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Reds defy Drua's late charge to win Super Rugby thriller
By AAP
The Queensland Reds have defied another fast Fijian Drua finish, hanging on for a 27-24 Super Rugby Pacific win in Brisbane.
The Reds led 24-3 midway through the second half, but in a replay of last season's Suncorp Stadium clash, had to withstand a late Drua flurry and somehow hung on.
Josh Flook should have had a first-half hat-trick, dropping a brilliant short kick from James O'Connor as the line beckoned after already crossing twice.
And Taj Annan was slick in his starting debut at No.12, setting up two tries in the second half and defending well in place of concussed Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami.
Those slick moments were few and far between in a sloppy Sunday afternoon performance that featured 32 penalties blown by referee Reuben Keane.
Still, Queensland seemed to be cruising when Annan's cut-out pass put Suliasi Vulivanu over for a 21-point lead.
But the Drua, relishing the steamy conditions, found some space and Leone Rotuisolia and Kalaveti Ravouvou raced over.
They looked destined to roll through the Reds again for a match-winner, before try-scorer Harry Wilson dragged down a defender and winger Filipo Daugunu became the unlikely man to steal possession with a game-winning defensive play.
The result leaves both teams at 2-2, with the Reds' next task in Melbourne against the Rebels.
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Latest Comments
Agreed. Borthwick will have to write a new excuse book soon .
I have looked at the two world cup final teams from 2003 and 2020.
2003 team scored 187 tries between them in 389 caps
2020 team scored 113 tries between them in 473 caps. As you can see a huge disparity in scoring rate. Only Johnny May with 36 tries in 78 caps scored a higher amount of tries. Elliot Daly comes close but the rest are frankly very poor.
Farrell and Ford scored a pathetic 20 tries between them in a combined 210 caps.
There again , the 2003 team did have Wilko and Greenwood etc whereas 2020 team had Ford and Farrell .
So much people saying that Fords strength is of bringing others into the game .
Really. The figures totally disprove that notion .
It has been mentioned elsewhere that we have accepted mediocrity far too often and the figures would indicate that players are or have been picked far too often without performing .
Go to commentsNot disputing that NZ are ahead of Eng. Also not saying Eng are unlucky (though clearly the tone of the article is not that the ABs were unlucky but that they 'should have' won). Your team are looking great and are on the up. I just felt that Pundits have argued Eng 'should have' won the first test against the ABs, when it's more nuanced than that, and very fine margins determine results that Eng didn't get right. Same applies, therefore, to NZ and other nations. Ben Smith though doesn't seem to see it that way. To be clear: I'm not saying I agree with the 'should haves', but more that I take issue with the phrasing.
Good to see your respect for other nations is so strong! Proper rugby fan you are!!!
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