Queensland Reds
12
Match Complete
Crusaders
25
| 64 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| J. Petaia |  | 59 | ||
| 54 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 53 | | W. Heinz | ||
| I. Henry | | 32 | ||
| T. McDermott | | 32 | ||
| 29 | | D. Gardiner | ||
| 22 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 21 | | L. Fainga'anuku | ||
| 17 | | R. Mo'unga |
| 2 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Reds hosts the Crusaders Friday evening at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:35pm (AEDT).
The Reds have not defeated the Crusaders since the Reds’ outside centre Josh Flook was nine years old in the 2011 Super Rugby final. The Reds almost beat the Canterbarians in 2017 under Nick Stiles, and 2020 under Brad Thorn. The Crusaders are fielding a weaker side today. So there is a chance for an upset.
The Crusaders had a weak start of the season, seemingly because they are saving their big guns for the big games. This backfired against them on a couple occasions, including trouncing by the competition leaders, the Chiefs, in round one. But they seem to be on a roll, winning two in a row. Another big factor is injuries with more than a dozen players injured.
The Reds lost a close match against the Rebels last week. Today, there seems little hope or expectation against the Kiwis. But it was the same for the Fijians earlier this season, who bested the Crusaders at home. Can the Reds turn things around today?
Last week, the Crusaders scored more than twice than the Canberran visitors who opted not to send a raft of their first-tier players to New Zealand. The Crusaders’ highly skilled and industrious player makers and backrow managing the game almost perfectly. This includes dealing with a resurgent Brumbies in the second half.
Today is expected to be typical Brisbane autumn weather around 22 degrees, possibly some precipitation. This will not stop the attack-oriented approach from both teams. The warmer climate should be to the advantage of the Queenslanders. It would be their job to take that advantage, especially when the heat is on the second half.
With exception of the first game, the Crusaders have scored lots of points in attack this season. In the past few seasons of victories against the Reds it has been big points, reaching up to 63 points in 2011 against the Super Rugby AU champions of that year.
The Queensland attack of late has been good – against non-Kiwi teams. What can we expect from the Reds? They have a great set of players who can score from anywhere. But they can only do so, if they win the breakdowns. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of improvement in this area, so far.
The breakdown is also where the Reds defence gets broken down. Under manned rucks lead to turnovers which lead to counter attack against disorganised defensive lines; emphasis on the plural word lines, which leads to many points leaked against Kiwi teams. It’s “groundhog day”. I am certain the Queensland coaches and players are more acutely aware of it. But what will they do about it? What can they do about it?
The forwards battle will be interesting. Other than the loose scrums, the scrums itself will be an interesting event. But the Crusaders forwards are more grizzled than the Reds. If the Reds want to win, they want to out-grizzle their opponents – not out-sizzle. There is no place for fancy play in this match, especially in the opening stanza.
The backs from both sides are fantastic. But this match will be decided by how good the pack is, which of their attackers they can unleash. Also I think Richie Mo’uagna has an edge of his opponents tonight and will play a heavy role in his teams scoring fortunes.
Prediction
Crusaders win.
Game information
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19:35 (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Reds $3.55, Crusaders $1.30 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Reds (1-15): Peni Ravai, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, Liam Wright, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia, Isaac Henry, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell.
Replacements: Richie Asiata, Dane Zander, Phransis Sula-Siaosi, Angus Blyth, Jake Upfield, Kalani Thomas, Taj Annan, Mac Grealy.
Crusaders (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Dom Gardiner, Sione Havili-Talitui, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Enner, Pepesana Patafilo, Fergus Burke.
