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Reds crash back to earth with big loss at hands of Highlanders
By AAP
It's taken but 35 seconds for the Highlanders to serve up a reality check for Australia's Super Rugby hopefuls in a crushing 40-19 win over the Queensland Reds in the Trans-Tasman tournament opener in Dunedin.
Triumphant over the Brumbies only six days ago in a thrilling Super Rugby AU final, the Reds came crashing back to earth with a 40-19 loss to the Highlanders at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Highlanders won only three of eight games in Super Rugby Aotearoa while the Reds lost just one in the AU version.
Yet New Zealand's fourth-best outfit was still streets ahead of Australia's champions on Friday night.
They set the tone in the opening minute with a try through lovely hands to centre Scott Gregory.
The Reds levelled shortly after through Kalani Thomas but spent the rest of the first half camped almost exclusively on their own line as the pace and intensity of New Zealand opposition exposed an ominous gulf in class.
The Highlanders converted their glut of possession and territory into a 21-7 halftime advantage following further five-pointers to lock Josh Dixon and winger Sio Tomkinson, both tries converted by flyhalf Mitch Hunt.
With coach Brad Thorn already opting to rest several stars, the Reds suffered another blow when skipper and playmaker James O'Connor failed to front for the second half after failing a HIA.
Injected into the action after the break, prized recruit Suliasi Vunivalu wasted little time reviving Reds hopes when he soared sublimely to reel in a Bryce Hegarty cross-field kick and touch down in the corner in the 45th minute to reduce the deficit to nine points.
Alas, the Highlanders hit back through a second try to Dixon four minutes later as the Reds' ball security and ill-discipline repeatedly cost them any chance of victory.
Replacements Ngatungane Punivai and Liam Coltman came off the bench to secure a bonus point for the Highlanders with two tries in the closing 10 minutes.
Code-hopper Vunivalu clinched his maiden try-scoring double with another leap after the siren - but it was all too little too late for the Reds.
- Darren Walton
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Latest Comments
Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.
Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.
I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.
No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.
I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.
I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.
Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.
Go to commentsIf OZ are to regain their lost credibility they now need to tip up the Irish or at least run them close. Can't see that happening even though miracles occasionally occur
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