Queensland Reds have turned in an absolute shocker against Moana Pasifika, conceding TWO red cards and being beaten 17-14 with the final play of a demoralising Super Rugby defeat in New Zealand.
Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight both saw red in the second half, the Wallabies halfback sent off for what ex-All Black Jeff Wilson called a “brain explosion” and McReight for a high shot that changed the game after Queensland led with eight minutes left.
William Havili crossed for a try moments before the end, sealing the result with a conversion on the siren.
While they might take a shred of comfort from their resilience despite the double reds, this was far and away the worst display of the Les Kiss era. The Reds were, at times, a total shambles against a team that had conceded 175 points in their previous three games.
“Incredibly frustrating, a lot of errors and ill discipline from us,” said Reds co-captain Liam Wright. “There was a lot of courage and we thought we found our moment near the end. The heart of the group is there.”
The tone was set early – Seru Uru involved in three handling errors in the opening six minutes. Rookie flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips did the unforgivable – booting a freekick directly into touch – Harry Wilson dropped a short pass from McDermott and Josh Flook threw a pass ridiculously forward.
Speaking of brain explosions, that caused Wilson’s head to rattle after his co-commentator Mils Muliaina said the Reds’ execution was “not quite there.”
“Not quite there, Mils? Not quite there! He’s chucked that three yards forward. They’ve kicked it out on the full twice, one off a free kick. That’s just not good enough at this level. I’m sorry, it’s not good enough.”
Julian Savea, the competition’s record try scorer brough up number 62 when he motored through HMP as if he were a mere slip of a lad and Moana Pasifika richly deserved their 10-0 halftime lead.
Julian Savea of Moana Pasifika runs through Marry McLaughlin-Phillips on his way to the tryline. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Reds assistant coach Brad Davis was interviewed at the break. His blunt assessment was spot on.
“It doesn’t get much worse than that first 40. I think we made 17 unforced errors,” said Davis. “Fair play to Moana, they’ve come and hit us with a couple of sucker punches. We’ve put ourselves into a bit of a hole, but we’re looking for a response in this next half.”
The half was barely 90 seconds old before the Reds responded. Fijian front rower Peni Ravai got the try after a strong run from Wilson off the back of a line out set the platform for the Reds forwards to take advantage.
The Reds throught they’d hit the lead in the 46th minute when Flook chased a deep kick and touched it down. The TMO was alert to an incident in the buildup as McDermott tangled with Moana Pasifika flanker Irie Papuni.
Papuni was fending McDermott aggressively around the throat but as the two came to ground McDermott threw a swinging arm into his rival’s midriff. The power of the impact was hard to judge but McDermott was barely sitting down on the naughty chair before it was upgraded to a 20-minute red.
“All the momentum that the Reds have worked so hard to get has now been lost through, I’m sorry to say, a brain explosion,” said Jeff Wilson. “In some ways it was almost like a strike. He’s thrown the arm and it’s made contact. And we saw with [Fijian Drua’s] Frank Lomani who’s been punished severely, it’s not going to be accepted.”
The Reds survived the 20 minutes down a man and moments after parity was restored Havili had a chance to extend the hosts lead to to six. He shanked his kick into the post and it sparked a reaction from the Reds, who went the length of the field and scored an excellent try out wide through Jordan Petaia.
Lawson Creighton nailed the kick from the sideline, then the game swung again with McReight going in high in a tackle on Havili. He too had a yellow upgraded to red, leaving the Reds the final eight minutes to survive up 14-10.
With McDermott and McReight looking on nervously Moana Pasifika worked their way forward and over the line for a famous win, their third this season.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
And nor have the Reds so your point is? Here is the list of finals appearances and victories by country: Final appearances, victories by country Apps Team Wins LosseS 16 Crusaders 12 4 6 Brumbies 2 4 5 Blues 3 2 4 Chiefs 2 2 4 Sharks 0 4 3 Bulls 3 0 3 Waratahs 1 2 3 Hurricanes 1 2 3 Lions 0 3 2 Highlanders 1 1 1 Reds 1 0 1 Stormers 0 1 1 Jaguares 0 1 Reds not looking so hot. Oh wait! It is because the evil Brumbies held them back. You are a complete and total Muppet and not one of the cool ones like Kermit or Miss Piggy. Do not even rate as a prawn on a stick.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
...and won nothing.
bflp
Roar Rookie
September 29 2019 Aust vs Wales. Kerevi was penalised for using his elbow of the arm carrying the ball when he ran into the Welsh player who was attempting the tackle. Referee was Romain Poite. French. No bias just clueless. Not sure I agree with 'Whatever's' interpretation however he didn't make it up. It did cause me to look again at the McDermott incident and there is no doubt that he was hit in the neck by the fend in the attempted tackle. Doesn't matter where it started. Accident or otherwise I think we all know that the result is what should be judged. The rest is mitigation. McDermott still a muppet for reacting.
