Queensland fought back to briefly lead the Lions, despite being down two men, before losing their Super Rugby clash 27-20 in Johannesburg.
Down two men and forced to make double the tackles, Queensland glimpsed sight of an incredible Super Rugby victory against the Lions before losing 27-20 in Johannesburg.
Yellow cards to forwards Taniela Tupou and debutant Josh Nasser either side of halftime briefly left the Reds with just 13 men as the Lions peppered their line looking to extend a 17-13 lead on Sunday morning.
But somehow the Reds held them out, breaking down the host’s rolling maul and winning one scrum against the feed without either of their two props on the field.
Probing No.9 Tate McDermott, one of the Reds’ best, then popped out of the crowd to score under the posts and give them an unlikely lead with 15 minutes to play.
That came after impressive No.8 Harry Wilson was denied a try after inconclusive replays ensured the unlucky no-try call stood, despite a string of ruck infringements in the lead-up.
The Reds’ staunch defence finally caved though, Courtnall Skosan skipping through a gap as the Lions regained the lead and captain Elton Jantjies made it a seven-point game with a late penalty kick.
Queensland still had their chances to steal a win at altitude, a cruel bounce from a Bryce Hegarty grubber kick spoiling a likely Henry Speight try before the winger fumbled twice in the closing stages.
The Reds enjoyed just 37 per cent of the ball and made 123 tackles to the Lions’ 64, but are now 0-2 after coughing up a ten-point halftime lead against the Brumbies in Round 1.
They face a dangerous Jaguares outfit in Argentina next weekend before returning for their first home game against Japan’s Sunwolves.
“Very disappointing and similar to last week; these games are in the balance and we’re not getting the result,” Red coach Brad Thorn said.
“There are moments in games where you can win or lose it, we need to get our heads around that.”
Lions winger Tyrone Green was earlier denied a hat-trick when Speight’s desperate tackle dragged one of his feet over the sideline.
Jock Campbell scored the Reds’ first try, finishing a long-range effort he started by trapping a grubbered kick with his feet as the visitors shocked the small Ellis Park crowd.
Their defence was superb with the Reds’ scrum again forcing penalties and only a bizarre uncontested maul from a lineout handing man of the match Marnus Schoeman a try on the stroke of halftime.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Just check the result from the last 2 years if you want to know where Thorn is taking them.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Roar Rookie
I watched the game and do not agree with Oconnor at Flyhalf. He is a in centre. Should have stuck with the first game selection to give Lucas a good go. Gee another of my pet hates is the box kicking of the scrum half. I'm a devotee of box kicking in the right circumstance but I witnessed McDermitt box kicking in his own 22 and the ball went 10 metres in the air and 3 metres forward. the lions subsequently scored soon after this when handed possession. I see this creeping into the game even at a high level. and for the life of me I cannot see the wisdom in handing the opposition the ball inside your own 22. By all means Boxkick but do it in the right circumstances, if you are going to kick in your own 22 kick bloody long for territory.
Jacko
Guest
Yes Im searching the pages for an article on the Rebels losing very badly and being 0 from 2 with a highly rated roster.....Still searching...
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
JOC has been tried at 10 in every club and team he has played for with mediocre results. We don't need to see this again.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I don’t think the Reds backline is pedestrian. JOC and JOC were starting Wallabies last year, Speight should have been one, Hegarty is a decent super rugby level player and McDermott has a big future. Think the predictable attack is more due to the coaching.
Well OK, maybe secret is the wrong term, lets call it meetings behind closed doors. However I think you are over reacting, perhaps we should pay little attention to rumors, at this point nothing is changing. I do have to emphasize that I would still prefer SA to leave Super Rugby and focus on Currie Cup development.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Who said JOC shouldn’t play 10 because his team lost?
Jacko
Guest
I thought they said it was JOCs 2nd time at 10 for the Reds....Should every 10 be given 2 shots and be gone? harrison should go from the Tahs based on that...2 starts 2 losses...
