The Reds are still alive in Super Rugby after a late try to standout centre Samu Kerevi snuffed out a second half comeback by the home side, securing a 29-24 win.
In an entertaining, if at times scrappy game, the Reds were good value for their 17-9 halftime lead, after scoring three first-half tries against a Rebels side who couldn’t hold the ball for long enough periods to sustain pressure.
The Rebels stayed in the game courtesy of their willingness to scrap at the breakdown, and feeding off the Reds turnovers and poor kick off receipts, and then grew in confidence in the second half.
An important contributor was Sean McMahon, whose energy seemed to lift the side, who scored twice through Will Miller and Marika Koroibete, to eventually draw level at 24-24 with ten minutes to play.
But it was the Reds who dominated the final stanza, almost going ahead through Scott Higginbotham, who dropped a kick when over the line, before Kerevi finished things off with his second try. It was fitting that the skipper had the final say, he was in great form, running dangerously all night.
One of the reasons was some nice distribution from Quade Cooper, who had an excellent match, always looking to create.
Up front, George Smith was again busy although he did concede too many penalties for his Nick Stiles’ liking. Higginbotham ran strongly in the loose, and while the Reds are far from the finished product, this win will go a long way to shaping the rest of their season.
They now only sit three points behind the Brumbies, who they will meet again this year.
The Rebels showed plenty of heart in the second half, but will rue a flat patch in the first, when they failed to take advantage of the 10 minutes Karmichael Hunt spent in the bin.
Flyhalf Ben Volavola had some nice touches, and Reece Hodge always looked dangerous, but once again the Rebels didn’t quite find the cohesion in attack they wanted.
Marika Koroibete is an enigma, bringing the crowd to life with some strong carries, but then blotting his copybook with two truly awful kicks, when he had plenty of space to run the ball.
The second kick was costly, directly leading to Kerevi’s first try, and it will be no surprise if he is forbidden ever to kick again, no matter the situation.
Unsurprisingly, the coaches were quite a contrast after the match, the Reds’ Nick Stiles delighted at his side breaking their lean run away from home, and putting themselves in a position to challenge at the top of the conference ladder.
Meanwhile, Tony McGahan was left to rue his sides’ lack of execution and composure in the first half, and the realisation that a season that promised so much, has now been frittered away; on and off the field.
Final score
Rebels 24
Reds 29
ClarkeG
Guest
Yet in this instance it's an Aust team and an Aust player.
ClarkeG
Guest
The ball had already been passed by Lomax by the time Miller come into contact with Kerevi so he in fact did obstruct Kerevi and it should have been a penalty to the Reds. There was never a ruck. It was simply a tackled player situation. If Lomax had not passed off the ground then Kerevi would have been fair game as he would have been over the ball.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
You ain't RobCrusoe in that regard mate ?
Bman
Guest
Lack something in attack? yes.. that would be the entire process of attacking!
Bman
Guest
Wallabies are proper screwed
RobC
Roar Guru
Agree with all that Gepetto. I'm comfie with his attack, except his kicks in particular clearance / territorial and goal. My main issue with QC is his defence.
Gepetto
Guest
There are two popular two avenues of attack on Quade: (1) he will need to find form - No one says that about Bernard because he has no finesse. and now (2) Quade is carrying an injury... Quade set up the first two Reds Tries on Saturday night in a way that indicates he is in good form and unaffected by injury. Also, Quade hit the line hard and recycled the ball quickly to create the momentum for the Reds' winning try at the end of the game. These days he prefers to facilitate tries rather than go for the line himself; he needs to be more selfish..
UTB
Guest
Open the comments and before y'know it the same people are having the same p!ss!ng contest. Awesome work lads. FWIW (stating the obvious) - the Reds again (like with the Tahs) let a poorer side back into the contest by poor discipline and not taking the points on offer to them. They again spurned very kickable penalties and then failed to get anywhere near scoring from the try attempt due to a deficit of skill. Its poor game management - get points on the board - keep the pressure and keep the scoreboard ticking over. I can't help feeling that if James Horwill was still on the park these games would be under control and closed out. For all the skills that Quade brings to the side - you simply cannot have a place kicker who is at 60% (or whatever it is) in a professional Rugby side. I did watch (and very much enjoy) the preceding game and as a result - even sat there with my fan boi Reds shirt on - I still struggled to enjoy much of the Reb/Red game. I can't see us troubling the Brumbies - at least not on the scoreboard.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Speights defense is terrible... rushes up and misses more often than not. Terrible reader of attacks
concerned supporter
Guest
Jubba Jabba, TWAS is a 3rd grader?
RobC
Roar Guru
Im looking forwars to LFG to finish up for Toulon, join GS in Qld and take over as Captain. Samu will make a fine VC
RobC
Roar Guru
Bish wants us to lose. Our LO will fail. Sad
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday Fionn. Im a yuuuuuge Lukhan fan. Id give him a fare few more rounds and let him demonstrate his abilities before starting him on a WB shirt. Aussies got good locks in production now thankfully. I hope it doesn't end with Rodda. We need more and more and more.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Who has "crowed" about Cooper anywhere?
Steve J
Guest
Westhuizen ,Kubo and Martin at times were poor. It appears they were just calling numbers for sake of it, they called Reds 4, 1 & 8 offside when clearly Simmons and strangely Higgers was on the other side of the field. Similar to NF when he hoisted a box kick calling out Hunt for being offside however he was position deep on the right, you can pick up the audible with the players reacting to the confusion. Regarding the yellow card the replay shows Hunt clearly on his feet throughout the entire movement.
Waxhead
Guest
I agree Mr Cynical. These absurdly one eyed Queensland fans here are a joke crowing about Cooper and a poor Reds team who finally won an away game after 13 attempts. Reality is neither Cooper or Foley would make any NZ provincial team and Wallabies have no chance of beating NZ with either of them playing. Aust Rugby needs another 3 No 10s better asap.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
riddler, indeed giving credit to Simmons, but there are at least 10 other faster Reds, and where we're they?
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Fair call Rhys B, i think QC is still carrying an injury, or playing like he is even tho i saw him denying that somewhere. Fully fit he can be a classy player playing against most opposition... Foleys World Cup game was the best i have seen him play but he has not reached that standard since.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yeah TWAS, CP is looking a bit obsessive isn't he. The silly thing is that at least me and others as well have acknowledged that between suspension and his form being affected by niggling injury, especially his goal kicking and speed, Cooper hasn't quite made the case to dislodge Foley from the Wallabies first choice starting 10 spot this season. I think that the right decision for Cheika would be to do what he has in the past, play the most in form 10 for the hardest games and let the other cover the easier ones, with each having dibs on games in their own city. It has worked ok until now so I don't have a problem with it continuing, even if Cooper is the second choice for now. The reality is that this season hasn't quite worked out the way Quade wanted it too and he is going to have to wait for his opportunity, with blistering form when he gets his chances this test season and next year. That's ok, he has waited for long enough and is always willing to do what is good for the team, unlike the other bloke with his uncooperative efforts at 12 last year, so I reckon that he will find his patience is ultimately rewarded leading into the 2019 World Cup. In the meantime, it is just awesome to have him back at the Reds.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Rugby is not gridiron. There is nothing clever about breaking a law to gain advantage. The power of talent has evolved past the officials' ability to officiate fairly. Too much going on to call it all. Much of it gridiron. Gridiron is not rugby.