I was getting off the escalator heading into the Myer Centre in Brisbane on Friday night, when I saw Nick Phipps and Rob Simmons walking in the other direction.
Thinking ahead to the Wallabies match against Ireland next Saturday I said to them “Gidday boys, have a good game” to which they replied “thanks mate”. Only after they had walked by did it occur to me that I had wished a couple of dirty Waratahs well, the day before they were to play the Reds on the hallowed turf of Suncorp Stadium.
The shame!
As it turns out, they did play well on Saturday night, winning one of the most exciting games of rugby I have seen – 52 to 41. I was watching the game from my seat just up the field from the try line in the north-west corner of the stadium, and there was plenty of action right before my eyes.
The Reds got possession early to the excitement of the crowd, but coughed it up and the crowd groaned, with a ‘here we go again’ feeling floating around. The Tahs were down in front of us, threatening the Reds try line as quick as a flash, and Bernard Foley spun it wide.
Completely unexpectedly Reds Skipper Scott Higgenbotham tore out of the defensive line, intercepted the pass and bullocked down the park, finding Izaiah Perese running in support, who streaked away to score under the posts. The Queensland fans were on their feet and roaring and a we knew we a ball game!
Other action unfolded before our very eyes in the northwest was Taquale Naiyaravoro menacing the Reds line. On one occasion the 20 year old, 86kg fullback Jayden Ngamanu – who had been run in at the last moment to replace an injured Jono Lance for his second Super Rugby cap and first start – bravely hurled himself at the 123kg monster winger’s legs. He bounced off but slowing Naiyaravoro enough for the remainder of the Reds backs to swarm in on him and drag him down.
The Reds were overmatched when Naiyaravoro got a head of steam up though, with him bowling aside one, two, three defenders at one stage to score a try. It was hard to watch but impressive at the same time.
Taqele Naiyaravoro of the Waratahs. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Equally impressive was the character shown by Perese, when Naiyaravoro’s threatened to do the same he put a hit on the big man that resonated into the stands, putting him to ground. Unfortunately it led to Naiyaravoro being taken off for a head injury assessment, but it highlights the aggressiveness that I love about Perese, which is why I was happy to read that despite not being selected for the Ireland series, Michael Cheika still has him in the Wallabies frame.
Curtis Rona also scored a try in the northwest, as did Jordan Petaia curtesy of an enterprising pass from Caleb Timu. It goes without saying though that it was Israel Folau’s leap and try just after the half time hooter was the biggest ‘wow’ moment in the corner, all you could do is applaud, with Jayden Ngamanu again having the unenviable task of trying to out-jump the best in the game.
Being the last line of defence against Folau and Naiyaravoro was the roughest of introductions, but he kept his chin up and kept coming at them, which bodes well for his future with the Reds.
Israel Folau (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
There was plenty of action off the field in the North-West too, particularly from a ‘passionate’ Queensland fan who bellowed 45 second admonishments at the officials, every time they made a decision that he didn’t like.
The rest of us seemed to fluctuate between being amused and embarrassed at these antics from a middle-aged man, but the funniest bit came when Foley went for a conversion attempt from the sideline for Curtis Rona’s try.
Our resident windbag started yelling at him “You wouldn’t kick it for the Wallabies, but you will kick it for the Blues (sic) won’t you, come on Bernard you coward!”. I thought that was taking things a bit far, but Foley’s response of promptly slotting the goal was the best comeback.
I was wrong though because as Foley trotted off towards the southern end of the park, he made an even better comeback by looking over his shoulder up at the stand with the biggest smirk imaginable. Then when he slotted the conversion for Naiyaravo’s try from exactly the same spot and threw back another smirked to rub salt into the wound. The windbag was a lot quieter after that.
So even if you are a dirty Tah Bernard, I’ll pay that and hope you keep up the good work with the boot for the Wallabies the rest of the year.
JohnB
Guest
I'm obviously not looking in the right places - all I could find was that it was I think 1978 Canterbury beat Qld 25-0 to end the run of 20 wins for Qld.