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Corey Kellow, Willi Heinz, Will Gualter, Chay Fihaki.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Agree, the France example isn’t quite the same, but shows how the try line screws the natural order of things. Semantics is the issue and ‘when is the ball out’. Putting that aside, as it is a whole other thing, just looking at ‘putting the ball back in the ruck’. Two things happen at once, he puts the ball back in the ruck by putting it forward and back onto the ground, but simultaneously puts it on the try line - hence in goal. You can’t have a ruck in goal, so it can’t be ‘back in the ruck’ and be ‘in goal’, at the same time. The Try reality wins out.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Paulo, thanks for that answer and nicely written. I can only surmise your reasoning is how the refs interpret the Laws. However I wonder if the ball, as you stated the halfback picks the ball off the ground , is technically out of the ruck, then does Heinz have the right to place the ball "back into the ruck" which he has done by moving it forward. It can be very semantic indeed. In that match against France, the ball was laying ON the tryline so the French player just had to touch the ball for a try to be awarded. He never moved it. This is a different scenario where Heinz picked the ball up in his hand and carried it forward, albeit not a huge distance. I suspect Drongo Daemon didn't see that and the TMO (for whatever reason) did not mention it. I'm glad the Saders won by over 7 so Heinz's try was not the primary difference between winning and losing (though it likely was a secondary cause). We would be hearing about it till next week otherwise. :stoked:
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Its likely they think Petaia takes too long to wind up and can be charged down. Its why the WB don't pass the ball back to R.Hodge. Even when "pop-gun" B.Foley was the 5/8th, they would pass it to him rather than Hodge. Add that TateMcD's pick up and pass is a mite slow, so that is probably the reason that he takes the line kicks.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Oh no absolutely no excuse for that loss- all the reds doing.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Sorry Pete but you can't compare Vunivalu with Izzy. Folau was amazing from day 1 at SR and Int level!
KFar
Roar Rookie
Starting to see that DR was right about him after all. He won't train hard enough and doesn't deserve a jersey. Vunivalu was terrible, slow and looked lost.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Overall, I think the Reds won the kicking battle tonight. That’s at least one positive…
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I didn’t see him come off, then was shocked when they stared interviewing him! Started to relax a bit then as a Crusaders fan. Didn’t think they was much of a chance once he was sitting on pine.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Maybe it was a Rennie thing? Eddie does seem much more happy to engage and play the media game than Rennie ever was. Maybe when the Wallabies start up properly we’ll see more of him?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Once the halfback picks the ball off the ground, isn’t the ball considered ‘out of the ruck’? So I would have thought ‘without the ball leaving the ruck’ isn’t accurate. If we accept that the ball is now technically out of the ruck, he can place it on the line. Try scored. If we want to interpret the players in the ruck and on the ground as ‘obstructing’… that’s a mess we do not want to start. There was a try scored in the 6N, I think by France? Where the ball was over the line at the base of a ruck, and some one just reached through the ruck, off their feet, and put hands on the ball, scoring a try. The ball wasn’t even picked up. If they awarded that one, this one was a no brained.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Flook would have gone closer. Henry also left two kicking sitters out there. That was a very winnable game. I daresay that that's a game Tahs might have taken. They at least have a defence.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I think he’s always had the talent but not the maturity. Often trying to win a game on his own therefore taking the wrong options. Yes it’s taken him a while but at least he is now realising some of his potential. Imo Petaia is still learning but some player take a little longer than others.
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
In my anger I forgot to add that by carrying the ball in one arm the Crusaders knew he was not going to pass the bloody ball; easy pickings. Carry the ball in two hands for gawds sake!!!
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Poor Deamon does struggle at times but I certainly would not sheet any blame on him for this defeat. My blind 96 year old aunt could have been referee and the Reds would still have lost. They managed the defeat all by themselves. :happy:
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
It’s such a shame. This was one of, if not the weakest Crusaders side in history. At home, the Reds still couldn’t find a way to do it. The reds side has many talented players they are just not (except for Peteia/wilson/Jock/Tate) playing to their ability. Thorn has come out and said publicly that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do and it shows in this team with certain indecision and confusion. This game for me really made me see how bad Australian rugby is atm.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Force suck too (from a force fan)
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Terrible contest. Were we watching the same game? It was a shambles from both teams. Reds just outplayed one of the weakest crusaders teams I have seen with unbelievably bad skills and drop balls. Laughable, if it weren’t so sad.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
It's just so obvious. Tate passes it back to peteia who kicks for touch. Is it that hard? It's like Tate is trying to prove to himself he can kick it well and continues to make 5m gains from restarts...
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Best quick option for Auzzy rugby is to move on Daemon Murphy. The guy just hates an exciting game. No way in hell was he going to allow Tate to take a quick tap...
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Absolute joke of a match. Anything but a professional standard match. With the players available Thorn must be looking at a sacking soon. He's lost motivation and it's obvious the players have too. How do you stuff up that many chances in the first 10 minutes and your "best" kicker misses from in 30 out with a shot 60m off the mark.