The simple telling of the Super Rugby Pacific ‘Super Round’ fixture between the Hurricanes and the Reds would read something like this: one team (the Reds) scored 17 points, and then the other team (the Canes) scored 30.
A more nuanced telling might have it that Ardie Savea copped a high shot and his team began to run with aggression and play alacrity, while the Queenslanders choked in the headlights and stopped playing rugby with any fluency.
One team stepped up, the other team froze.
The Reds copped an inconvenient sin bin. Reds players inconveniently dropped the ball. Some did very little. And Australian rugby fans thought, again: why can’t we get it done against the people?
“Towards the back end of that first half, it’s kind of been a theme of ours,” Reds captain Tate McDermott said on Stan Sport after the defeat.
“Discipline’s been an issue, basically. That, and an inability to hold the ball for long periods of time. And just basic skill errors.
“I’m really proud of that first half. But we came out in the second a different side and that’s really disappointing.”
McDermott felt that playing a Kiwi side was different from playing an Australian one.
“We probably got away with a lot against the Aussie sides,” he said.
“I’d hate to see our error rate. But you give the Kiwis that many opportunities, that much possession, you’re asking for trouble.”
Hurricanes captain Jordie Barrett said that coming back from a 17-0 deficit to score 30 points was ‘pretty cool’.
“Being 17-nil down we had a few calls went our way. Proud of the lads to finish like that. Pretty cool,” he told Stan Sport.
“At half time, mentally we were kind of switched away; complaining to refs. The message was to control what we could. We’ll enjoy this one tonight.”
Giving the people what they want, Queensland and Brad Thorn chose to start their talisman, tighthead prop Taniela Tupou.
He did several good things, including hammering Barrett, who re-thought his angles around the Tongan Thor.
McDermott outpaced a man he’s been compared to, TJ Perenara, and fed the heir apparent to Michael Hooper, Fraser McWreight. Many phases later Thor proved irrepressible – except to the law.
Double-movement. Top D by Canes.
But still the Reds came. And after forcing a line drop out and winning quick ball at ruck, Hunter Paisami busted the line, fed Tupou who fed Hamish Stewart for the try. And after 25 minutes the Reds had a deserved 10-nil lead.
Then Tupou did a dab.
Hurricanes loosehead Pouri Rakete-Stones was sin-binned for a tackle in which his shoulder connected with Paisami’s lower jaw.
“It is what it is,” Stan Sport analyst Justin Marshall said diplomatically.
Following the earlier binning of Hurricanes No.13 Bailyn Sullivan for a lifting tackle that didn’t actually hurt his opponent, Marshall was perhaps thinking: rugby is over.
Soon enough, so was McWreight, after McDermott backed his forward pack over a simple three points and a winning lineout soon begat the five and then seven points. It was fair enough: the Reds had been better, owning all pertinent statistics.
Then the Reds went left. Julian Savea got in the way of a backline move with a knock-down that went backwards and made an ass of the knock-down rule. Sullivan went 70 metres to score.
Ardie Savea copped a lazy high tackle by Connor Vest who was binned for 10 minutes. If you wanted a turning point, there it was.
“There’s just no room for error now – you go,” Stan Sport host Nick McCardle said, adding that managing game play with 14 and 13 players on the field is now a thing.
The Canes spurned the three and scored from a rolling maul, and after a few irrepressible ruck plays tighthead Tyrel Lomax bashed over. Barrett drilled the conversion, and at half time it was 17-14.
“We’d played some good rugby but occasionally lacked discipline,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.
“Some work to do there… we’ve had our half time to talk as forwards and backs. It’s about doing your job well.
“There’s no stress in here.”
There would be soon. Lomax bashed over for a double barely 50 seconds into the second stanza. Barrett blocked the conversion, yet shortly after kicked a simple penalty from in front. And the Canes had scored 22 unanswered points as Vest sat on the sideline, moustache twitching.
The Hurricanes backline play began to look fluent while the Reds looked rushed, stilted. Former Melbourne Storm star Suliasi Vunivalu sat on his wing, a shag on a rock.
McDermott and McWreight along with Wilson and Paisami the Reds’ most likely, broke free from a dominant scrum but the play broke down 60 metres upfield.
