted to the bottom.
Finally, I agree that McKenzie has definately done something good here, but its still a question we’ll never know the answer too as, like I said, McKenzie literally recruited nobody, so whose’s to say what Mooney could have done this year?
Still, power to McKenzie and keep up the good work, I don’t care who or how it gets done, lets just have a winning Red’s that’s all that matters.
March 6th 2010 @ 11:24am
Red Rooster said | March 6th 2010 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Well McKenzie has used 5 academy players and one wider training group player already plus he has given both the Faingaa boys starts when last season they spent the whole season on the bench. Rod Davies suddenly plays well but most importantly they have started to tackle. Making this a focus might seem simple, then why wasn’t Mooney doing it last season. Conceding 50 odd tries might indicate something was wrong. Then there is the culture. If the same bunch of players suddenly start playing then there must be some strong reason why – maybe losing Barnes was a good thing?
March 6th 2010 @ 11:39am
tarpo said | March 6th 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Mooney recruited these blokes & they attacked well at times last year.
Link got them super fit, & instilled a defensive coach. They did not have this last year. Combined with these he has somehow added confidence & self belief.
March 6th 2010 @ 12:52pm
Red Rooster said | March 6th 2010 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
From what I hear he simply got the Academy Fwds coach, Matt Taylor,and said you are now the reds defence coach. The defence coaching solution was already in house but not in that role
March 6th 2010 @ 1:08pm
Cattledog said | March 6th 2010 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Don’t under estimate Matt Taylor as a coach. Took TSS to back to back Prems losing only one game in the two years, based on a very strong defence. Several of these boys are with him now in the reds, and I dare say more to come.
March 6th 2010 @ 1:12pm
Red Rooster said | March 6th 2010 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Cattledog – agree he is good and now he is getting his chance
March 7th 2010 @ 9:14am
stillmissit said | March 7th 2010 @ 9:14am | Report comment
Chris – Agree strongly that coaches make a big difference but McKenzie has form and history. He took over a team that needed a strong defence and that is 80% of McKenzie’s belief system. He will wear them down over the next 2 seasons where the discussion here will be ‘What has happened to the Reds attack’. Maybe then you will accept the role that Mooney has played in building this team.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:11am
Blinky Bill from Bellingen said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Well you could have knocked me down with a feather. Who would have guessed the Reds had it in them let alone in NZ against a pretty decent outfit? Certainly not me. I wanted them to win, I really did, but like most punters realistically I gave them absolutely no chance.
As a dyed in the wool Tahs fan I am saying well done to my second favourite Aussie team. I can’t wait for the replay to see how the hell, considering their injury list, they actually pulled this one off. Should make rivetting viewing. Thank God for Austar and the replay button.
Go the Tahs….. I mean the Reds.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:11am
Chris said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
The question is:
Can they (finally) go back to back. Force at home next week – could not be an easier game. Reds should be able to win easily (but then again we all though that last week). My tip: Force by 4.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:14am
Harry said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment
A great effort by the Reds and a fantastic win, congrats to the players. I’ve always bagged Van Humphreys but he had a very good game last night, shows how worong I was to write him off. Agree FOS, I thought our scrum was on top of theirs but there we go.
Lineouts also not perfect but they showed real composure and actually should have put the Chiefs away with a try or a field goal in the last 5 minutes before the familiar cliffhanger finish.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:26am
Temba said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Ginia for wallaby 9, him and copper where awesome. I was shouting my lungs out for them and I’m a saffa!
March 6th 2010 @ 8:33am
Even looser said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:33am | Report comment
Temba – It’s actually Cooper not Copper but I can see the connection.
March 6th 2010 @ 9:01am
Apelu Tielu said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Nice one Even.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:38am
cookie said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:38am | Report comment
So downing the Crusaders wasn’t such a fluke after all?
The loss to the Blues came from a drop in attitude?
The cheifs only played as well as the reds allowed them to.
Well done reds, more please!
