Queensland have fallen just short of notching another Australian win over New Zealand, copping a three-point loss to the Highlanders on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Reds 15
Highlanders 18
The Reds host the Highlanders Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
While the Reds have won five of their last seven games against the Highlanders, four of them are long forgotten – during Ewen McKenzie’s tenure. In 2016, the Reds narrowly beat the Highlanders, helmed by the discarded dual-coaching team of Nick Stiles and Matt O’Connor.
Last week, Brad Thorn’s Reds were a few points short of a major upset against an underwhelming Hurricanes. The Reds scored four great tries, the same number as their triumph over the Lions three weeks earlier.
They scored tries the same way – by minimal possession. Their loss against the Sunwolves was a great example: the more the Reds handles the pill, the greater their chances of losing. They are just like the Reds of the late 1980s. They are just like the Highlanders today.
Today will be an interesting game to watch. Both teams might try to minimise possession. Thanks partially to a red carded player, the Highlanders lost by a painful 29 points to the Waratahs last week, who have been steadily building form. Coach Aaron Mauger and his boys will still be feeling the pain today. They will want to dish that pain on the Queenslanders.
Mauger is on family leave and will not direct today’s game. Former Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett will command battleship Highlanders. He says “The Reds have shown right throughout this year, I think the game against the Lions they were just passionate and hungry, the Hurricanes last week, once again, exactly the same.”
Perhaps the Reds will have a go at attack today, because they scored two tries last week via multi-phase campaigns. One was by Taniela Tupou from a series of picks and gos. The other was a classic midfield try facilitated by a perfect Jono Lance pass, just outside the Hurricane defender.
The Reds back three are more susceptible to the high balls. The “Landers” will probably try to exploit this.
Prediction
The Highlanders have not won in Brisbane since 2005. They will probably break this drought today. The bookies agree, giving 4:1 odds for a Reds win.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thugby. The Reds 9 and the pack is the main problem. Backrow too slooooopooowwww. No variation. Correction. It's not just 'pass the ball to Kerevi' It's also Tupou :) Literally from BT cheerleader Marto. Totally brainless Agree the disallowed try was unlucky. But they had many other changes to score. For this game, the diff is the FIVE points Lance missed off the tee. Though I suspect the Landers would have found a way through anyway.. The other big Reds problem is attacking LO. btw Reds did score in 2H via Lance Samu Stewart switch play. And a forward pass haha This was preceded by a DuncanP line break supported by Tupou Perese Brandon. Then pick-gos and straight runs into the 10m. But after that they ran out of puff. One campaign went nowhere so Lance kicked it. Too long. The second also went nowhere and a shovel from the scrummie to DuncanP was KOd The last chance was a long break by Perese supported by Duncan but no-one else. Pack was tired backs too slow or tired to react. Maybe a bit of experience from Perese to hold up for more support. This is where you need speed in your backrow or fullback to support. Anyway. Maybe next year Everything else was Landers in possession in 2H. Nugget speed and barking orders to his pack a good example of what the Reds should be looking for next year Or this year if they bothered to pickup Sanchez (Genia)
RobC
Roar Guru
Pete 78', Kalolo was offside on the side of the ruck when the Ref said it was out 67' When Nugget was pinged by JP Smith. It was a weird one. There was a ruck though was kind of left of the pill. So JP and GS saw space a pushed ahead. JP stumbled into Nugget. Penalty. Weird. A smart footballer would have been looking at the Ref for permission instead of assuming they know can judge the law. That's the diff between Kiwis and Aussies. TH, 57' from Lima to Squire was a nice one. Inside pass both players moving forward. Yes it moved forward. Not any more forward than Sami to Hamish. The tell here is nobody in Reds or assists called it Anyway I think 1H it was an even game. A lot due to rookie mistakes by the Landers. But the Landers hemmed the Reds in their half for almost all 2H. No way the Reds were the better team here
RobC
Roar Guru
Hello. Just watched the preview. Great fun LO in all the fubars but one the problem was the throw. Too high One at 24'' was a timing problem. I think the hooker is still the problem except in this case the jumpers weren't set yet. Maybe it's also a coaching issue. Dunno
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Highlander, ‘can’t figure out why you kept running at our mid field defence’... Regarding the Red’s attack plan there is a fair bit no one can figure out. And there is a little fella from a town near Dunedin who who may have a plan but keeps his cards close to his chest.
