Match Result: The Sydney Stars remain undefeated in the National Rugby Championship with a high scoring 50-40 win over Queensland Country.
In a shootout, at Leichardt Oval, the Stars would score seven tries to five to remain at the top of the ladder.
In a match of great rugby, both teams shone in attack, as they scored six tries combined in the first half.
Sydney would start the onslaught with two tries in the first 15 minutes.
They opened up a 13-8 lead with a try to Izala Perese keeping Country in the match.
The scoring wasn’t without drama as two players went down with injury.
JJ Taulagi was the first, for Queensland Country, as he was stretchered off after five minutes.
Henry Clunies-Ross then joined Taulagi, as he was stretchered off one minute after he scored the second try for the Stars.
Both looked bad and could be devastating injuries for the players involved.
Queensland then took the lead with a 25th minute try to James Tuttle.
A great run by Chris Feauai-Sautia set up the try for Country as he beat three defenders along the way.
This would be the only lead they had during the match with Sydney responding with two tries before half time.
They led 29-16 at the only change.
Sydney would extend it to 18 with a try to David Hickey as the rolling maul worked well against Country.
Queensland responded, with two tries in eight minutes, as the gap reduced to five points.
It didn’t last though as Sydney made Country pay for a knock on after the restart from their last try.
Tom Robertson would score his 2nd try to make it 13 points.
Another try to Matthew Philip, in the 64th minute, would seal the match and bring up 50 points for the team.
The Stars were better on the lineout, and made less mistakes, than Country.
Queensland did well on the scrum but struggled to match the Stars in scoring.
For the teams that finished 2nd and last though, from 2014, it was a game that showed how much both teams have improved in 12 months.
Sydney are now on top and will look to remain in that position next week against Perth.
Queensland Country will face Brisbane in a derby.
Match Preview: The Sydney Stars will look to remain at the top of the National Rugby Championship ladder when they take on the Queensland Country at Leichardt Oval. Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 7:30pm (AEST).
Last week the Stars had six different players run in six tries to defeat the North Harbour Rays 45-29.
Meanwhile, a double to Sef Fa’agase was not enough for Queensland Country to defeat the Melbourne Rising and take the Horan-Little Shield, going down 39-31.
Country have eight Reds in the squad this week, with three changes made.
Campbell Wakely, who was replaced last minute by Saia Fainga’a last week, is back in the team, with Fainga’a off to London to play for the Barbarians.
Jack Cornelsen replaces Radike Samo at number 8, with Maclean Jones – who has been compared to Quade Cooper – earning his first start for the Queensland side.
These two teams faced each other once last year, with Country winning 53-29 in Townsville.
However the Stars look better than the team that finished last in 2014. This match will be closer.
Prediction
Sydney to reverse the loss from last year and remain at the top of the ladder.
Sydney Stars by 3.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the Sydney Stars versus Queensland Country clash from 7:30pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Handles
Roar Guru
Only one of them can kick out of hand.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He was used. Was tried at 10 in the trials and then was on the bench for Round 1. Received a head knock and then was in the Aus Under 20s.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How many local rugby teams were playing in this weekends subbies Minor Semi Finals? Thursday is training.
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
Big unit was probably Milton Sikuea 196cms and 120 odd kgs. It's guys like him and Lolo that the Reds need to keep a really close eye on. Our forward pack has been missing bruisers for years and it shows around the park- good scrum but got bullied in open play.
nmpcart
Guest
Bakkies, yes there was, but a lot of very quick counter attack. Scrum from Qld Country was very impressive - considering the Stars scrum had the likes of James Hanson, Pat McCutcheon and Dave Dennis in it, so a lot of experience but the QC scrum dominated.
Ryanno
Guest
Considering how strong the Balmain and Drummoyne subbies teams are I am surprised at the crowd size but it probably has to do with it being a Thursday night. Rugby people have never gone to the rugby on a Thursday so I imagine that is a difficult trend to try to create. Better off on a Friday night which seems to have been fine for the Tahs or on the weekend.
Mike
Guest
That is very disappointing. Need to start promoting this better, especially among Balmain and Sydney faithful
Mike
Guest
Finally the Villains starting to look villainish. I hope Clunies-Ross is okay. For his own sake, and because we can never have enough players with double-barrelled names.
ethan
Guest
What I've found happens in NRC is a number of things adding up: 2 point penalties vs potential 8 point tries means no penalty shots are taken. This means a lot more running rugby occurs, which fatigues players greatly. The intensity is not has high as Super Rugby, but the speed of the game is higher. As the fatigue sets in, gaps open up, meaning tries, and in the case of tonights game, both goalkickers had a high percentage, meaning a lot of 8 pointers. The defence was actually quite solid early in the game before the fatigue set in. It's not brilliant defence, obviously, but I think even if you saw test rugby being played under these laws, that the scorelines would be quite a bit higher.
RobC
Roar Guru
yes injured
Bakkies
Guest
That's a disgusting scoreline. Was there any defence?
Literally there was less than 200 people there..
Waz
Guest
Crowd number? Looked like there was barely anyone there at all..., pity considering it looked like an entertaining game.
Harry
Guest
Entertaining game. As predicted the Stars hard heads, Dave Dennis, Hanson etc, were the difference when they consistently won the break down, allied with too many errors from the QC team. Stars they were lucky the ref didn't penalise their scrum more, which was getting dished. QC too soft at the breakdown and in defence. Greene looks a prospect at 10 but needs to tighten up his defence ... even 7 or 8 years ago, that weakness could be more hidden. His game management and vision, allied with good skills, are impressive. The winger Peresse(?) has got wraps elsewhere and for sure an exciting player.
Gavin Barker
Roar Pro
Australian schoolboys rep in 2011/12 according to his profile on the Stars website
Harry
Guest
Was he playing for the schoolboys a few years back? Thought he looked good then.
Harry
Guest
Wondered the same. Who was that big unit on late for QC?
Hello
Roar Rookie
Stats make it look like country were better. Lots of handling errors though Massive amount of missed tackle both ways
Gavin Barker
Roar Pro
Does anyone know if big Lolo is injured? Country could definitely use a bit of firepower in the back row.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Full report to come in a second.