Brad Thorn had seen this movie before. He didn’t like the unnecessary thriller finish last year and he could have done without today’s close call against the Fijian Drua.
Coach Thorn’s Queensland Reds led by 19 points last year and needed some late magic from Seru Uru to sneak home against the Fijians.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
Today, in the 31 degree heat at Suncorp Stadium, the Reds led by 21 points early in the second half and their tactics seemed to be working with a 24-3 lead.
What did we make of the Reds getting home 27-24?
1 INCONSISTENCY A HANDBRAKE
The Reds sit 2-2 in sixth spot in Super Rugby Pacific and there’ll need to find an 80-minute performance some time if they want to finish any higher.
The good was very good. The poor stuff was rubbish.
Take the set-up for the opening try. A high James O’Connor cross-kick to Suliasi Vunivalu in the corner was shrewd use of a big aerial weapon.
He caught it and kept the ball in play expertly with a flick. Centre Josh Flook capitalised for a well-thought out try.
Late in the game, Vunivalu caught an entirely different kick, a skewed Jock Campbell kick from a defensive position. He still tried the blind flick in-field but on his own quarter line.
This time the crumbs gave the Fijians the ball and soon after they scored to make it 27-24.
Think Suli! There was absolutely nothing wrong with going over the touchline and accepting a Drua lineout. You don’t invite them into the game.
Too many penalties, too helter-skelter in the last 30 minutes, too many errors...the Reds have to clean up their game.
2 FIJIAN FLAVOUR
It wasn’t just the Drua fielding 15 Fijians at the kick-off.
The Reds had Vunivalu, Seru Uru and Filipo Daugunu in their line-up and reserve Peni Ravai to come off the bench.
Thank goodness for Daugunu. His late play to earn a penalty when he got hands on Drua ball in the closing 90 seconds might well have saved his team.
3 THORN THE REALIST
Coach Thorn was a realist when he delivered his summary because he knows the Reds will have to be better against the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne next Saturday night.
“We let them back in with errors and sloppiness when we had a real opportunity to put the Drua away,” Thorn said.
“You don’t want to be experts at dragging defeat from the jaws of victory. It just wasn’t good rugby at times. Maybe, without it being a loss we can look in the mirror and get benefits.
“If we bring today, it won’t be a good experience (in Melbourne).”
4 NEW CENTRE
Taj Annan stepped up as the third-string Reds inside centre with a fine game.
He had two try assists, made 10 tackles with big Fijian bodies flying at him and generally handled the fastest game he’s ever played in.
Another very good 19-year-old is on the scene.
5 FRIENDLY FALCON
No.8 Harry Wilson explained his “pass” to backrow mate Fraser McReight which rattled right off his noggin. Wilson retrieved the bouncing ball but was in front of McReight so conceded one of those frustrating penalties.
“I heard Harry say ‘spread it.’ I thought that meant to him,” Wilson said with a smile when interviewed sideline by Stan Sport.
He really meant spread to Annan with a cutout ball.
It’s a funny moment but only in a win.
