New Waratahs coach Michael Cheika felt NSW cracked under pressure as Queensland snuffed out their stirring comeback to claim a gripping Super Rugby grudge match 25-17 on Saturday night.
The Waratahs gave up 17 points in the opening 16 minutes but equalised at 17-17 midway through the second half to hold the momentum in an entertaining Suncorp Stadium clash.
However, it was the fitter and hungrier Reds who finished stronger to retain the Bob Templeton Cup in front of 35,801 fans.
Tireless flanker Ed Quirk was the hero as he barged past four defenders in a 35m run to set up a sensational match-winning try to stand-in captain Ben Tapuai, the centre’s second of the night, with six minutes left.
Israel Folau scored on his Super Rugby debut to spark the Waratahs’ fightback but it was otherwise a deflating start for the code-hopper who had the ball jolted free three times by big tackles.
Reds winger Dom Shipperley also ran over the top of the lanky fullback for the first try.
In his first Super Rugby match in charge, Cheika felt NSW showed good potential but bemoaned their inability to close out the game – their major downfall in 2012 when they lost eight games by less than a converted try.
“We’ve got to learn how to play under pressure,” he said.
“We will and we will learn how to play under pressure more often, more often, more often and the more we do it the better we will get at it.”
Captain Dave Dennis agreed: “We were in control of the game at 17-all and the momentum was all with us and for some reason we felt under pressure.”
Cheika was also fuming that Reds fullback Mike Harris wasn’t sin binned or white carded for a shoulder charge off the ball on Adam Ashley-Cooper as he chased a Drew Mitchell chip.
Ashley-Cooper was replaced due to a neck spasm and the coach wasn’t happy that Harris was merely penalised for the 28th-minute incident.
In a far cry from the gritty interstate clashes of years past, the Reds played a high-octane game which ran NSW off their feet in the first half.
The 17-3 halftime scoreline was a true reflection of proceedings as the Reds – with boom youngster Chris Feauai-Sautia starring – looked flash while their arch-rivals paid for a litany of bumbling errors.
But the match turned on its head when radar-boot Harris hit the post with a 45th-minute penalty attempt.
Three minutes later Folau crossed after a Michael Hooper pass deflected off Digby Ioane into the arms of Bernard Foley, who easily put the former Queensland league winger over for his 24th try in his 27th appearance at Suncorp Stadium.
Ben Volavola then shredded Harris on the outside to equalise at 17-all.
Harris atoned with a 49-metre penalty goal in the 68th minute before Quirk and Tapuai sealed the deal off a turnover.
Tapuai, who replaced James Slipper (concussion) as captain, was full of praise for Quirk and back-row amigos Liam Gill and Jake Schatz in their battle against an all-Wallabies pack.
“They were unbelievable,” the centre said.
“It was a big ask for the young guns to step up but they did the job and got us over the line.”
Terry Kidd
Guest
Agreed Jeznez, Douglas did himself no harm with that effort
Bananas
Guest
I think you might be on the money with VV at 12 leaving Barnes to fill the 15 jersey.
Wally James
Roar Guru
A different game to you it would seem.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Simmons had his best game in a while, but still not sure i could pick him. The 10-12-13 combo is odd too. Taps has been better than CL at 12, and has played all of 3 seconds at 13. So I'm not sure how that works out. To'omua hasn't been as good as Cooper yet either, but he has been serviceable. Shipperley is debatable too, but then no wing is really putting their hand up.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ha ha, point taken. Freely admit I'm not the best on the backs stuff.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Juts. Higgs will be dropped if he keeps seagulling like he has in the last two matches and then we might see the pack you are hoping for.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Not sure if you've seen Paul Cully's team of the week, Jiggles? Cully's XV 1 Ben Alexander 2 Stephen Moore 3 James Slipper 4 Scott Fardy 5 Rob Simmons 6 Ed Quirk 7 Liam Gill 8 Ben Mowen 9 Nic White 10 Matt Toomua 11 Digby Ioane 12 Christian Lealiifano 13 Ben Tapuai 14 Dom Shipperley 15 Jesse Mogg
Sprigs
Guest
The Blues v Canes was a very good game. Pity about the Wellingtonians not caring to attend, though. Fewer than 11,000 turned up from a population catchment of 400,000. Why so few? Is it the awful ground, that Cake Tin? It is bad enough to watch on TV with the crowd so far away from the action, but imagine being there. Or are these tiny crowds now becoming a trend in NZ?
Sprigs
Guest
One of the best games I've seen for ages. Blues v Hurricanes wasn't bad either.
Sprigs
Guest
The NZ teams look much better than ours at the moment.
Short-Blind
Guest
Totally agree with Johnny B - that would be the Tahs best back line going fwd. Jez, stick to the piggies mate (and a great job you do there). AAC can't pass (12 essential skill) and 'Izzy' would be really in no mans land at 13, a position in RU that takes years to nail defensively.
Jutsie
Guest
Albo was the run you were referring to from his own tryline late in the first half, that run impressed me too. I really wanted to see jones play at 6 this year with neville and pyle in the 2nd row but the recruitment of higgy and delve staying on has squashed that hope.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Some promising signs from the Force but: No kicker, Lineout is really missing Sharpie, Starting well (70% posession in the first half) but not continuing. On the plus side the ball is finally getting out to the very talented outside backs. I think if I was the coach I'd play Cummins at 13. The Kings were lucky. A lucky intercept resulting in a try And the Ref dissallowing a Force pushover try that clearly was a try changed the outcome of the match. That said I think the Kings have been underestimated. I think that they will become really competitive as the season goes on. That young kid they played at 14 (petersen?) will be in the springboks sooner than later.
Crazy Horse
Guest
As usual from the Tahs, lots of hype before the season and a miserable start. Forthe good of Australian Rugby I hope they get better.
Albo
Guest
I'm right with you. Pyle is a glamour lock. Great pace but less grunt. Jones did enough with one barging run through about 5 people to make me like him a whole lot more.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Very true. I was trying to keep it as close to how they've been playing these last 2 weeks. I think Palmer would either have to start or not be in the 22 at all. Alexander this last 9 months has been very good I think.
winston
Roar Rookie
yeah it was a beauty.
winston
Roar Rookie
ilikedahoodoogurusingha and picasso005 Nowhere near as bad as Izzy last night though. And Barbaas is completely different. No training camps, hardly any prep with players you hardly know. No combos. Its played and prepped for in a totally different spirit. Apples and Oranges And he wasn't heralded as the saviour of Rugby there either.
Red Kev
Guest
Actually about half of the lineouts thrown weren't straight in my opinion, the ref for some reason just didn't call any of them. I saw one that was caught at six and the guy had to stretch to his outside shoulder (towards the halfback) to catch it and it was still called play on. Both TPN and Faingaa were poor, Ulugia and Hanson were better,
Justin2
Guest
Godwin has to be the worst first choice kicker in pro rugby world wide. I have only seen him in 3 games, how the fcku is he first choice? He is siht house, seriously sihthouse at goal kicking...