The Queensland Reds faded in and out of the rugby they demand for this 26-19 win in the wet at Suncorp Stadium and the final assessment will be of a poor performance. The Western Force played admirably to the 80th minute and showed again how much it means to be revived as a Super Rugby club.
1. HUNTER THE HUNTER
The improvements to the game of Hunter Paisami have been remarkable since his Super Rugby debut at the beginning of last season. Last week, it was his deft little left foot dab to set up the match-winning try for centre partner Jordan Petaia and his big tackle on Cadeyrn Neville.
Last night, two strong tries made up for a poor pass and a forward pass early.
Paisami backed up inside with a powerful surge for his first try and sliced through brilliantly to score his second in 50 strong minutes on the field for the Queensland Reds.
Add to that being strong over the ball to earn a penalty and helping Harry Wilson hold up Tevita Kuridrani to earn a scrum feed.
It’s no easy task shifting from outside centre to inside centre but Paisami is developing all areas of impact. He just needs to keep adding to his passing game.
It’s a nice looking centre pairing option with Petaia, who made a great break and also a couple of neat off-loads.
2. AUSTRALIAN RUGBY’S NEWEST WEAPON
Code-hopper Suliasi Vunivalu is a work in progress as a rugby winger but, wow, there is huge upside.
He is a silky mover and so hungry for work.
Midway through the second half, he was the man who loomed in midfield, dealt a huge fend on Force back Jack McGregor and fed Jock Campbell for the key try.
He’s defending infield of lineouts and learning all the time.
3. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES HOLMSIE
Veteran prop Greg Holmes gave a reminder of his class when the Western Force scrum dominated the Reds’ vaunted eight in the first half.
He was at the heart of earning two scrum penalties in his 150th Super Rugby game against his old club.
He got oh-so-close to the tryline at 37 on a pick-and-drive. Fewer would have seen his accurate cleanout to provide ruck room on the left edge for hooker Feleti Kaitu’u to plunge over for the Force try.
4. FORTRESS SUNCORP
Coach Brad Thorn had always wanted to re-establish Suncorp Stadium as a feared venue at which to face the Reds.
He has and it is. Last night’s win was the ninth in a row at Suncorp.
The new trans-Tasman bubble is joy to the ears of rugby fans.
The Reds-Crusaders clash at Suncorp Stadium on May 22 will be a beauty and expect a 25,000-plus turnout.
5. BPA
The pecking order of hookers in Australian rugby has shuffled considerably over recent seasons.
Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa produced a superb 40 minutes last night to again justify his Wallabies recall last year.
He transformed the Reds wonky scrum when he came on after half-time and won the final penalty with his position over the ball to thwart the final Force attack.
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