Jacko
Guest
Corne where is the secret? It reported 5 times a year so they are deliberately leaking it or they have a traitor in their midst...I dont care if they leave but dont expect to feel welcome when they have their once a decade tour and dont expect to have an RC team but no Sr teams.... Go play in the NH...That will stop SA winning a WC very quickly....1 in 9 from NH rugby says it all....
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Test rugby has neutral refs don't it? Yet I'm sure I've watched an international game or two where a loss is blamed on the ref. So I don't think that neutrality is always the answer. Being good enough to win is the answer and that's the Red's main problem right now.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Jacko - $$ talks I would be stunned if SA wouldn't move if guaranteed heaps of money. 6N has actively stated they are looking to improve broadcast earnings. Currently 6N is FTA dominated domestically. Yet the comp is, amazingly, covered live in over 30 countries, so there's demand to be exploited. CVC were hovering last year. Throw in SA to make a 7N and there is a huge deal to be made with a private equity/satellite TV group . Potentially big enough to see SA buy its way out of existing contracts (pre-agreed secret deals with likes of SAANZAR). Rugby is in the entertainment sector. Putting all emotion to the side, 6N is a better investment than SAANZAR.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Sorry, can't agree, when a ref is inconsistent in his rulings- he doesn't get credit for a good game. Reds got a YC after one penalty for attacking lineout jumper in the air. Lions get 3 scrum penalties against them in a row in their red zone- nothing from Jaco. For a ref of his experience it is very poor form, you might expect that sort of stuff from young greener refs.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Both? Sometimes we aren't aware of important things like 'niggling injuries' that may impact performance/selection but other times it is hard not to feel that some distance helps. JOC at 10 reminds me a bit of Tim Horan at 10 - lots of people tried him there, because at one level it made sense - direct running threat, good hands, a bit of a kicking game, natural sportsman. But he had no real instincts for the position and he lacked some important tools. If Robbie Deans and others remain fascinated by JOC at 10, there must be something in it, but to me he has no instincts for that position and he doesn't really look to have the skills of a 10 - but at 12, different story.
former fan
Guest
The Reds were good up front but let down by the backs and a centre playing 10 with a pop gun boot. The Reds have lacked a player with a big boot for several years now and cannot play the modern game of clearing downfield unless they get themselves a real kicker. The performance by Peyper was typically poor - not the reason the Reds lost but poor none the less. Three scrum penalties in a row to the Reds on the 5 mtr line on attack but no cards for the Lions props, and the call for a deliberate offside to be a scrum feed to the Reds was another dubious call. This is what really annoys the fans - the lack of consistency across the ref talent in Super Rugby - some of the Aussie ones are pretty crook too - Nic Berry seems to be a bit out of his depth in most of the matches he officiates.
Reedy
Guest
That was Thorn nonsense so he would get the job. To be honest the discipline is worse under him than ever before. Anyway O`Connor at flyhalf didn't help,he had a shocker. 11 passes, 6 runs for 5 meteres, 0 clean breaks, 0 try assists, 1 defender beaten, 1 offload.
Reedy
Guest
True, Ferret but if the Reds were good enough they would have won. The backline apart from Stewarts defence was woeful.The forwards must be pi$$ed off.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Agree they're still a weakness, but hegartys kicking from the back improved which was my pt. The other problem is that they made a number of decent exits and then lost the lineout and put themselves straight back under pressure. Re the props, thorn seemed to have picked guys who could maintain scrum dominance, but not speed around the ground.
Harry
Guest
Can't agree on exits and clearing kicks. They remain a massive weakness. We seem unable to exit our own half and are easily pinned down there. Can't hope to win games unless you are an extraordinary side - the Reds aint - on 30 percent play in the attacking half. Eventually the Oppo wear you down, even ordinary side like the Lions on Saturday. Yes big weakness in reserve props. The young fellas are good prospects but just aren't ready for Super Rugby atm is the reality, and playing them does serious harm.
pm
Roar Rookie
Yellows were both warrented though. Reds just didn't seem to figure out how to get their backs into the game until about the last 15 minutes, then Spate, miffed a few.
pm
Roar Rookie
You're right about the ref , but not the scrum. Tupou especially was more than they could handle. Reds were dominant there