The Queensland Reds will be kicking themselves after a horror night with the boot cost them a Super Rugby win against New Zealand’s Highlanders in Brisbane.
The hosts dominated territory and possession, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa putting his case for a Wallabies berth as the Reds dominated the scrum.
But they couldn’t convert that into points, with poor in-game kicking options costing them in the 18-15 defeat at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
A 78th-minute Lima Sopoaga penalty was the difference as both teams scored two tries in a gut-busting clash.
The Highlanders (7-5) bounced back after a heavy loss to the NSW Waratahs last weekend while the Reds (4-8) are now a distant third in the Australian conference.
The loss completed another eventful week at Ballymore after veteran James Slipper was slapped with a two-month ban for a second positive test for cocaine.
The Highlanders chose to rest All Blacks Ben Smith, Luke Whitelock, Shannon Frizell and Liam Coltman, while the second half introduction of gun Test halfback Aaron Smith was pivotal.
The Reds produced some champagne rugby to open the second stanza, linking from inside their own half with a series of speculative passes.
Queensland then hammered the Highlanders down the middle before Jono Lance and Samu Kerevi both offloaded to see Hamish Stewart burst over for a 15-8 lead from a brilliant 20-phase sequence.
The visitors responded though, dominating the next 15 minutes and defying some stiff Reds defence to level through All Blacks loose iorward Liam Squire with 20 minutes to play.
Out on their feet, the desperate Queensland defence led by Lance somehow kept the Highlanders out before the late penalty sealed their fate.
The Reds had their chances at the death, but failed to find touch on multiple occasions and often kicked into space without any chasers.
Paenga-Amosa pressed his case for a call-up for next month’s Test series against Ireland though, dominating the scrum for the Reds and scoring a first-half try from a well-executed driving maul.
Drongo
Guest
13th out of 15. Yeah, Thorn is obviously a genius!
enoughisenough
Guest
Thorn got rid of Frisby, who at his best was better than Lucas or Tuttle at their best. And Genia wan't to return to the Reds but was not wanted. That's the issue at 9.
Kerry
Guest
Oh suck it up !!
Kerry
Guest
Niw Zullanders worsheep dumbo rookie Thorn cos heez a Un Zud leegind in NIW Zulland. He keen do no wrong.
Train without a station
Guest
Also in the real world people are continuing their jobs after the same.
Train without a station
Guest
And? They haven’t played the same teams in the same order. The only game they were yet to win at this point last year was the Brumbies, who they have already faced twice. Which points out the flaw in your progressive analysis...
Fionn
Guest
Rhys, from what I heard the Japanese league has been cancelled for 2019 due to the RWC, so all Japan-based players will be looking for somewhere to play next year.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I don’t know much about Lowrens but Magnay would be a good buy. He can cover 13 and both wings, potentially freeing up some others to cover fullback (Pai’aua, Perese, Daugunu). I like Barnes but why would he come back, given the money he would be getting in Japan? It isn’t like he has ever been spoken of as an international option.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
CUW, in reality Lance has been a very good tactical kicker in previous years, I don't know what is going on there because his kicking game has really gone down hill.
Fionn
Guest
Nic has been playing exceptionally for Exeter, but I suspect he won't come back unless he thought he was in a serious chance of test selection and/or his salary could be matched by the Reds, based on things I've heard from people that know him. Would Ryan Louwrens be free? Could Berrick Barnes be what the doctor ordered? He will surely be looking for a contract too. Campbell Magnay will be looking for a new team also. Reds' squad is pretty strong in the forwards and, really, it is only halfbacks/flyhalves/centres that the Reds may want.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yeah, if they manage to snag McMahon next year like I have read might happen, it will be a godsend. They should be able to buy some decent players next year given the number who are likely to leave, Lance, G. Smith, Hunt, possibly Copper. I’d say McMahon and an experienced halfback would be the priority. I wonder whether Nick White could be bought back? He was a bit so do in tests but an excellent Super Rugby level player.
AJ
Guest
I'm enjoying watching 2018 Reds more than last few years I think. Those blowout games are terrible, but when they are on, it's good. When they started dominating the scrums it got a bit noisy in my neighbourhood. Disappointing finish and almost funny to see them kicking straight to those massive Highlander wingers and then try to stop them, but I enjoyed the game actually. Looks like I'm in the minority. Loved Perese, what a Goer. My pet hate is the clean outers going through and holding defenders back though. All the teams are doing it and it's a deliberate strategy. The refs were pinging teams for walking through ahead of the breakdown when it's obvious and of little/no consequence, but then let others go through and grapple defenders who aren't even in the ruck. Is this NFL now?
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Fionn, you ask fair questions of the ‘suddenly Reds fans, dressed in black’. Regarding the ‘fact’ of Thorn’s ‘success’? It is not the fact that a man does not know that gets him into trouble. It’s the fact he knows for sure that just ain’t so. (Apologies to Mark Twain.)
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Cuw, agree about the mark moving for touch finding kickers. Part of the problem is dopey frontrowers, who are mostly non-kickers crowding the kicker while obsessing about their next lineout play. The metre eater seems to be taken for granted. On the subject of kicks. Why do box kicks have immunity from the offside law? Box kicker steps a metre backward to make a kick . Chasers step a metre forward. Result? 2 metres of offside advantage, on almost every box kick. To improve the game, allow attack to flow. To allow attack to flow, police offside thoroughly. Game improvement, just there.
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Agree Ben.
Nobody
Guest
I thought Brad was a legendary player, but so far I'm not convinced he's much of a coach or even that the Reds can be said to have improved. Time will tell. I certainly think it's premature to call for Brad's head. I still think he was wrong to dump Quade like he did though.
soapit
Guest
yep better not forget that one given it seems to be the only point you think is a genuine measure. are we looking to see if theres been genuine improvement or just looking to put a statistically insignificant notch up in argument?
soapit
Guest
tman id call that a pretty insignificant improvement statistically. i like a lot of what he is doing but some of what he has done has cost them wins imo.
RobC
Roar Guru
Most of this is final quarter. Agree on that one by Sorovi straight after a ruck TO just short of halfway. That was wasted. Almost all other kicks, they were the final option. Most of them were clearances from their redzone, and most catching points were well covered by Landers. There was one other from Stewart with a couple of guys to his left. But the Landers line was set. For the most part in 2H, the main issue is the inability of the Reds to exit. Same as the inability of the Reds to attack from the B-zone (i.e. just past halfway)
cuw
Guest
@moaman " Quick taps have to be right on the mark…but penalties taken for touch are routinely taken 1,2 or three metres past the spot.Even when they have a convenient line to work from too! " this is something i have always wondered about. my question is how exactly shud a penalty kick for touch should be taken? when the ref marks a spot on the ground - in most cases the kicker stands there and then moves like 2 -3 steps forwards before kicking the ball. but this does not happen when a kick at goal is taken or a tap and run is done. in fact basically every kick off hand is taken in front of the spot like 99% of the time. so why is this not addressed?