Brace of tries: Ben Tapuai
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Two tries from Ben Tapuai helped the Reds pick up their first victory of the Super Rugby campaign on Saturday, beating the Waratahs 25-17 in Brisbane.
The Queenslanders appeared to be cruising to a comprehensive win after leading 17-3 at half-time. But the Waratahs clawed their way back after the break to level the scores 17-17, and set up a thrilling finish with just over 10 minutes of the match remaining.
But a second Mike Harris penalty followed by a pulsating break-out from flank Eddie Quirk - which led to Tapuai's second touchdown - sealed the deal for the 2011 champions.
Waratahs scrum-half Brendan McKibbon booted the visitors into an early lead but from then on it was all the Reds in the first half as Dom Shipperley and Tapuai both scored tries, as the hosts controlled possession and capitalised on handling errors by the Sydneysiders.
Harris kept his 100 per cent record at goal with a penalty as the Reds went into the interval 17-3 ahead against the rusty Waratahs, who had a bye last week.
But after the break the visitors looked a lot more lively and hit back with a try through Israel Folau, who delivered a mixed performance in his first Super Rugby outing. Fly-half Bernard Foley converted from far out to reduce the deficit to seven points, and the 'Tahs were back in the hunt.
The Reds appeared to be tiring and the Waratahs levelled the score when Foley completed a tough conversion after a superb solo try from replacement back Ben Volavola in the 59th minute.
The visitors looked to have all the momentum, but the Reds got some crucial breathing space with a long-range Harris penalty in the 69th minute, before Quirk's bustling saw him dragged down by Folau just shy of the tryline.
But the flanker was able to pop a pass to the supporting Tapuai for a try that finally put the result beyond doubt.
The scorers:
For Reds:
Tries: Shipperley, Tapuai 2
Con: Harris 2
Pen: Harris 2
For Waratahs:
Tries: Folau, Volavola
Con: Foley 2
Pen: McKibbin
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Chris F'Sautia, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper (c), 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Jono Lance, 22 Luke Morahan.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Tom Kingston, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Dave Dennis (c), 6 Michael Hooper, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Jeremy Tilse.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Ben Volavola.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Comments
Trinats2 says...
tha_mai:
Imagine a game in August in Thailand, that would come close to the humidity factor !
Posted 12:05 25th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Wallaroo:
Mate, Tahs just didn't get out of the starting blocks. Reds Were better for their hit out last week.. Tahs got themselves back into it and looked to have the edge towards the end, I ate my nails again.
Looks promising for the Tahs, it was Checks and izzys first game. They will make it to the playoffs. Your missus is wise !
Posted 11:01 25th February 2013
Wallaroo says...
Well done Reds. This is not a great start from either side.
The only positive in this game for me is that both sides can improve dramatically, if they don't then neither deserve to be hailed as super.
I have set my expectations for the Tahs at middle of the table this way I can celebrate anything above and down my sorrows for anything below. My wife says it's an excuse to have a drink; women what would they know lol.
Posted 00:58 25th February 2013
pacfcrugby4eva says...
The Reds are back! Title number 2 coming up. Israel Folau, despite the poor start, you'll be a legend!
Posted 00:54 25th February 2013
Trader2 says...
Saw Trinats comments, jeez I thought not another season of me sustaining injuries everytime I fall of my chair laughing at him, so new (rugby) New Years resolution I will not respond directly to that clown in 2013.
Posted 22:46 24th February 2013
tha_mai says...
trinats - I live in Thailand, not NZ. Friday was 39C at 1pm, a more bearable 36C today I did a 115km cycle race, so don't try to tell me about heat and humidity.
And humidity and temp can be quite different; though I guess you would argue that in Queensland it is over 100%.
As for Hurricanes, as with most sides they'll struggle at Suncorp, but then again so do the Reds based on last night's efforts!
Posted 09:50 24th February 2013
flyman says...
That was less than ordinary from both sides, forget about the humidity making the ball slippery -- at this level its not an excuse!
I wonder if Quade thought he was in the ring and practicing his footwork - absolute joke! (and this is from a Reds supporter!)
Posted 08:23 24th February 2013
runnrugby says...
Ugly game. The best part was the ref cam
Posted 04:54 24th February 2013
isthatrightref says...
Suncotp in near the river but not actually in it so "100% humidity" is a bit far-fetched even for the master baiter & really no excuse for the abysmal handling on display...