JohnB
Guest
I'm suffering internet restrictions at the moment in Port Moresby. Back in Brisbane tonight - I'll have a look at the net (and a couple of books) and see if anything crops up. Can't remember the 14 Qld-ers - but there would have been few times in the 70s they got close to that!
Peter
Guest
JohnB, sorry about the delay. I remember that Canterbury won that game 21-0. Ouch! I have not been able to find anything on the members of either team. Do you recall the year, sound time in the 70s that Queensland provided 14 of the Wallabies run-on team? Long hind who!
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
No, Cam Clark's contact didn't give him an head injury. It was effectively a push. The contact was predictable and inevitable. Negligence carries the same weighting as intent. There was an Irish player that got a Red card for following through and making contact with the kicker after an attempted charge down. You can't make contact with a player without the ball, you can't fend above the shoulders. This was a knee to the back of the head.
JohnB
Guest
I remember that Canterbury game. Qld barely in the hunt. Who was the Canterbury no 8 who utterly dominated? Dale Atkins or something like that? You could have described him as being not totally unlike a gorilla back then, based on his build and hairiness. Since he was I think a pakeha, maybe you still could. The other of those little ads I recall was from before the Wests v Brothers grand final in 1977. I think Stan Pilecki v David Dunworth was being talked up pre game and Brothers got into the act by putting in an ad saying "The Pole's a poodle" referring to Stan and how he would fare against notorious hard man Dunworth (noting that Wests are the Bulldogs, for those not intimate with Brisbane club rugby). Happily turned out not to be the case.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Good for you Julian.
Julian Taylor
Guest
You assume too much, Foley didn't put me in my place. I was happy that he is showing some form with the boot. Lets see if he has the steel to produce it for the wallabies. I hope so.
Peter
Guest
Thanks for the 40-year old memories, JohnB. Like: Paul McLean vs every scribe in Sydney. For a game against Wellington, whose coach's name was, I think, Bogdanovich: The big Pole vs Bogdanovich. Who'll bet on the Russki? (Stan Pilecki played a blinder, as it happened.) And, sadly, the Reds' 20 wins on the trot came to a shuddering halt against Canterbury... :-(
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Fair nuff Cam, I have only been there once and enjoyed watching Foley put him in his place, but I could see how it would get old.
Cam Stokes
Roar Pro
Rhys, I sit in the same section and am completely embarrassed by the resident windbag... Half the time his admonishments are wrong, and the rest of the time they aren't funny. Maybe throw one or two per game, not every 5 minutes for the whole contest... He needs to get over himself...
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks all, it was a great night out and may both teams turn up many more like it for their fans.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Nah, Folau didn’t kick Toau I’m the face and wasn’t even really reckless. Just one of those things.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yes well had I thought of it I would have still said “Good luck against the Irish, Boys, but Go the Reds!”
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yes, most people seemed entertained by the loud man, I guess if he keeps doing it he must be approaching institution status by now.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks for the background John, I haven’t been following the rivalry long enough to know that.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Yeah, imagine if it was Izzy in the mall!
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Here is a thought Bubble: Was Folau's leap onto the head of the Reds player, forcing them off the field for an HIA equivalent to the the Highlanders sendoff the week before?
Gepetto
Guest
How many of the Reds' lineouts did Simmons steal? The commentators seem to have rule that they must not say his name, except to be critical. Late in the game Hegarty straightened the attack, drew an opponent and threw a nice pass to Folau who in turn passed it to the winger without first taking contact. The winger scored an easy try. I got he feeling that Folau got the idea to pass early from watching the silky movement of Hegarty . I looks like the Tahs have a quality alternative #10 if Bernard needs a rest.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Great read.
woodart
Guest
you should always wish the players well, no matter whether they are your favourites or not. they put their best efforts up, whether you or I agree ,or not. they are going out , in the middle, where the vast majority of us, will never see.