Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn says his side “got what they deserved”, with the pumped-up Sunwolves claiming their first Super Rugby match win of the season with a 63-28 hammering in Tokyo.
Kiwi-born five-eighth Hayden Parker did much of the damage for the Sunwolves at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium with a personal tally of 36 points.
He finished off a brilliant first-half team try and kicked 12 goals from 12 attempts, while Sunwolves winger Hosea Saumaki also had a day out, collecting a hat-trick of tries.
While the Sunwolves deserved the win, the Reds did themselves no favours.
Through lazy play, they conceded 12 penalties to hand their opponents 21 points, their attack lacked creativity, defence was lacklustre and their kicking game was below par as well.
Thorn said his team were simply beaten by the better team on the day.
“There was lot of poor, basic footy out there and we got what we deserved,” Thorn said.
“Hats off to Hayden Parker who scored 30-odd points; the forwards were good; they were really good at the breakdown so well done to them,” Thorn said.
“They were by far the better side.”
After upsetting South African heavyweights the Lions in their last match, the Reds were riding high but instead became the first Australian team to lose to the Sunwolves.
“You saw the performance and attitude against the Lions and then today, it just wasn’t on par,” Thorn said.
“It’s frustrating – it’s a long way to come to perform like that.”
Sitting third in the Australian conference, the shock loss meant they blew a golden chance to make up ground on the NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels.
They next face tough encounters against the Hurricanes and Highlanders.
While Parker opened with a penalty goal in the first minute of the game, the Reds scored the first try with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa planting the ball at the back of their rolling maul.
Halfback Ben Lucas darted from the back of a maul to plant the ball across the line in the 21st minute and Reds were out to 14-9 lead.
But penalty goals kept the home side in touch before lock Grant Hattingh scored after an obvious forward pass was overlooked by the TMO.
Three minutes later, Parker crossed after a superb team try which he converted for a 26-14 scoreline and momentum was with the Sunwolves.
The Reds tried to rally in the second half with their reserves lifting the tempo.
However, any small chance of a comeback was snuffed out in the 69th minute when the Sunwolves were awarded a penalty try and Duncan Paia’aua was yellow-carded for a high tackle as he tried to bring down Jason Emery.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What I find hilarious is the excuse making some use to try and convince themselves it’s all ok. “The tries will come” when in cases of the Reds, Waratahs, highlanders and Hurricanes it’s been their defence that has come to get them to titles, not attack. It’s been an improvement of about 50pts per season for, but around 100pts per season in defence. Crusaders are the only recent champions to improve their attack dramatically to win. Or “we’ve already won as many games as we did all last year” which doesn’t take into consideration the relative strengths of the draw progressively, or that by this time last year the Reds had won 3 games. And the Reds still have to play 3 more NZ teams despite playing one less NZ team this season. There’s a real chance they will only beat the Sunwolves at home and finish with one more win. Which isn’t that impressive when you consider that one extra game was a Sunwolves game, and the play them twice instead of Hurricanes.
Honkey_Red
Guest
I was also at the game and cant speak highly enough about the hospitality. The Japanese really know how to put on an event and make everyone feel welcome. Sadly the Sunwolves didnt do the same and let this long suffering Reds support watch a win live .....
Ian
Guest
Yep - it is. I’ve just started gong to see Sunwolves games, and they’re always a lot of fun. Great to see them finally get a win. Unfortunately I’m from Queensland:)
Hello
Guest
Waratahs same same Especially Bernard Foley missing the clutch kicks ( even had two cracks and missed both) .He is an abomination of a player.
Hello
Guest
High Tackle, Good to See New Zealanders do get out of Hobbit Isle . Well done. I clap for you.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Perfectly fine to call for a young mans professional career to be ended in the basis of one game though apparently.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Good assessment.
Malo
Guest
Sunwolves are vital for the comp and the market. So are the Jags. Jags have won two against Nz. 4 teams in oz zip. Let’s not cast stones. We are rubbish
Markie362
Guest
They are free to pick whomever they want but if your a kiwi playing in aus the abs wont pick you
Drongo
Guest
Super rugby is doomed as long as NZ treat it like a competition between nations and insist on limiting player movement between franchises. What you end up with is total Kiwi domination and a substandard and uninteresting competition. It is meant to be a competition between franchises, not nations. Player recruitment should be unlimited.
Ben
Guest
I know you werent......
Fionn
Guest
And if the Sunwolves were only resting their strongest teams for two rounds of Super Rugby, and were utterly dominant like the Kiwis, then that would be a different scenario. However, they aren't and they're not, and you know this. Perhaps the broadcasters wanted teams cut, but from what I've read New Zealand and South Africa (understandably from their point of view) wanted an Australian team cut also.
Sage
Guest
Wasn't talking to you Ben
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
But the Kiwis aren’t intentionally not playing their strongest team when they are uncompetitive and garbage, are they? They do. All AB's players have to sit out two SR. And this coming weekend the Chiefs will have no AB's available when they face the Sharks, hence they are on AB's camp. It was mainly the broadcasters that told SANZAAR to cut teams. They are the only ones with that kind of power really, hence they pay for SR at the bone. Combine that with RA's poor economy and the writing was on the wall,
Fionn
Guest
But the Kiwis aren't intentionally not playing their strongest team when they are uncompetitive and garbage, are they? Not even the Australians are intentionally not playing their strongest teams in order to prepare for the RWC. We're playing our strongest available teams (outside of the farce with QC). We just aren't very good. 'According to RA they cut a side cause they could not afford five teams'. Do we seriously believe that this was the only reason that they were cut? It is pretty clear that South Africa and New Zealand wanted us to cut a team.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
The Sunwolves also have a few players that are not available for the Japanese national team. According to RA they cut a side cause they could not afford five teams. Mitre10 is also a flourishing local competition, yet them Kiwis are using SR to improve the All Blacks...
Fionn
Guest
Difference between not playing your best team in order to prepare for the RWC (when you've already got a flourishing domestic comp, I might add) and structuring the comp to directly benefit the national side. The fact that guys like Amanaki Mafi, Hawera, Gardon-Bachop are/we playing for Australian teams proves that it isn't just being used to prepare the national sides. They're trying to make the teams as competitive as possible. Australia even cut a side at the behest of SANZAAR to make us more competitive.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Well, every team is SR is used to prepare the national team, so what is the difference when the Sunwolves are doing it? This is not an exclusive problem for the Sunwolves, it is the biggest flaw/problem with SR overall.
Fionn
Guest
'But this season and next season they are using Sunwolves mainly to prepare for the WC.' Yeah, which I see as a problem, but I know you won't, so I think it is best that we agree to disagree.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
There are a lot of international quality players in Japan who aren’t playing for the Sunwolves though. Someone like Sean McMahon is a case in point. There is. But this season and next season they are using Sunwolves mainly to prepare for the WC. Their vision for the future is indeed to be able to have world-class foreign players in the team combined with the best Japanese.