Reds overcome Blues in rugby trial
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Quade Cooper displayed many of his sublime skills but finished red-faced in his Super Rugby trial return as Queensland outlasted a spirited young Blues outfit on Saturday night.
The Reds scored seven close-range tries to five by the physical Blues to win an entertaining pre-season cobweb-duster 41-35 at a packed Toowoomba Sports Ground.
Part-time boxer Cooper mixed mostly good, with some bad and ugly in his 60 minutes on the field in his only hit-out before Queensland’s Super Rugby campaign kicks off against the Brumbies in Canberra in a fortnight.
In his first rugby appearance in five months, the Wallabies playmaker set up a long-range break with his first touch of the ball – an inside pop pass to Digby Ioane – and also produced some signature jinking steps and flick passes.
But his last two acts on the field left a sour taste in Cooper’s mouth as he was one of many barrelled by powerful winger Albert Nikoro and then stripped of the ball just minutes later.
Both mistakes led to Blues tries as John Kirwan’s young team stormed back into the contest to trail 29-28 at the three-quarter break.
Cooper’s goalkicking, given the duties for his sole pre-season trial ahead of sharpshooter Mike Harris, was more rusty – slotting just two from five.
Harris immediately showed he was the man for the job by landing one from touch as the Reds closed out the topsy-turvy match.
The signs were promising for the Aucklanders who are attempting to rebuild under new coach Kirwan following a forgettable 2012.
The Blues had a 14-0 lead by the first drinks break with prop Angus Ta’avao and lock Ronald Raaymakers both bustling their way over after set pieces near the line.
But Queensland’s pack muscled up to run in three close-range tries to forwards Adam Wallace-Harrison, James Hanson and Radike Samo in the last 12 minutes of the half.
Wingers Rod Davies and Luke Morahan were among the Reds best performers while halfback Nick Frisby and young flanker Liam Gill impressed after the break to build up the 29-14 advantage.
© AAP 2013
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The Crowd Says (27) | Page 1 of Comments
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February 3rd 2013 @ 2:35am
Hightackle said | February 3rd 2013 @ 2:35am | Report comment
What are talking about? Quade can do no wrong. It was clearly the gameplan, the coach, the players outside him and the toxic environment that caused the mistakes.
Oh and Mundine won the fight too, right Quade? Its just that the judges, fans, ref and Artie Beetson were against him.
What a pair they are.
February 3rd 2013 @ 4:05am
maxxlord said | February 3rd 2013 @ 4:05am | Report comment
As you said about Folau, let’s just wait till the season starts before passing judgement on performance one way or the other.
February 3rd 2013 @ 8:41am
PeterK said | February 3rd 2013 @ 8:41am | Report comment
it was SBW who tweeted Mundine won the fight not Cooper. Never let facts worry you with your crusade of hate against Cooper.
February 3rd 2013 @ 12:09pm
Cattledog said | February 3rd 2013 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
A few too many ‘hightackles’ me thinks
February 3rd 2013 @ 6:06pm
Cruise said | February 3rd 2013 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
Hightacle for the love of rugby, stop making a fool of yourself as you did on AB.com. Show some respect.
February 3rd 2013 @ 4:17am
Hightackle said | February 3rd 2013 @ 4:17am | Report comment
Im not passing judgement on Coopers game. It clearly was every one elses fault.
February 3rd 2013 @ 10:19am
Justin2 said | February 3rd 2013 @ 10:19am | Report comment
Laugh as usual ht, good stuff.
February 3rd 2013 @ 6:10am
Billy Bob said | February 3rd 2013 @ 6:10am | Report comment
High tackle may be too accurate a nomde plume. Give it a rest mate.
February 3rd 2013 @ 9:45am
Red Block said | February 3rd 2013 @ 9:45am | Report comment
It’s interesting that the other Australian provinces chose to start by playing each other, while the Reds chose to play two trials against NZ opponents. One wonders whether Link has a definitive plan to expose his side to a more physical build up. He has always advocated playing against the best to test your mettle.
Let’s hope it is part of a plan for a more expansive, physical style game to have the 25K+ members salivating and put an end to the boring local derbys.
Can’t wait for it to start!
February 3rd 2013 @ 11:10am
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | February 3rd 2013 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Does that mean that John Kirwan is even more of a cunning coach by playing the Reds and away from home?