Thorn and the Reds’ brains trust decided to take McDermott off. Given Perenara was still on, you could only conclude that McDermott’s ouster was premeditated. You would think, down by five and then eight following a Barrett penalty goal with 20 minutes to go, you’d want your best nine on the park.
Then they took Tupou off as well.
Filipo Daugunu dropped the ball. Then he dropped it again. Both times while running and prior to contact.
Perenara came off and bowed to the crowd like they were from Japan.
Sullivan bagged a double from a tidy grubber by Jackson Garden-Bachop (whose dad is Stephen Bachop, uncle is Graham Bachop and cousin is Aaron Mauger. Safe to say he knows rugby).
Daugunu was taken off. Vunivalu, too. McDermott came back on.
And the gulf between our rugby nations remained as wide as the Tasman Sea.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Blame the comp setup yes and the people who asked for that format. SA had and still has the CC so never needed or wanted the conference system.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah they made playoffs because the SR system ensured they made playoffs. One season a SA side was top points finisher without going to NZ. Pathetic comp setup.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Jacko, SA teams didn't win trophies but were consistently making the playoffs most years. That said, this time I am watching as a neutral as I have no interest so that's why I say I would personally like a tight competition as a neutral. The Brumbies' victory is a case and there may be more victories for the Aussies this weekend. That can only be good for the overall competition.
dsat24
Paul your stat is astonishing. Compare Vunivalu to Reece... begs the question who is coaching Vunivalu?? Its evident like a shnozz that Reece is given a brief that suits the team and him and he revels in it. Asa Reds supporter I say bench him.
lenz
Guest
Aussie sides were getting thumped prior to recent years changes to comp. So you think we've improved since then?
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I rate that kid Flook.
jameswm
Roar Guru
The latter… Doesn’t auto correct for me.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Wasn’t too much fun watching my Tahs on Friday night either! For Hunter. Thought it was just a much higher error rate than he’s shown this season. Maybe it was some pressure shifted from inside. JOC was definitely missed.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I haven't seen the Redfs play that badly in ages. Shows how much the need JOC on the field. They should improve. The Tahs? Down to 13 at one stage in the first half would have sapped their energy. Their own faultut should improve as long as they keep their discipline. Brumbies did well but should have been better. Sadly, the Rebels played as was expected. I'll reserve judgement until after next week.
Carn Reds
Roar Rookie
I thought Creighton did ok given his first run at 10. It appeared to me that he was standing very deep which may well have been the plan to give him more time. The issue in doing so was that when the ball goes wider the defense have such a clear read on it and were able to shut things down often before the advantage line. I feel Hunter is better on a flat line and running angles. Twas not a happy night at my place watching that 2nd half.
mick
Guest
He was subbed off. Again, a poor decision by the coach!
mick
Guest
I don't mind that backline but I think Flook is injured.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Don't forget the hopeless coaches with no clue about tactics picking their favourites .
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Lynagh also had guys like Herbert / Horan / Little outside him. (and some outstanding others)
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
That's what I'm saying Jacko, the laws need to be changed so a cynical knockdown is such whatever the way the ball comes off the offending hand.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Really?! Far less kiwis down there!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Ummm...League & AFL were pretty much dominant already, and certainly weren't desperate to "swoop in" (as you claim) to "pick over" rugby union's "carcass" as that hasn't been necessary since 1908. There's been waning public interest in the extremely dire "super rugby" comp, which has long been needed to be revamped into a proper sporting comp (like AFL, NRL etc), where every team is on a level playing field: drafts, open recruiting, salary caps etc, which would see an interesting footy comp emerge.
Handles
Roar Guru
Yes, I agree. My comment was referring to Matt Cleary spelling Fraser's name incorrectly on multiple occasions.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Its been trending this way for Decades with Rugby Australian obsession with narrowing the player pool to players from a few Private schools with the odd League player or two. Will only get worse under the current management.
James584
Roar Rookie
Lynagh was incredible Jacko. But that was a different era. One of Lynagh’s signature plays was a powerful tackle where he upended his opponent with pure strength, probably a red card today. Quade is unique. Grossly under appreciated, in the past, and subjected to disgraceful abuse by NZ rugby fans. But his true character has taken him to where he is today. We have something in common, born in NZ, but have embraced Australia and all it has given us.