There’s a lot of chatter about near-misses, if-onlys or 70 minutes of goodness when analysing the performances of Australia’s five Super Rugby Pacific teams this season.
Much less is said about actual poor play costing teams.
Entering an exciting Round 15, there is no room for the big mess-up or it really is going to cost a quarter-final spot if that’s not the case already.
The reason for this opening is simple.
Why did the Queensland Reds slip-up 35-30 at the death against the Highlanders last round?
No one has said it was because Hunter Paisami failed to dive on a loose ball 90 seconds from full-time or, at the very least, shoe it 40m downfield off the deck.
Trying to pick up the ball on the run was a cardinal sin from a Wallaby and might have even got a top schoolboy player a stern rebuke. Scrum gift to the Highlanders from the knock on and we know the rest.
The Reds go into a sudden-death game but those high-stakes games are everywhere.
Glory-or-bust 1
The Queensland Reds are playing for their season in Suva on Saturday against the Fijian Drua.
Winner goes through, loser bows out. It’s almost that clearcut unless a mess of bonus points flips things.
Certainly, Reds No.8 Harry Wilson got the sudden-death context when he said: “The quarter-finals have come a week early.”
The Reds have actually named a smart team with James O’Connor back at flyhalf and Paisami up for a redemption role at inside centre.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Both selections mean the Reds will be going direct at the Drua, playing at the line. O’Connor’s calmness to kick wisely too will be a big part of it.
Glory-or-bust 2
The Melbourne Rebels pressed all the way when going down 33-26 to the ACT Brumbies in early May in Melbourne.
That result has to give the Rebels a deal of confidence around upsetting the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night. It’s curtains on the season if they don’t.
The 11th-placed Rebels of 2023 create stuff and that will always make them dangerous.
Lock Matt Philip is finding his game legs again after his long lay-off and his head-to-head against Brumby Cadeyrn Neville is exactly the match-up we need to see. Two workhorses will be going at it, potentially for one Test job.
The Rebels have been found wanting over the closing 20 minutes of matches.
The bench is loaded in this one for a big finish with Alex Mafi, Pone Fa’amausili, Trevor Hosea, Vaiolini Ekuasi and Stacey Ili.
Rebels coach Kevin Foote has put some of his best on the bench for late impact.
He doesn’t want to be left lamenting that he outsmarted himself like former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen once did by leaving weapon Toutai Kefu on the bench against the All Blacks in Auckland. The Wallabies were too far behind for Kefu to count when he came on for the second half.
Glory-or-bust 3
The Chiefs have rested a host of stars for Saturday’s game in Perth. There’s no Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Emoni Narawa or Samisoni Taukei’aho travelling to the most western port in Super Rugby Pacific.
The Western Force are firming to make the top eight with this sudden advantage.
One of the neon signs in sport is a top side playing with nothing to gain. The Chiefs have No.1 spot into the quarter-finals locked up, whether they win by 50 or lose by 40.
That has to soften their mindset, a bit or a lot.
Whichever way you look at it, this is the perfect time to excel for former Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, fullback Chase Tiatia and excellent English centre Sam Spink.
Spin on the Highlanders
The bottom line is the eighth-placed Highlanders are average. It will be a disaster should only the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs make the top eight. There’s still a chance that the Reds-Force, Reds-Rebels or Force-Rebels fill positions No.7 and No.8 into the quarter-finals.
Anything less should be considered a fail from Australian rugby this season.
Faith in Vunivalu
Lote Tuqiri went from a Super Rugby debut to soaring for a high kick to score a try in a World Cup final in 2003. It took all of nine months.
We are three seasons into the Suliasi Vunivalu experiment and we are still inching towards him being a Test winger.
No one can say he has never been given every bit of encouragement. His new two-year deal is still a signing on potential.
The good thing is he is showing an ability to make try impacts off his wing which he never could last year.
He set one up against Moana Pasifika and he scored his own against the Highlanders last round.
Vunivalu feels the improvements: “This year, I’m understanding the game more to go looking for balls.
“I’ve had six weeks without niggles or cramps and I’ve played some 80-minute games. That builds confidence too.”
He has a novel plan to even up the crowd support in Suva when he visits with the Reds.
