The Queensland Reds have sunk to a new low, capitulating in the second half to allow the Crusaders to romp to a huge 58-17 Super Rugby win.
It was the ideal farewell for departing quartet Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor in what was almost certainly their last provincial game in front of the AMI Stadium faithful.
An abysmal Queensland played into their hands by conceding six tries after the break.
Nemani Nadolo, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, Jone Macila and Dominic Bird crossed for their second-half tries with incredible ease against a Reds outfit frighteningly ill-equipped in defence – during one 10-minute stretch, the Crusaders had touched down four times.
The visitors scored a consolation try in the 79th minute through Chris Feauai-Sautia.
Queensland actually controlled possession and territory in the first 40 minutes but only capitalised on their statistical dominance with the last play of the half, when Samu Kerevi barged his way through a stubborn Crusaders defence to bring the scoreline back to 15-10.
It was scant reward for their efforts and only came as the Crusaders were reduced to 14 men, following Dominic Bird’s 35th-minute yellow card for repeated infringements.
But any hope Kerevi’s effort might had given them was quickly erased moments after the interval when Nadolo intercepted a James O’Connor short ball and ran 50 metres to restore a healthy buffer.
Minutes later O’Connor missed an easy penalty, leaving Queensland lagging 22-10 behind.
From there on it was easy pickings for the Crusaders.
The home side had earlier established a nine-point lead after two terrific tries, the first coming in the first two minutes.
Queensland were caught napping when Andrew Ellis capped off a powerful, multi-phase try that was converted by Slade, who contributed 23 points to his team’s tally.
Slade combined with Carter to cross in the 18th minute, after the All Blacks legend bamboozled Kerevi with a dummy to easily break the line and dish off inside.
Bakkies
Guest
Wasn't Graham supposedly very difficult to work with at the Force?
riddler
Guest
bakkies i think that is a key point.. i am not sure that all is well within the coaching group.. seems to be 3 different directions the team is pulling.. bad, worse and who cares.. an u/13 e team has a better kick chase team than these guys at the moment.. how is that possible?
riddler
Guest
johnny jr.. i am first to put out the disclaimer in my bias for the guy.. not saying he is innocent but for me it is far too easy to lay all the blame at the guy's door.. we really don't want to turn into english football (soccer) and have a new manager every 18 weeks.. if it was as easy as changing a coach then all sports all over the world would be constantly changing.. sometimes there needs to be an ethos/personnel/attitude change for the success to come.. do i have the silver bullet, no.. but i tell you i am really sick and tired of seeing some particular over spoilt egos getting away with what they are getting away with..
Anto
Guest
That would be suicidal. They won't get more than 5,000 per game into Suncorp next year if they do that. He simply must go.
soapit
Guest
so much for qld loyalty.
Bakkies
Guest
Being head coach you have to trust your assistants if you try and do it on your own by not allowing them to use their thoughts and voice they will walk or a unit will fail. That's what happened to Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach he lost numerous assistants particularly in the forwards which held his team back as he had a much better backline than the current side. As for Deans maybe if he used the codes 4am burger, steal a laptop and I need a new phone he may have communicated better with the amigos as they understand that.
Bakkies
Guest
And don't work as one.
Roberts
Guest
True QLD did have a good team on paper. Unfortunately they used that paper to create their defence...
RobC
Roar Guru
Could be. Think RD is did alright as Cantab I think you're spot on about his communication challenges with Oz players and getting SR coaches on same page I think RG can make it as v good head coach, His challenge is finding the right path for him
Adsa
Guest
Knuckles being appointed as consultant coac is the best news for The Reds this year.
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
I agree Rob. I kind of meant the more man management side of things. It seems to me ( and I'm probably wrong :D ) that both men would be better suited to a role as assistant rarer than head coach. Just a thought
RobC
Roar Guru
Karl, RD certainly had issues. I think for the most. Deans had less to work with (comparatively), and delivered more. Also, Deans made a point of changing what realistically changeable without risking the WB core competencies
Karl Knuth
Roar Pro
Is it just me or does Graham seem a lot like Deans? Technically good, but struggling to get the best from his team? Some people just are not good coaches. Doesn't mean they can't be good assistants, but at this stage Graham certainly doesn't look to have what it takes.
Peter Hughes
Guest
It's an excellent team on paper but not in the contest - that's exactly what we're saying. The Q forward pack has more than enough high profile names to be competitive against any Super team And given JOC is their best attacking player he is starved of the ball, particularly starved of any space to do anything significant. Almost every time he gets the ball he's boxed in by defenders. The Force do the same thing to Cummings & it may well cost both a RWC squad place.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
I'm not sure why you persist in defending 'Spindel' Graham. Everything wrong with the Reds are symptoms of poor coaching & player management. He's set the franchise back years and cost future revenue/financial security due to his incompetence.
RobC
Roar Guru
sigh
Handles
Roar Guru
This can only mean that Wayne Smith was right, and they really plan to keep Graham for next year. I can't believe it.
Handles
Roar Guru
Box kicks were fine in isolation, but they are only as good as the chase. Three or four in a row where the outside backs didn't bother to move forward at all. Crusaders just field the kick and shift it wide quickly, bingo, open field counter attack. The team is so poorly coached it is ridiculous. Patterns of play are tired and predictable. Crusaders undid the Reds defensive structure in the first five minutes, and no change was made. Blind Freddy could see that you can't give Nadolo room to get a head of steam up, but all night we left the wide channel out of the front line defence. Kick chase was diabolical, tackling was tragic. Rolling maul was poorly executed and overused. Coaching, coaching, coaching.
Bakkies
Guest
That comes from their willingness to work for it. Coach can affect morale sure but when you get on the park as a professional you have to perform as one.
riddler
Guest
I agree coombesy. . Not something a headcoach wants to have happen.. but spindle is big enough to handle and grow.. He has a history with knuckles.. so I see that as positive.. personally I am not convinced he has surrounded himself with people who compliment and add to his skill set.. Mcqueen took a while to find his.. ie Miller and lane.. We all want a strong a qld, even the blinkered tahs fan know this.. for qld to be strong again means spindle goes then so be it.. But there are a number of players that with all their experience and skill set should have been performing a heck of a lot better than they are.. And this I can't put on any coach.. basic catching kicking tackling skills we have at 12 and 13.. As someone else said before maybe enlightenment has become too strong in this group.. Hopefully knuckles will bring that back into line.. And spindle learns from it..