'The brawls, the big hits': Reds channeling Origin in lead-up to Crusaders clash
The Queensland Reds have turned to rugby league's State of Origin for some Maroon inspiration as they plot a monumental Super Rugby Pacific upset in Christchurch.
Coach Brad Thorn boasts genuine insight into the opposition as a former title-winner with the Crusaders.
But captain Tate McDermott said Thorn had leant on his 14-game Origin career instead ahead of their knockout quarter-final on Friday.
"The brawls, the big hits, the atmosphere around Origin and what it means to be a Queenslander have been the key themes of the week," McDermott said.
"We won't see a biff, but you'll definitely see a bit of niggle; once we say we're not taking a backward step we're a far better side.
"So the boys have got licence to really go out there and give it a good rattle."
The Reds have relished the atmosphere and constant heckling they've received in the rugby-mad New Zealand city since losing to the Crusaders last weekend.
The Crusaders are $1.06 favourites to win an 11th-straight game against Thorn's side, while the Reds have also lost their last 19 games away from home against New Zealand opposition and not won in Christchurch since 1999.
But they've been competitive in their last two trips there, winning the second half of last week's game and scoring four tries to three in a four-point loss two year ago.
"No-one expects us to win, particularly over here," McDermott said.
"But not too many teams get two cracks in consecutive weeks.
"We know we're underdogs and were loving that title ... no-one expects us to do anything.
"Everywhere you go there's someone throwing chat or wanting a photo with some of the bigger names.
"Over here (compared to Brisbane) it's another level of people who know about rugby and that it's Crusaders v Reds on Friday."
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Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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