Redman
Roar Rookie
When an earth was Kerevi Red carded for running upright into a tackle? Think you might be making stuff up there to suit your narrative Whatever
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
You see the 38% majority Brumby Wallabies and their four coaches had three years to achieve the worst win rate at the time in 50 years; whereas the 0% was Eddie Jones and a sex month team playing four year teams. But of a funny, lop-sided comparison you’ve used to compensate for the “we don’t play rugby here” Brumbies that suck when called upon to play rugby. Thanks for trying to redeem the brumbies but ultimately this is not possible.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Hoots it’s just sour grapes from Jimbo. Fun facts - Brums have nearly 90 more wins than the Reds and some 70 more wins than the Tahs since their inception. It’s not even close head-to-head vs these two teams. In the last 10yrs Brums missed finals once.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Eddie dropped most of the Brums and picked more of your guys but then got 0% vs tier 1 in 2023. Fark sakes Jimbo stay on your meds. :laughing: We’ve gone over this already right? 38% isn’t great but 0% is absolutely rock bottom. You keep shooting yourself in the foot with that fairytale.
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Alright Jimbo, I’ll bite – again. Please explain how they “block other Aussie teams from Advancing”? By my reckoning they have beaten most of the Australian opposition fairly regularly e.g. NSW 12 times in a row. I have no issues with your obviously very passionate support for the Reds but the logic defies reason. Steady Eddie picked a crap load of the lowest performing sides (Rebels and Warratahs) and did worse than Dave Rennie and Cheika. I do not think your beloved Reds, Warratahs, Force or the Rebels would have done better against the Kiwi sides in the finals either. At least the Brumbies got there.
Whatever
Roar Rookie
And you need to look at the video dh and tell me he didn't fend into his neck. Still inexcusable by McDermott. This shite happens in every game. You have to learn not to react. Helps when officials pick up the cause.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Well if you think Lolesio is the best 10 then I fully get why you don't see a young Lynagh as any good.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Coach killer moments. I would say Kiss was particularly unhappy to see senior players getting red cards.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Yeah - I was just pissed they didn’t take the easy three just before halftime.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
It's almost like they've been watching too much rugby league. I've played both codes, but league went to a grapple/lock up the ball kind of approach years ago because the speed of the play-the-ball is probably the most important factor determining the outcome of the game. They want quick ruck ball even more than we want it in union, as their defensive line has to retreat 10m every time, and fast rucks mean they could be going backwards in defence all the way to their own tryline. I agree, it's really simple, "they can't run without legs". It's also harder to pass accurately as a ball-carrier when your legs are pinned together and you're falling to the ground at a rate of knots. Big blokes fall fast and hard.
MrEflord
Roar Rookie
He’s a dirty player. How he’s made it this far is beyond me.
MrEflord
Roar Rookie
What if he takes after his mother? Look, I hear what you are saying, but not everyone makes a good leader. There’s a few others that will be in the squad who currently have leadership experience. And that counts. At the moment I don’t even have him in the top 30. On current performance I think Will Harrison is now second behind Lolesio, third would be a toss of a coin between Gordon and Donaldson.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
21 yeas in a row this year when they block other Aussie teams from Advancing and butch out of the finals as per the script.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Correct. Imagine if half the Reds team were 5-capped Wallabies by now. You think that would make a difference? Might have been better to pick more than 1-3 Reds per test in 2022 don’t you think? Instead of 18 Brumbies????
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
I don’t think the Brumbies reputation ever recovers from 2022. Permanent sacking thanks. Such a bad experience, never again.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Brumbies. 18 picked in 2022. 4 coaches. 38%. Reds or bust mate and I think you know this.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Yeah and the complete lack of running game from every other nine would have been missed entirely in Schmidt’s notes?