March 6th 2010 @ 8:39am
The Bush said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Although it’s early in the season, let’s throw some hilarious scenarios out there… Firstly that the Reds could finish not only as the third Australian team, ahead of the Force, but even possibly the second Australian team, ahead of the Waratahs. And finally, based on the pathetic display by the Brumbies last night, that they do a NSW a la 2009, and win more games than the team who finishes fourth…
But back on topic, how good was that. As a long time struggling Red’s fan I have consigned myself to the fact that they will stuff up again very soon, maybe even next week but who cares, the platform is being laid for a much improved season;
1. Next up, a poor Force side travelling to Brisbane in the heat to play a hopefully strengthened Red’s side (with Digby and Hynes back). We have momentum, they’re coming off three loses and a bye.
2. The easiest possible trip to South Africa which involves a bye before hand to acclimitise and then back to back games against the Cheetahs and Lions.
3. A home game still to go against the traditionally poorest Kiwi side; the Highlanders.
I hold no illusions, the Red’s are most definatley not going to win those four games. However, if they keep up the exciting play – ball in hand, speedy backs – then hopefully two or three more wins and a few bonus points will lift us up to maybe 8th or 9th on the table and just a little bit of respectability. Winning more than last season has to be the goal. Build a platform and culture of winning and the time will come.
March 6th 2010 @ 8:45am
bill said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Does anyone else think that the way Weeks and Daley are playing has a lot to do with the Reds improvements? I thought they went great.
March 6th 2010 @ 9:08am
Apelu Tielu said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Bill, I think they were great last night. They dominated the scrum and were good around the field. The ref was incompetent in penalising them when he should have penalised the Chief’s scrum and front row for standing up when pushed.
March 7th 2010 @ 9:07am
stillmissit said | March 7th 2010 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Apelu – what does it take to get these ref’s to understand the basics of front row play? Every ex forward can see what is happening when a front row bails out. An hour with a couple of front rowers and some video should sort this out.
March 10th 2010 @ 9:39am
Apelu Tielu said | March 10th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Still,
I don’t know why refs at this level cannot make the correct calls at scrum. It seems like a lottery at times. If a prop stands up because he cannot take the push/hit, penalty against him. It is different if he went up because his opposition was pushing upward instead of straight. In the scrum, the onus is on the tight head prop (no. 3) to bind and hold the scrum. The loose head does not have to bind. Al Baxter is a serial sinner here as he never binds, or often let goes of his bind. I’m surprise he is still a Wallabies. The Red’s props are going very well.
March 7th 2010 @ 9:05am
stillmissit said | March 7th 2010 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Right on Bill – I had Daley as the MOTM. He monstered his opponent and was great in the tight and loose.
March 6th 2010 @ 9:13am
big Kev said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Well done Reds. Interesting to see another RL “star” get completely found out on defense (like Gasnier, Tahu etc)…. imagine how the leagueys would be raving about Digby or one of our genuine speedsters like Hynes or Turner. It really does show the difference between the 2 games. Please leave the RL guys where they belong – in RL.
March 6th 2010 @ 9:36am
Chris said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Pretty unnecessary sparking of a code war mate. Some of us actually like both.
Chambers was anything but a “star” in the NRL (having only played one season and never playing rep footy). Obviously the two games are quite different in a defensive sense (knowing where to stand etc).
The League fan in me reckons it says everything about the difference in the two games that Ryan Cross has played for the Wallabies when he never even pulled on a NSW shirt in League, or Jason Robinson being a superstar in Union when he never scored an international point in League, or Brad Thorn slotting into the All Blacks after not being selected for the Australian RL team since 98.
The Union fan in me wonders why we are having this stupid argument at all when the topic at hand has nothing to do with RL.
March 6th 2010 @ 10:03am
JK said | March 6th 2010 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Then why bite?, Chambers seems to have crossed for the right reasons, no fanfare, no promises, just having a genuine crack.
And I’ve seen union players miss a tackle here and there, not many but it happens
March 6th 2010 @ 11:03am
Chris said | March 6th 2010 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Yeah I probably should have ignored it mate, but frankly ignorant sniping from either code annoys me too much.