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.
Ruckin oaf
Guest
I must have missed all that time he's had on field the past few seasons ????
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I agree… the best players available were put on the field. If they have a cry about it they should take that gripe up with NZR.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Well I wouldn't wear it there either mate, team on field is who they have, and for Crusaders the one or two they didn't have on field weren't the reason the players that were there were so hesitant at breakdown, etc etc.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I did the old Fast fwd to look at some of the scrums. The Assistant refs got a lot more than that one wrong.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
My beef is the yellow to Campbell. Was it a yellow infringement? Yes… but the forward pass 50 m up field should have been called. When Merhtans even says “that was flat at best” you know it was 100% forward.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Hi Tim… his assistants missed a lot of fwd passes and got the scrums wrong about 50% of the time. We don’t bake the assistant reds for a poor game as the bloke with the whistle is in charge. Paul was great in his player management and I wish he got better calls from his assistants is what I’m trying to say I guess.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Talking about the ref… after the number of forward passes he missed I though he was auditioning for the NFL
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Hi Danny… haven’t seen the comments yet but im sure saders fans will be using the excuse “we did not put our best team out”
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Dead right Jacko. The tactic was right but the execution was off
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Isaac Henry. He's injured.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Sure Tim , why not just run the ball all match long .. do that to NZ teams and watch the scoreboard running all match long too . Reds had the right idea but poor execution.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah Chiefs dropped an "un-kiwi" like amount of ball. And your definition of "worked" might need some work
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Ten - who's 2 then ?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
They've both gone up levels in physicality too. Vaa'i is hitting hard and at 22 looks like a test 5 or 6.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Ok, so when a team loses every game in a season, improvement is relative. Thorn talks a big game about completing against Kiwi teams but has so far failed to deliver in 4 seasons. Reds can beat Aussie teams that have no attacking threat, but are toothless against kiwi teams that show more intent and diversity of gameplan.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
So if you don't have the players to execute a certain game plan, firm a game plan to your strengths. It's called coaching. Reds do not have any decent kicking options, no one player has a long range kick, not one red is an "accurate kicker" ie, finding space or depth to challenge for possession, Only paisami can execute attacking short kicks, ie grubbers or chips. So why build a gameplan around kicking. It's dumb rugby. Seems what we do have is a nippy halfback that can draw in defenders and some powerful forwards who can hit the gaps in tight or a little wider. The Reds backs are dead weight right now so forget them, let them concentrate on chasing kicks and providing support when half breaks are made. Creighton is asuseless a 10 as can be, cant pass, cant kick, slow acceleration, not a big tacklebuster. Explain to me please why he has been slected as the playmaker? Seriously, explain what it is he brings to the team? Or FLook? Or Daugunu? Or Cambell? What are there "strengths"???? the mind boggles
WEST
Roar Guru
Chiefs are missing a lot of their stars. Of course they put out their best team available. They got the job done :silly: and they’re currently in 4th position. Can’t complain to much
Goady
Roar Rookie
I’m with you both, this side put 50 on the Tars last week. It was a good game plan, we just lack the experience/ depth to cover for injuries.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Good post, Dicky. The Reds didn't kick enough, nor kick deep enough last week against the Hurricanes, a fact acknowledged afterwards by the captain and coach. So, it was always going to be the case this week that they try to correct that. But I agree, it was more the execution, and some decision making about when to kick a couple of times, rather than the general tactic itself, that was an issue.
Jonesy
Roar Rookie
Hooker and ten are the immediate ones that come to mind malotru.