RobC
Roar Guru
In other games it was crooked throws, too high. Will catch this game on replay
TG
Guest
The highlanders last try was a blatant forward pass. I was at the game and was in line. hands went forward and ball went forward. That cost the reds the game. Typical kiwi teams. Also highlanders off their feet at the ruck all night - especially in the last 2 mins - and often going to ground to stop the mauls - and not pinged for holding players out of the defensive line in and around the ruck. It’s the usual garbage that the kiwi teams get away with. The better team lost.
hello
Guest
From my view the lineout is more then a hooker problem. There seems to be bad timing regularly as well which often leads to over throws. Who is calling the timing. One of the overthrows the ball was past before we got up on anther I think it was Rodda was on the way down and it went over. Looked about tight if timing was good. Throwing to the back is often about getting timing right with a clear call (signal )to start the sequence. (Hooker Def needs work as well) I think this comes down to coaching as well.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
You are right Thugby. Lance was not even close being this poor last season. He has completely lost his touch and kicking confidence. It is painful to watch and no doubt no-one hurts more than Lance himself.
RobC
Roar Guru
Highlander. I wouldn't put the Reds coaching in the same stage as the Tahs
RobC
Roar Guru
Cant see the game as closely when calling Pete But I'll be watching it again Meantime gonna watch Infinity War!
killaku
Guest
Yeah the forward passes and bad calls from Rasta kept the Reds in the game,The Kalolo try should have stood
RobC
Roar Guru
Hey Pete!! You seem excited! I can't speak for everyone Read my preview. I expected the Landers to win today. Despite not having done so since 2005. The Landers script it kick chase. The Reds script is not clear yet
RobC
Roar Guru
With Huggers KD Rodda plus one of the 6s. The LO problem lies directly with hooker hello The overthrows is evidence of this
RobC
Roar Guru
Hello. It's coaching
RobC
Roar Guru
RM In the past the problem with the Reds is not just the ten. It's the selection of other players and the attack structure
Ex force fan
Guest
Depressing lost especially breaking the home streak of the Reds vs Highlanders. This was not a full strengh Highlanders side as they are a different side with the two Smiths playing 80 min. I said in the beginning of the year Thorn is doing the right things when he dropped Cooper but that his team will only start to look good by the end of the year and will be inconsistent. Reds will be more competitive in 2019-20 unless their administrators' lose their nerves again and fire the coach.
RobC
Roar Guru
Wrong riddler. It's not QC. He's out I prefer Lance. He kicked 6 from 6 last week Then Duncan to take over asap. There's a reason Hamish is 15. Let him play from there until he's ready. Better players than him play at fullback until they he can command the team Hamish has also a problem at 10. Same as Jono (at his age now), He's slow. All modern tens have to be fast. 7s fast. So we'll see about him
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
NV of Sweden, last year when Jono Lance was with the Force he was on fire with his field kicking. Almost up to L.Sapoaga level. This year Lance has been the pits. The ball he is getting from B.Lucas is pretty slow so he is under more pressure but he has lost all form and possibly confidence. :(
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
What did the Highlanders coach say at half time, or more what did the Reds smoke? The Landers scrum was going backwards, Reds pigs were over them like a rash. At 50 mins, on comes the H'Landers cavalry to present a greater attack threat and lo-n-behold the Reds attack goes all one dimensional. Were they that tired from keeping out the better organised Highlanders? The Reds failed to score a point in the 2nd half. The Reds really need more creativity in their back line attack. At times its braindead - chuck the pill to Samu, if that doesn't work then kick it and hope the other mob drop the ball. Good gawd, this is Super Rugby not 2nd grade suburbian. The halves need to move that ball further out and quickly to stretch the defence and all of them need a better effort to slow the opposition in rucks until the big boys turn up. An entertaining match thanks to the close scores. Congratulations to the Highlanders who turned it around in the 2nd half (I reckon they should have won by more as for mine they were robbed of a try) and commiserations to the Reds, who tried hard but a drop off in intensity killed them.
RM
Guest
Strangely enough, I agree with both of you. I don't think Stewart is ready to play 10 at this level, but I would still have him there over Lance. At least with Stewart, there is room for improvement. At this stage of his career, there's no improvement left in Lance. This is his level. You know he will let you down week after week with the boot, especially his general play kicking. If Thorn refuses to play Quade, I would much rather see Stewart in his favoured position. Mightn't be a much better option than Lance right now, but it would surely help him next season if he gets more experience learning how to run the team at 10 this year.