Bernard Foley pulled the strings and Israel Folau scored twice for the NSW Waratahs in a record 52-41 defeat of Queensland featuring 15 tries.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Reds 41
Waratahs 52
The Reds hosts the Waratahs Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
After a solid performance last week at Suncorp Stadium, Brad Thorn, the Tongan Thor and company are back!
A couple of months ago, Daryl Gibson’s boys dished a four-try shellacking to the Queenslanders, whose defence was exposed.
That game was also the emergence of the Waratahs’ deadly and diverse mix of speed and power in their backs and backrow.
That game spurred the rise of Taqele Naiyaravoro and Curtis Rona as prominent weapons, along with the point scoring ability of “no-name backrows” in Will Miller and “the other Michael” Wells.
This is supplemented by a top-shelf scrum and lineout, the importance of which cannot be understated.
This is the second time this year the two coaches, both former Crusaders, will face each other. Last week they both narrowly lost to a Kiwi team. This week both will be hungry and desperate to win.
The Reds have not won against the Waratahs for a good part of the past decade. Brad Thorn also wants his flyhalf in the making, Hamish Stewart, to continue the winning streak. The last time Hamish started at flyhalf, they beat South Africa conference leader – the Lions.
The “Tahs” want to bounce back from a bitter loss last week and consolidate their run to the finals. They will aim to play well enough to beat the Crusaders or the Chiefs or the Hurricanes during eliminations. They will see this game as part of this journey.
Prediction
It will be a re-run of their last match. While the Reds dominate in size, the Waratahs have been the better attackers – and latest rules of Rugby will reward the faster/better attackers.
Both sides have improved since their last matchup. This should be a closer match, with a New South Wales win, as the bookies have predicted.
Stu B
Guest
Totally agree RobC, Kearns contributes absolutely nothing to the game of rugby, the silly old bugger thinks he is still playing for the Tahs and drones on boorishly, comes across as a half pissed Waratah fan high up in the stand. Just a shocker as a commentator.
RobC
Roar Guru
Just watched the match, again, with replays slomo etc. Great game for fans. Terrible for defence coaches. Anyway, so many great highlights. There's only one thing I want to say. But I can help it. GET RID OF KEARNS!!!! Hes just awful, He makes watching Rugby a terrible experience. Anyone agree?
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Ha ha, too subtle for some.
Drongo
Guest
The crowd was small by Reds standards, about 13-14,000. But the atmosphere was almost like the old days. And the defence was quite brutal, despite the score line.
RobC
Roar Guru
A lot if Jono is kicking! Otherwise. Nil
Pistol Pete
Guest
laurence, are you the poor man's jerry seinfeld?
ThugbyFan
Guest
A quadrillion, wow! And how many tries, conversions and penalties please? :)
Mungbean
Guest
Why Riddler? What’s wrong with voicing with what the majority of QLD fans want! Cooper! I used to respect Thorn as a player! He definitely hasn’t earned that as a coach yet!
Mungbean
Guest
I agree totally enoughisenough! Watching Stewart’s terrible kicking and very green performance, makes me sick as a Reds fan. Even the Reds fans gave a Bronx cheer when Stewart had been relieved of goal kicking duties and Lucas slotted the kick. Brad Thorn showing immaturity as a young coach!
Daniel Lambert
Guest
All good and well to vent at Cooper fans - but that doesn't disprove his point. Having said that, Thorn is right to persist with Hamish Stewart. He needs game time and more game time.Iif Thorn persists with Stewart and he has a good preseason, he will come good for next year. I think Cooper would have been a better 5/8th for him to learn from than Jono Lance.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I’m with you Riddler, that was a quality game. Too often this fixture has been a dire affair. Best Tahs v Reds game in a long, long time. Top shelf stuff. Hope the Beers and Birds were good to you ??!
riddler
Roar Rookie
seriously?? why do you bother.. go and watch cooper down at the nest when he turns up mate.. that is what you obviously want..
riddler
Roar Rookie
no probs rob.. you and definitely don't agree on a few issues with qld rugby.. no biggie at all.. we can't all be the same.. but i don't want the narrative to be about poor defence.. there was some exceptional skills out there tonight.. i can't remember an ozzie derby of that quality in donkeys.. so lets be positive for a change.. we have had long enough being negative because our play has been sh1te.. let's enjoy the game which was top draw.. and to repeat the defence was not weak.. and not nrc level.. by a long way
Steve F
Guest
A game that keeps my interest in Oz rugby. Congrats to both teams. What was the Lang Park crowd.? A game like that would have attracted -50k 10 years ago. As a rusted on reds ( maroons) supporter one promising game does not remove the sins and pain of past seasons. Rugby in Oz needs a level playing field and until it does Oz rugby will continue to be a joke The WesternRebels and the Tahs currently have had too many deals done in their favour and the QRU have a nasty habit of backing the wrong horse in every race:. Simmons, Genia, Thorn.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
Do you watch rugby with your clothes off, so that's fun is it?
RobC
Roar Guru
next time it will be 1,000,000,000,000,000!
RobC
Roar Guru
Im not asking you to agree riddler :)
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks MrChook! Congrats mate. Til next year then...
enoughisenough
Guest
What effort, the effort that let in 50 points? Where is Thorn's much vaunted defence? Does anyone except Thorn really believe Stewart is a better 10 than Cooper? I was at the game and I can tell you, "efforts like that" are not going to bring in more fans. the numbers this week were boosted significantly by a Courier Mail promotion with free tickets.
Cynical Play
Guest
He’s the greatest Oz goal kicker for years.