[VIDEO] Reds vs Brumbies highlights: Super Rugby scores, blog

Match result:

The Brumbies have continued the Reds poor start to the 2015 Super Rugby season with a 29-0 win at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

For the first time since 2006, and the first time at Suncorp Stadium, the Reds were held scoreless against a Super Rugby team.

In 2006, when it last happened, they played the Brumbies. Tonight they would also fail to score against a team who have become their bogey team in the competition.

The win was the Brumbies 20th out of their last 25 matches, and their 8th out of their last ten matches in Queensland.

Despite missing a host of players, the Reds started well, as they held out the Brumbies for the first few minutes of the clash.

They did concede an early penalty, which was missed by Christian Lealiifano, but they held on well against the in form Brumbies.

This changed after twenty minutes, as the Brumbies forced the Reds out of play, after a line out ten metres out from the line.

They would win the line out and pick and go towards the line.

Nic White would then pass to Stephen Moore who would go over the line to score in his 136th Super Rugby game.

Seven minutes later, the Brumbies would score again, as Ben Alexander forced his way over the line.

The Reds, after holding on for so long, were starting to struggle to maintain the Brumbies.

At half time, they were down by 10 points, and things didn’t improve in the second half.

Seven minutes in the Brumbies would score again through Ben Alexander and have Liam Gill sent off for ten minutes.

Gill would throw a Brumbie player over his head, during the play, as Alexander jumped over the both of them to score.

Ten minutes later, after a string of penalties in the scrum to the Reds because of the yellow card, the Brumbies would seal the game with another try to number 8 Ita Vaea.

With six minutes to go, Christian Lealiifano would seal the game, after intercepting a Red mistake and running 30 metres for a try.

The scoreline, while comprehensive, reflected the game.

The Brumbies were strong around the pack, and their forwards monstered the Reds.

The loss will put more pressure on Richard Graham but he was also compromised with the loss of so many players.

I’d be surprised if he got sacked this week, but when his key players return, he must deliver results.

The pressure is already on him to improve the team and find results.

They now have a week off before playing the Lions at home.

The Brumbies, who move to the top of the standings with the win, play the Waratahs next Sunday in what is expected to be a big contest.

Match preview:

The Brumbies will be looking to continue their good start to 2015 when they take on the Reds at Suncorp Stadium tonight. Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 7:40pm (AEDT).

The Brumbies smashed the Reds in Round 1 and have climbed to second on the ladder with three wins and just the one loss, to the Chiefs in New Zealand.

For the Reds, it has been one nightmare after the other. On the field they have lost three games and won just once, against the Force in Round 2.

Off the field they have ran into problem after problem.

The much publicised drug scandal involving Karmichael Hunt has seen him miss the last three games for the Reds after debuting in Round 1. He will spend a further five games on the sidelines with the suspension imposed by the ARU.

Fellow new recruit James O’Connor has also missed two games this season through injury. He will miss a third tonight with a leg injury and is replaced at fullback by Ben Tapuai.

Richard Graham is under serious pressure to keep his job as the coach of the Reds. Another big loss tonight could spell the end of his tenure.

After four games, the Reds have the worst attack in the competition, averaging 9.8 points per game. That’s particularly problematic tonight as they take on the team with the second-best attack in the competition.

The Brumbies average 27.8 points per game and scored 47 against the Reds in Round 1. Since the start of Super Rugby in 1996, the Brumbies have won 19 out of the 24 matches between the two, including 7 of the last 9 matches in Queensland. It is an imposing record.

The Brumbies remain unchanged from the team that defeated the Force 27-15, while the Reds have made three changes to the team that lost to the Waratahs.

As mentioned before, O’Connor is out with a leg injury. Joining him on the sidelines is Lachie Turner, with concussion, and Dave McDuling. Campbell Magnay and James Horwill replace them in the starting line-up.

Prediction
With both teams at polar opposites in form, and given the Reds’ off-field issues, it is a match that favours the Brumbies.

Brumbies by 14 points.