2 ordinary games in a row for the Rids & even allowing for the length of the season & bizzare playoff structure can't see them featuring at the business end of the season - Brumbies to win Oz conf, esp if Deans continues to ignore the likes of Mogg & Mowen come June.
Posted 01:54 24th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Oh look, all the whinging Aussie haters with their two cents.
tha_mai:
Players were exhausted due to the conditions (humidity, something you never experience in NZ) we will see how the Canes last next week.
As for the D. Both were very structured when you compare to the Highlanders defence on Friday. Watch the video again, hland v chiefs, not sure if it was communication break down or first game back but they were lost on their defensive pattern. Were their players playing out of position ? Is it something creeping into NZ rugby ? Probably why the Poms put 30+ points on you !!!
jmanngod:
Shouldnt be afraid of all the Aussie teams, you should pick up a win over the Force, at home and with a kiwi ref !!!
Posted 23:45 23rd February 2013
trappa says...
Well Cheika has come good on his promise that the tahs will be the entertainers of the comp...I certainly havent laughed so much in a game of footy. How he got all 22 players to bumble and fumble their way through 80 minutes entirely in sync is amazing.
Posted 23:32 23rd February 2013
hellovanite says...
It's early day's folks, all the teams will (should) improve. Folau included, you have to remember he's had only a handful of rugby games. Silly really, he should have come over to NZ and played some ITM cup first. I have no doubt that once he gets the hang of it, he'll hang a few defenses. Tonight however he only showed glimpses and went missing at times with some positional blunders in defense. Got a try but also let one in
Posted 22:30 23rd February 2013
georgesmith says...
How over-rated in I.Folau? A player who keeps dropping the ball is not good. Once again E. McKenzie shows who is the real boss. L. Gill, take a BOW! R. Simmons was colossal. B. Tapuai was the best player. His consistency makes him Wallabies no.12. Great decision to make him team's VC. F. Sautia is the real deal as well. Waratahs' TNP was horrible.
Posted 22:15 23rd February 2013
jmanngod says...
haha whatever Trinuts.. same old, same old I'm afraid for the Aussie teams this year
Posted 20:29 23rd February 2013
philipjfry says...
@tha_mai: It strikes me as the kind of thing we would end up missing if it's absent. If anything it's main use could be to monitor the referee's performances rather than add to the viewer experiance. Agreed?
Posted 19:56 23rd February 2013
melkdave says...
A game that wasnt really that good ,to many handling errors, missed tackles ect from both sides,and they rather nullified eachother on attack.The only diferance was Taps intercept try.Also how @Trinats can think that was a good defensive display is beyond me,both sides would get slaughtered by most teams NH and SH ,with the amount of missed tackles ect.Early days ,but the Reds 2 games in dont look very good ,while the Tahs are well their usual selves,promising much,and not delivering.The Brumbies look the only australian team atm,that might challange in the log,while the Force and Rebals will get a few upsets
Posted 17:00 23rd February 2013
ferdie says...
drinads, doubt those teams could score eight tries between them v the Chiefs or Highlanders based on their fumbling tonight - even in their dreams.
Reds scored 40 in 17 matches last year. Waratahs just 31 for the whole season
8 in a game? . . . kidding.
Maybe next week, expect Reds too good for Hurricanes. By the way, is there one side at full strength? - I don't believe so, stop the girly whine every second post it is an utter bore.
Posted 14:50 23rd February 2013
tha_mai says...
Trinats2 - defensive rugby - almost a total of a hundred turnovers and missed tackles. What an error rate when the ball is in play an average 35 min of the 80, that's an error on average every 20-25 seconds.
Thrilling stuff,
Very little defence in that.
What did people think of the ref's head camera? Waste of time?
Posted 14:15 23rd February 2013
tha_mai says...
49 turnovers! 24 Reds, 25 Waratahs.
By comparison it was 12/12 last week Reds v Brumbies.
Who was man of the match?
Posted 13:16 23rd February 2013
tha_mai says...
Points on the board for the Reds, and on to next week; there will be some horror stats to reflect on - missed tackles, gift turnovers, aimless kicking, dropped passes, knock-ons. And they were the positive factors!
Watching a replay would be cruel.
Neither side impressed, superstar Folau looked lost today, however, game over and on to the next match.
Noted how commentators kept on about how tired the players were after 60 minutes, not what we'd expect to see from professionals, no excuses being rusty/unfit these days.
Posted 12:49 23rd February 2013