Winners: The Reds
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The Reds compounded the Blues' woes in Super Rugby by sealing a 23-11 victory at Eden Park on Friday.
From the scoreline the game was won and lost in the first six minutes as the hungry Reds scored two quick-fire tries that had the Blues flailing.
Digby Ioane and Luke Morahan were the men who contributed to the basement-sitting Blues' downfall as further pressure heaps on Pat Lam.
Once again the set-piece was a major concern for the Blues, especially early on as a lack of retained possession proved to be their Achilles heel. The Reds did not need a second invitation to come out of the blocks firing though as they took just two minutes to get over the line, in their first spell. That score came almost from the first kick-off as, after reclaiming the kick-off, the Queenslanders went through the phases before Ioane burrowed over.
Mike Harris could not knock over the extras from wide out against his former employers but the message was sent to the shell-shocked Blues that the Reds, despite all their playmaking injuries this campaign, were not champions for nothing. The visitors would soon be back to further emphasise their intent.
That came only four minutes later in a glaring representation of poor Blues defence in back-play. Wallaby scrum-half Will Genia immediately spotted the frailties wider out and looked for width, which led to George Moala being caught in no man's land against two attackers and the rest was history as full-back Morahan had a simple passage to the line. This time Harris was on-target and the scoreline made for painful reading for the Blues at 0-12.
Pat Lam's ailing outfit needed a foothold and fast on the slippery surface due to the torrential rain that had bucketed down just before kick-off, and after some encouraging passages they were finally on the board courtesy of Luke Braid, who dotted down under a mass of bodies.
That critical score in terms of the Blues' hopes of victory was in the midst of continued troubles at the line-out, while their dismal back-play was leaving something to be desired.
It was 5-12 going past the half-hour in what was a fair reflection of how things had played out between a duo desperate for the points. Gareth Anscombe and Harris then traded a penalty apiece to send them in at 8-15 but it was a case of deja vu after the turnaround.
Out came the Reds again with real intent and this time it took them four minutes to cross the whitewash via wing Dom Shipperley, who scooted over the line after Genia's beautifully-weighted pass found its recipient on the right touchline. It was a hammer blow for the Blues.
That made it 8-20 to the Reds and despite the Blues showing a touch more quality with ball in hand, especially when Benson Stanley and Michael Hobbs entered the fray, a sole Anscombe penalty was their only offering in the second 40. The Reds meanwhile turned down going for the bonus-point and instead took a further three from Harris on 74 minutes.
Victory lifts the Reds up to second in the Australian conference, just a point behind the Brumbies, while the Blues are sitting rock bottom. They go to the Hurricanes next week.
The scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: L Braid
Pen: Anscombe 2
For Reds:
Tries: Ioane, Morahan, Shipperley
Con: Harris
Pen: Harris 2
Blues: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 George Moala, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Luke Braid (c), 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Ali Williams, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Chris Lowrey, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Benson Stanley.
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Beau Robinson, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Ed Quirk, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Anthony Faingaa.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match officials: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Comments
Trinats2 says...
Borig:
Justice 4 Trinats !!!!.... no wait that's a saffa thing. How about he was poisoned !!!!!
Beware thrown stones in glass houses. Thanks for the, sort of, kind thoughts !
Posted 11:41 30th April 2012
Wallaroo says...
@Borig. mate love it. Bit harsh associating Titnats with "Bok", I'd understand something more along the lines of AusVanTitnats / Kanga-Tri-Nuts.
@Ramage. LOL, great response. Yeah we had great referees, then we had "Dick & Sons" and now we have "Spec & Savers". I don't think it has anything to do with a lack of domestic competition, that's a feeble excuse, it has to do with John "cut costs & stuff Aussie rugby" O' Kneel before me.
Regarding blame - mate it always Australia's fault So no need to worrying any longer about what the Saffas say about NZ or visa verse. I am here to tell you that we are the ones to blame. All these incorrect and cheating calls were made because Aussies either bribed, threatened or demanded at one time or another.
If I've told you once I've told you a million times, you can't trust a convict.
Posted 13:44 28th April 2012
Trinats2 says...
This is Trinats and this may be my last post, I can't log into my old username. May have touched a nerve !
Have to feel for Blues. All the attacking power but lack of confidence letting them down.
Digby too upright in contact. maybe playing at centre or too long out, Should be right for next week.
Ginea play the best performance by a 9 so far, but I don't expect him to be in the "team of the week" after all it was the Bpttom placed Blues.
Ramage: I'm too one eyed to ref, although I do respect them (while playing)
Wally: right back at ya !
Trader: you really are a retard, go home.
Good luck everyone else, hope rugby is the winner. Reds to make the final !
Posted 13:14 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@borig not my cake though. Are you Marie Antoinette reincarnated?
Posted 12:56 28th April 2012
jonesy2 says...
welcome to perth mr genia!!
Posted 11:21 28th April 2012
jonesy2 says...
ah digby. genia was unbelievable
Posted 07:35 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@wallaroo phew had you on my sane list and looked to see if it was full moon. Trouble with these posts is I can't see that cheeky ocker grin as you write or you my manaiacal Manson one.
