The Queensland Reds have snapped a four-game losing streak, hanging on after a fast start to beat South Africa’s Lions 27-22 in Brisbane.
The hosts ran in four first-half tries before withstanding the Lions’ reply on Saturday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium to improve to 4-5 this season.
It was a mighty statement against last year’s grand finalists, who entered the round on top of the table with a 6-3 record, and came six days after the injury-hit side were outclassed by the Chiefs.
Nine of the Reds’ 23-man squad were aged 21 or younger, with the 19-year-old Hamish Stewart handed the reins at five-eighth in his run-on debut.
And the teenager set the tone with a big first-half tackle and some strong carries, even if his hyped kicking game was slightly off.
Hulking prop Taniela Tupou helped Queensland to outmuscle the powerhouse side early as their superior scrum tormented the Lions.
The visitors finally opened their account through Malcolm Marx after 55 minutes and the hooker’s second try, six minutes later, made it 27-12 inside the final 20 minutes.
The Lions ran in two tries either side of the fulltime siren but Queensland’s resistance meant they came too late to influence the result.
Brad Thorn’s side received a standing ovation from the 12,368 crowd as they went to the break up 24-0.
George Smith’s opportunistic try on the buzzer capped a superb half, the 37-year-old picking up a nifty Adam Korczyk scoop after the hosts had pushed over the Lions’ scrum.
JP Smith started with a bang, slamming down the Reds’ first try in the second minute after stand-in captain Samu Kerevi’s clever kick turned the Lions around.
In-form No.8 Caleb Timu intercepted a Dillon Smit sharp pass to race 45m for the side’s second before he limped off with an ankle injury.
And Stewart set up the Reds’ third, stepping off his right foot to beat two defenders, before Brandon Paenga-Amosa grabbed the follow up and scurried over.
rebel
Roar Guru
Cheers, wasn't aware of that. Just reading though and the laws around mauls stats that players can not 'intentionally' collapse a maul. That opens up a lot of grey area.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
An OK win. They didn't score in the 2nd half. That is a worry. The lion's almost come back to win.
Crash Ball2
Guest
"GS looked very good in a bad team." Yep, Smith (reigning Stan Pilecki medalist) certainly did his best to stem the tide of a torrentially leaking ship in 2017: - Topped Reds forced turnovers - Topped the tackle count - Topped the dominant tackles - Topped the tackle success percentage % - Most forward offloads (2nd for the team) - Most forward ball carries (2nd for the team) - Most forward line breaks - 2nd highest forward metres made - 2nd highest forward tackle breaks But then, as the best defender in Australian across Super Rugby in 2017, GS was also a stand out player across a bad conference: – Most tackles: 169 (next best: Chris Alcock 168) – 4th highest tackle percentage 84% (> 130 tackles) behind only: AAA 87%, Cummins 87%, Fardy 87% (all of whom made about 30-40 tackles less than Smith) – Highest pilfers / forced penalties: 24 (next best Amanaki Mafi 22) The Reds Best Player has just returned from injury having played a total of around 35 minutes of first class rugby in several months, puts on a raw boned 80 minutes in which he never stops, employs his on-field leadership, scores a meat pie and is part of a watershed, gutsy Reds (and Australian) victory. Perhaps quit with the history rewrite for a nano-second Champion.
PeterK
Roar Guru
actually not true Rarely penalised but the team in possession can be penalised for collapsing a maul by law. The ball carrier may go to ground but technically no other player can collapse a maul.
pk
Guest
And where are the Reds now ?
pk
Guest
Rodda will only get picked as the Wallabies third lock if their is an injury to Coleman Simmons Hanigan Arnold or Douglas.
shooshiner
Guest
" All I want to see this year is that Bledisloe Cup returning to Australia…even if it’s only for a couple of seasons! " If Michael Chieka selects the correct team for once in his 4 years as coach, we may be a chance.
shooshiner
Guest
Are we supposed to jump up and down because we have won 4 games ?? Will the Reds make the top 6 ? Will they top the Aussie conference ? Anything less is a failure.
RobC
Roar Guru
All they would need is JOC to join, and the three amigos will be together As long as you dont fly JOC on AirAsia
rebel
Roar Guru
Because that is what the law book states.
rebel
Roar Guru
Although I am concerned about their inability to score trys, a $600k club rugby player would change that.
rebel
Roar Guru
What a fan. I didn't say Thorne was a master coach, I just said he isn't constantly clueless. Keep reading through the red mist though, it's working out well for you.
rebel
Roar Guru
Perfect response cuw.
RobC
Roar Guru
yes. And they didnt concede any points!!
double agent
Guest
Hey what about the Waratahs? Undefeated this week!
double agent
Guest
Foley's kicks for touch from penalties have markedly improved this year. It's quite noticeable.
Danny
Roar Pro
That's my argument yes. Perhaps easier to say in hindsight but I was living in Sydney in the 90s and told my mates then the Brumbies were in the wrong city. I mean, Canberra - really? Population 2/5s of not much. Whereas Melbourne: sporting capital of the world. Even back then. Well, in its eyes anyway! Going to Melbourne was never about capturing AFL market share - just capturing a share of the Melbourne sporting market which was always large and growing. Private schools in Melbourne played rugby and there was a decent Kiwi community there. Can you imagine where Aus rugby would be if it had a brand as large or perhaps much larger than Melbourne Storm right now? Also even though you'd go to Melbourne with the "we're not here to compete with you" attitude to AFL, frankly I think RA would have a decent shot at its fair share of young talented footballers that would otherwise go into AFL. It's hard to see this vision now though because RA is in such a shambles. It needed to think far longer term last year that it did. When will it wake up and realise that there's literally nothing for it in Canberra. Nothing.
double agent
Guest
Skipping out to a big lead and the other team nearly catching it is very common.
double agent
Guest
That's always surprised me too RW. I go for all the Aussie teams. And when it's a kiwi affair I go for the Highlanders.
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Fair call, Fionn.