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At half-time between the Reds and the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium, Stan Sport analyst Tim Horan made a plaintive plea on behalf of many on Planet Rugby.
“I’m looking forward to watching both teams run the ball more in the second half,” Horan said in his understated way.
He meant that for 40 minutes (indeed it was 47) of long kicking, condensed defence and fractured scrums, the game had not entertained as one rather hoped one featuring fourth- and fifth-placed teams would.
It didn’t get a lot better – not for Queensland, anyway – who continued to kick the ball to the Chiefs who ran it at them. And on top of that, eventually, thankfully, the Chiefs hung on to claim a hard-fought victory 27-25.
It was a match starved of cohesion – both defences were dyke strong. Neither team really threatened to break out. Pressure was high and handling suffered, even on a dry night in Brisbane.
Tactical kicking was ascendant. For 75 minutes it was like a big game of ‘forcings back’.
“We knew they like to kick for territory and play the ball in the right areas,” Chiefs fly-half Bryn Gatland said post-match.
“And so do we.”
At half-time it was one try each and 13-all. Queensland’s was scored by No.8 Harry Wilson in the 30th minute; while the Chiefs scored theirs nearly seven minutes into extra time, the television count-up into the red.
It was in these minutes that Taniela Tupou went off the field with a leg injury.
“In terms of a genuine Trans-Tasman battle, the razzle dazzle wasn’t there,” Justin Marshall offered at half time.
Straight after the break, Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crashed over after sustained pressure. Wilson was immediately ordered off for 10 minutes despite not being penalised.
Tate McDermott picked up a loose ball and went 50 metres, feeding Josh Flook who stepped the cover and scored. Down a man, it was an important play.
Josh Flook of the Reds attempts to break away from the defence of Alex Nankivell of the Chiefs. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Wilson came back on, only for the Chiefs to make a big bust down the left for the game’s best passage: all no-look passes at speed.
The movement broke down when Reds fullback Jock Campbell deliberately knocked forward. Off he went, and the Reds were down to 14 again.
The Chiefs bombed in near the line before No.8 Pita Gus Sowakula, a representative basketball player in his native Fiji, scored near the posts.
Gatland’s conversion gave his team a 9-point lead with 15 minutes to play. Not impossible for Queensland – though 15 players on the field would help.
As would input from Wallabies Hunter Paisami and Filipo Daugunu who were borderline anonymous. Fraser “The Heir” McWreight had his moments.
“But the Reds are still kicking too much ball away, for mine,” Horan said
And yet the Reds continued to kick. And the Chiefs continued to run it back. And then kick.
Seru Eru came on for Queensland. Jack Campbell came back on. Chiefs replacement lock Samipeni Finau was sent off for a high shot.
And the Reds began to play.
A 14-phase play begat a penalty. A six-phase play meant a try to Paisami. Lawson Creighton’s conversion made it a three-point game with three minutes to go.
And you wondered: Running the ball, eh? It just might catch on.
Yet for too long the Reds mandate, with rookie No.10 Creighton in place of the injured James O’Connor, had been kick it to the Chiefs and back their defence.
Both sides were “quite nervous to play anywhere in their own territory,” Horan surmised.
“They were nervous about turning the ball over. The Reds are kicking too much ball away.
“Gatland needs to spread the ball more,” Horan said, adding that he was looking forward to watching both teams run the ball a bit more in the second half. It didn’t quite go that way.