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'Very hard to understand' - Queensland Reds left stunned as lopsided penalty count keeps Aussie sides winless against foreign sides
By Online Editors
Coach Brad Thorn insists he's not fazed as the Queensland Reds limp home from a torrid tour winless after surrendering a big lead against the Jaguares, ensuring Australia's Super Rugby sides are 0-6 against foreign foes this season.
The Reds let another winnable game slip, racing ahead 24-7 in Buenos Aires only to fall 43-27 following four unanswered second-half tries from the hosts on Sunday AEDT.
It capped a 0-3 tour to start the season for the Reds, who will be desperate to beat Japan's Sunwolves at home on Saturday, having coughed up multiple chances to convert enterprising rugby into wins.
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In Canberra, the Brumbies' 10-game home winning streak came crashing to a halt as they ran into their first foreign opponent of the season and the Highlanders scored and converted after the full-time hooter to prevail 23-22 on Saturday night.
It'll be scant comfort to Brumbies coach Dan McKellar that the citing commissioner later agreed with him the visitors should have been reduced to 14-men as he charged Highlanders winger Sio Tomkinson with a dangerous tackle.
Tomkinson's shoulder which rattled Brumbies fullback Tom Banks drew only a yellow card from referee Nic Berry during the match.
After impressing in wins against the Reds and NSW Waratahs, rookie Brumbies No.10 Noah Lolesio was given a rude introduction to pressure from New Zealand opponents in Canberra.
The Reds were left to ponder a penalty count of 13-3 against them as the Jaguares built a tidal wave of momentum before home fans in Buenos Aires.
Thorn was mystified by several decisions from local referee Federico Anselmi that went against his side, particularly at scrum time, and insisted it wouldn't be panic stations for the Reds.
“The key moment was the scrum; we absolutely dominated and destroyed them and we get penalised,” Thorn said.
“That’s very hard to understand.
“We have one of the most dominant scrums in the comp. We’ve shown those pictures for the last two weeks. It’s been strong for a few years, but the last two weeks it’s just been doing the business.
“Five metres out, a key moment in the game, I think one of those props was on one of our guy’s shoulders. It was a hard one to understand. It was frustrating.”
"In the first two games we were our own worst enemy but tonight I thought the guys played outstandingly well and there was a lot to like," he said.
"Last year we dropped our first three as well, but by mid-season we were equal with the Rebels on top of the conference, so we're not fazed."
One bright spot for the Reds was the performance of James O'Connor after he was retained at five-eighth ahead of Isaac Lucas.
The versatile veteran had been pigeonholed as a centre after occupying that space in his Wallabies return for last year's World Cup.
But O'Connor's no stranger to the halves and showed with his composure, assertive footwork and passing game that he remains an option for new national coach Dave Rennie later this year.
The Melbourne Rebels at least got on the board with a scrappy home win over the hapless NSW Waratahs, who are without even a bonus point three games into the season.
South Africa's Stormers and New Zealand's Chiefs are the only two unbeaten sides, the Stormers scoring after the siren to pip the Lions at Ellis Park.
The Chiefs flogged the Sunwolves while the Hurricanes rallied to beat the Sharks and the defending champion Crusaders eased past the Blues.
-AAP
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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