Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog

Please stop spreading rumours and conjecture - that's Bosley's job.

In 40 years of watching rugby I still haven't seen a 10 that doesn't find it tough when his pack is getting monstered!!

Pure conjecture and rumour mongering.

Can only play whats in front of them. The point remains they wouldn't have actually had the skill/sight to execute the kick pass until recently. Didn't know such an exodus was occurring, this is unfortunate as I was looking forward to the team building as a unit and making a go of it in ~2 years. The jury is still out, but coming into the season this is about where I expected the reds to be in terms of a rebuilding team. If they can build the rest of the year I think Thorn has done well, if they fall away it'll be disappointing.

The kick pass wouldn't have been possible if the opposition had 15 guys. It was the only time Sef Naivalu put his hands on the ball all night. That doesn't sound like it is heading in the right trajectory to me if your wings cannot get the ball. Our 10 is leaving next year, as is our 12, and as much as I like Tait's energy, he needs to smash the Nutrigrain and weights in the off season because he's going to get turned inside out by a quality New Zealand team. The forward pack isn't functioning for half the game, and Thorn's run on selections still confuse me. There are bright patches, but I'm very wary of drinking the Kool Aid. I must be somewhat positive, as this time I at least accepted the offer of a free ticket and attended the game. Previously I would not have.

The breakdown in particular last night looked like a lottery. Both teams were mostly avoiding engaging in the breakdown because they clearly weren't sure what was going to get called up. A very scrappy affair and I think a lot of this was due to the way the referee managed the game.

I am yet to watch this game so can't comment but I have seen a general progression of their game plan throughout the season, obviously they are yet to execute it well for 40 min, let alone 80. At the start of the year, that set piece play they scored off wouldn't have been possible, or the kick pass for that matter. They have settled on their 9,10,12,15 backbone. kicking is much better. Forwards running off the 9 also developing. Let me put it this way, I see more promise for the reds in the next 2-3 years, then I do for most other Aus SR teams.

Yes agree CUW. Though I'd call Agnes more of a home ground ref, he always favours the home team. Look at his reffing of Poms v Boks at Twikkers he kept his cards in his pocket when Farrell did his shoulder charge & other blantant England infrigements. Also, Wales v Ireland, there was a big penalty count against the Irish before he squared it up in the last 10 mins when the game was already gone.

I don't see any indication they're on an upward trajectory the way they play. They nearly lost that game last night against a team that was down to 12 guys at one point. They had a 20 minute period where the opposition was down to 14 men and they failed to capitalise.

Their current position may be closer to the bottom than the top but its their trajectory that matters. They only won 6 in 2018 and 4 in 2017. They have a pretty favourable back end of the season so should be able to pick up ~2-3 more wins giving them 7-8 wins for the season. They have also bled a bunch of new players who will only get better with their average age of ~22.

I think it is the case that when you have been as low as Qld in recent years, a win is of value regardless of how it looks etc. Whilst I don't buy the 'young team' argument (most of the squad have been around for 2-4 seasons of Super Rugby), that is often made for Thorn and his side, I do accept that a fundamental (ist?) rebuild of culture and playing style takes time and ugly wins this year may become more impressive and exciting ones next season. What does trouble me is that after a few phases of attack (especially) the side often seems to lose all shape. The ongoing lack of basic rugby sense (standing too flat to play, inability to draw and pass, run into gaps not tacklers etc.) still looks problematic across all Oz teams.

I have NO doubt that Parker would be a WB 10 contender if eligible. And I'd love to have him at the Reds.

But interestingly Ethan the TMO didn't make a suggestion about a card. This suggests he was happy with a penalty.

Have to concur CW. Gardener is a pedantic buffoon of a referee, not Super Rugby standard let alone tests. The red card to Masirewa was a joke. The worst thing about Gardener was his lack of consistency, particularly at the breakdown.

I should clarify I'm referring to the Sunwolves red card. I mean it was barely even a high tackle. The interpretation of the laws has changed so much in recent years. The fact that a tackle like that is now a yellow (and in this case a second yellow becoming a red) is just nuts to me. It completely decided the outcome of an otherwise great game.

He finds it tough when his pack is being monstered, like last week against the Highlanders. But he's fearless if not always effective in the tackle. And he kicks well in general and from the tee. And runs the game pretty well. He's no Michael Lynagh, but if he was he'd probably still be in Dunedin or Auckland. For the Reds it's all incremental. Behind the Reds pack he'd add value. Bryce is not the answer. And with due respect, when the comp for Wallaby 10 is Foley v Cooper one senses the choices for Thorn inside the country are not optimal.

No. I don't think it deserved yellow. Not a howler, but penalty only for mine.

Can't agree EJ. It was Masirewa who needed more awareness. What was he thinking leading with a riskily high shoulder while on a yellow already? Joseph will be blasting him in the sheds for sure. That said, and this might sound "interesting" (say) coming from a kiwi, Joseph sent his team out tonight with a cynical, marginally legal defensive plan, and when the team didn't score enough points to offset the cost of this tactic he lost. Personally I think SWs have played this defensive style for two years.

Shoulder making contact with the head would be grounds for a YC any day of the week.

He didn't look fantastic when the Sunwolves played the Rebels.