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Reds take ‘baby step in the right direction’ with win over Moana Pasifika
By Finn Morton
For a team under pressure, Friday night’s 40-28 win over Moana Pasifika in Samoa was “a baby step in the right direction” for the Queensland Reds.
The Reds started their season with a disastrous 47-13 loss to the Hurricanes in Townsville, but appeared to turn a corner in Super Round.
Spurred on by doubles to rising star Josh Flook and star winger Filipo Daugunu, Queensland recorded an emphatic 51-point win over the Western Force at Melbourne's AAMI Park.
But the good times didn’t last long.
The Reds lost to the Brumbies in Canberra the following week, which started a run of four losses in five games.
Pressure began to mount on coach Brad Thorn, although Reds co-captain Liam Wright publicly backed the dual international by saying the players needed to take responsibility for their form.
But the Reds had an opportunity to surge up the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a win over Moana Pasifika at Apia Park in round eight.
Following a tense start to the match, the Reds eventually ran away with it – although they fell agonisingly short of a winning bonus point.
Speaking about the significance of the performance after the match, Reds captain Tate McDermott said he was “really proud” of his team.
“I don’t really care about the performance at this stage,” McDermott said on the Sky Sport broadcast.
“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks so really proud of that effort, obviously not an ideal last probably 15, 20 minutes, but at the end of the day we’ll take that.
“We needed the confidence going into the bye weekend to get our season back on track. It’s a baby step in the right direction.”
Friday night’s fixture will go down in history as a momentous occasion for rugby in the Pacific Islands.
For the first time ever, Moana Pasifika hosted a Super Rugby Pacific match in Samoa – and the crowd brought the noise and the passion to match the occasion.
“It’s a big occasion. Moana over here, they’re a talented side let alone playing them in their home,” McDermott added.
“It was an amazing atmosphere around here and like I said before, we’re really happy with the result.
“It’s similar to Queensland in the middle of summer I’d say, so very sweaty, it’s hot.
“The ball is like a bar of soap out there.
“It’s awesome to be over here, we got in pretty late last night so didn’t get too much time on the island but it’s awesome to be here.”
The Reds are now on a bye, but will host Western Force – the team they outclassed in Super Round – when they return in round 10.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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