“We have quite a few Fijians in the Reds side. We are hitting up the rest of the boys for tickets for our families so we can match-up to the Drua fans,” Vunivalu said with a smile.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@Piru yes I said "it should not be considered a success" also and stand by it. If I was playing in a team that won 4 games against B team opposition at home I wouldn't consider that a success. But I never got that lucky :laughing: :laughing:
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Pretty proud thanks Ken! That’s an awesome achievement Ken, hopefully the young fulla is able to blossom into a fully fledged Wallaby in the future?!?! What’s his name? I’m hoping to watch the game on YouTube & will keep an eye on him?
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Thanks JC!
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jd! Yup, hope he goes well for as you say, he hasn’t played there in a while.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Hahaha forgot about them. I feel for MP. Still need a couple of years but they are getting better
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Congrats to your whanau Adam. You must be proud. Although not as intimate an association as yours, there’s a boy lining up tomorrow for the Junior WBs vs U/20 ABs that played all his junior rugby in my son’s team. I’ve been watching him since he was 5 years old. It warms your soul.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Few teams are good enough to get the better of the Ref, nor should they have to be. It does seem that NZ Refs in NZ against NZ sides creates challenges. The Tah’s copped a Yellow late in the first half against the Crusaders, even the NZ commentary team considered harsh. It really is time to have some transparency for Rugby Refs.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
I am no reds fan but they did have a lot to complain about last week from the Ref. Drawing an NZ Ref in NZ against an NZ side seems to make it a real challenge. When the Administration starts banning on about integrity of match officials you know they really have messed up!
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
But you dismiss the fact every away game for them is a 5-7 hour flight. Their last 7 weeks has been 26/5 - Melbourne 20/5 - Perth 12/5 - Perth 6/5 - NZ 29/4 - Qld 22/4 - Perth 15/4 - Sydney They have to make the onerous trip for every away game.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Don't give up OM
jeznez
Roar Guru
And it's easier to fly west than east from a jet lag perspective. Force have the tougher flights to away games.
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
First I've seen it Geoff. Sure a penalty but again does the ref see it? If he has then the suggestion is that he is corrupt. Do we privilege an event in the 80th minute over what has occurred before then as those previous events made the platform for what may or may not happen at the end? Were there missed knock-ons etc before either team got in a position to threaten the line at the end? Maybe but not picked up. Rebels were not robbed.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
https://twitter.com/kinson88/status/1659809688987508736?s=20 Hopefully this link works. Let us know if you still think "If the ref sees it then they ping"... :silly:
Geoff Parkes
Expert
"As for Nareki I will have to take your word for it but I can’t recall seeing that. If the ref sees it then they ping." Seriously mate, it was all over social media. It couldn't have been more obvious. Agree again about calls going both ways in this and any other match, but the reality is, when they are made (or not made) in the 80th minute, they have a disproportionate influence in deciding the game.
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Uelese I argued before was a justified YC, Rebels were under a warning for successive penalties in the 22 just before and he did commit an early tackle on Garden-Bachop during a break-out (granted no clear tryline ahead but hreatening) and I can remember Aaron Smith received a card a few seasons back against the Waratahs for the same offense, despite their being cover coming across. That tackle was roughly the same distance out from the tryline. As for Nareki I will have to take your word for it but I can't recall seeing that. If the ref sees it then they ping. The ref warned Hardwicke because it was what he saw. We could go through the game and pile the offenses wrongly pinged or not taken but we seem to be only choosing some.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
OM, I'm reluctant to get into the relative impacts of refereeing decisions, but... You're definitely right about the Rebels and Highlanders playing equally poorly. But in your netting off of the impactful decisions you've conveniently omitted a crucial YC against Uelese in a situation that almost never warrants a card, and no call against Nareki dragging a player out of the ruck; a clear, penalisable foul play offence which would have had Hodge kicking to win the match from only 25m out in midfield, with time up. The Rebels contributed mightily to their loss. But on the day, it's nonsense to imply that they got equal rub of the green from the officials.
piru
Roar Rookie
Force are 1 and 1 with the Higlanders this year, so I'd say we're on par
piru
Roar Rookie
No, you said "it should not be considered a success". Either the trip is onerous, and justifies other teams sending their dregs, or it isn't and we have no cause for complaint. You can't have it both ways
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Like too see some Reds forwards stand up tomorrow in what will be a tough clash in humid conditions...Wilson can press claims for Wallaby selection I'm sure from this one game the Fijians will leave nothing in tank..
piru
Roar Rookie
They’re the only team that gets the luxury of playing B teams in Perth Cry me a river, we do the same trip in the other direction EVERY away game.