February 3rd 2013 @ 12:44pm
atlas said | February 3rd 2013 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
cannot read much (anything?) into such a game – the Blues team was very different to their ‘A’ team: featured 18 new caps, and missing many first choice players, including Charlie Faumuina, Ali Williams, Piri Weepu, Keven Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Rene Ranger, Charles Piutau, Culum Retallick and George Moala.
Similarly, Crusaders played five new players in their forward pack yesterday. (v Hurricanes)
Experience for those new players, and little else.
February 3rd 2013 @ 8:03pm
Lippy said | February 3rd 2013 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
Snap was going to post something similar but you beat me to it.
The Blues left Plethora of senior players at home, it was a good hit out for the debutants though.
February 3rd 2013 @ 1:30pm
kombiutedriver said | February 3rd 2013 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Soft trials …….. soft start to the Super 15 season ……. then a dose of brutal physicality against the SA or NZ teams. That’s how an Australian franchise ended up in the bottom third of the table the past few years. Let’s see how all the teams stand about Round 8.
February 4th 2013 @ 11:28am
Handles said | February 4th 2013 @ 11:28am | Report comment
You can only play the team the other coach selects.
Reds have tried everything, recent years they have played the Crusaders, Brumbies, Force, Tahs, and played in Darwin, Cairns, and now Toowoomba.
Reds still hopeful of 40k members this year. Already well over 25k.
February 3rd 2013 @ 1:24pm
glacier said | February 3rd 2013 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Red Block
The Waratahs next 2 trials are against the Blues and the Crusaders so Link is doing nothing different to Cheika.
February 3rd 2013 @ 1:26pm
Malo said | February 3rd 2013 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Its only a trial guys except that Folau is the new real deal and Cooper like Mundine is yesterdays hero and just a mouth. See th wuss he is fighting should be a laugh.
February 3rd 2013 @ 2:35pm
Jonny Boy Jnr said | February 3rd 2013 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Did you guys see Christ F’Sautia in action against the Blues?
This guy is going to be an absolute Superstar !
Queensland ‘State of Origin’ side:
1. Ben Daley
2. Stephen Moore
3. James Slipper
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Higginbotham
7. David Pocock
8. Ben Mowen
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Israel Folau
14. Dom Shipperley
15. James O’Connor
16. James Hansen
17. Greg Holmes
18. Adam Wallace-Harrison
19. Liam Gill
20. Ben Lucas
21. Chris F’Sautia
22. Luke Morahan
Left Right Out
1. Drew Mitchell (can’t cut the mustard anymore)
February 3rd 2013 @ 4:40pm
Justin2 said | February 3rd 2013 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
How good was CfS? Must have been so good he was invisible, even to the selectors
February 3rd 2013 @ 9:36pm
Justin2 said | February 3rd 2013 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
For a decent review of the match – http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/match-report-reds-v-blues-trial/
February 3rd 2013 @ 9:47pm
Jiggles said | February 3rd 2013 @ 9:47pm | Report comment
Cheers for that. My old man was up there last night. His phone call this afternoon consisted of ‘UJ is pants, Anae may be ready, and I’m glad Cooper doesn’t have a haircut like O’Connor.’
Some how i think this gives me a better idea of where we stand.
February 3rd 2013 @ 10:00pm
Justin2 said | February 3rd 2013 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
Scott knows his stuff, I always check into g and g for his video analysis during the season. Puts a stack of work into his reviews too. Frankly his work belongs on here rather than other muppets on here….
February 3rd 2013 @ 10:18pm
Jiggles said | February 3rd 2013 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
Agreed, his analysis of forward play is very good. There are nuggets of gold at g&g but really it’s a Moore Park circle jerk.
February 3rd 2013 @ 10:20pm
Jiggles said | February 3rd 2013 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Agreed. My more ‘colourful’ response has been held back..
February 3rd 2013 @ 11:03pm
PeterK said | February 3rd 2013 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
Yes Scott is very good.
He gives credit where it is due. Noticable that he emphasises how Cooper is back to directing play and his footwork and passing rather than the negatives of having a ball stripped and missing goal kicks.
February 4th 2013 @ 5:46am
mania said | February 4th 2013 @ 5:46am | Report comment
sound like cooper is in his usual form.
February 4th 2013 @ 11:44am
Handles said | February 4th 2013 @ 11:44am | Report comment
You mean where Scott says “Quade Cooper – looked to be back to his best – good control of the game and his footwork was superb..”
Yep, sounds like his usual form.
February 4th 2013 @ 11:57am
mania said | February 4th 2013 @ 11:57am | Report comment
handles – yes and the bad