As for stealing everything good I know that one.The only one you could take and keep was Joh Bielke Petersen, whether he was good is a moot point, but Pavlovas, Phar Lap and Split Ends no no no lol.
@Borig fair call but as you see Wallaroo doesn't take offence and reads me pretty well. Australia does have to do something about its refereeing stocks. One thing Wallaroo did say that was correct was there was, a good few years, ago a good panel of top OZ referees who showed the world how to keep a game flowing and ref a good game. Why have their stocks dropped to such a low level, South Africa have been the ones who have lifted the standard from the abysmal referees who posed in the apartheid days and now have a panel of good referees. NZ lost a number of good experienced referees at the same time when we had about 5 refereeing at International level. Then under the guidance of Keith (Bryce's father) the only top referee (I say this advisably) was his boy Bryce. Since his departure we have seen the rise of many more of the younger brigade. What I cant understand is where are these refs from OZ. So many have been tried and failed and either disappeared from sight or run the line as assistants. I often use the argument that OZ doesn't have a national Competition but apart from one year they never have and yet still produced some fine referees, I really just don't get it. I've pleaded with Trinuts to make himself available to help OZ referees overcome this problem but alas all to no avail. Be good if there were some, as it would spread the attacks on cheating and corruption over a wider group. Surely not all NZ and South African referees are corrupt and cheats. Or is it just the kiwis?
Posted 06:59 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@wallaroo phew always had you on my sane list and looked to see if it was full moon. trouble with these posts you cant see that cheeky ocker grin as you write or my manaiacal Manson one.
As for stealing everything good I well know that one.The only one I was quite happy for you to take and keep was Joh Bielke Petersen, but Pavlovas, Phar Lap and Split Ends no no no lol.
Posted 06:34 28th April 2012
sandal says...
It was the Reds' defence -- desperate defence -- that won it. How many raids did the Blues make deep into the 22? And all for a solitary try.
The Blues lacked two of their most potent weapons at close range, Woodcock and Kaino, and given that, I don't believe Weepu's service was deep enough. Pat Lam is to blame for the flat alignment, and for the failure to adapt.
I am not a Blues fan (though now living close to the ground I do go to games there), but even I can see the Blues have been desperately close in almost all their losses, and without an ounce of luck all season. It could all have been quite different. On top of that, one must acknowledge that it is not rugby's way to dismiss a coach mid-season.
Lam is an honourable man and no doubt feels he must stick to his task. But he needs to realise that the greater harm lies in his staying.
Footnote: Neither Moala nor McCartney nor Saili are good enough for this level. Or even, perhaps, the one below it.
Posted 06:22 28th April 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ Trader... I seem to recall that EP is a hoodoo ground for Wobblies & esp laptop retriever, according to oldmate Trinats anyway...
Had to follow the game on PRLive via wifey's mobile, reading the Live & now these posts seems like the team that made lots of mistakes got up over the team that made even more & Reds will have to lift their game several notches next week to avoid a thrashing. Bring it on!
Posted 22:49 27th April 2012
Wallaroo says...
@Ramage LOL, mate tongue in cheek, more to wind up the Saffas. Anyway we are always being accused of stealing anyone good - thought I'd get my claim in early mate.
Posted 16:07 27th April 2012
NHsaints says...
Disgusting. Nonu was ok at best, Ranger continues to look good even out of his obviously better position of 13 and the rest of the team continues to dissapoint...why the hell play Pudgy Weepu instead of Alby Matthewson?! Look, honestly the management is as much at fault as the players but boy do the players need to start stepping up...but seriously with a backline like that and a scrum as strong as the blues they seriously need to rethink their plans...first they need to sort out restarts and lineouts, then move onto backs moves rather than saying ok we have a bunch of great backs so they'll be able to come up with something themselves...
Posted 15:13 27th April 2012
davodiablo says...
I'm not sure anyone is getting any joy watching the Blues play so badly . They seem so lacking in commitment , confidence and basic togetherness as a team . If they were going to turn it around it would have happened by now . I'm not even a blues fan but as a rugby fan I feel I'm missing something special when they play . There is so much talent going wasted and if we're not to care some great players might diss appear abroad just to breath some fresh air !
Posted 15:09 27th April 2012
Ramage says...
@ Wallaroo omg you cant be serious. So tell me where are the OZ refs in Super Rugby your top ref and only ref who is appointed to games, Walsh, is a former NZer. Your second ref, Smith, has only had a handful of appointments and the two that have been added to the trial panel have still yet to get a starting appointment. Doesn't show me that you have the best refs in the world. Look at those dropped from the panel Marks, Leckie and Pearce. Oh and Ayoub is still hovering around in the TMO box. OZ refereeing is and has been over the last five years at an all time low.
As for the game congratulations the reds deserved their win as they played more consitent rugby they have improved slightly but are still off the boil and still along way from the side they were last year.
The Bloos are patently woeful and the more this year goes on one is left wondering about selections of the squad, the training of the squad and the lack of attention to detail. I hate to say it but the number of basic errors and ball retention is now fast becoming a joke. At this rate the Rabbles no longer hold the title of the worst team.
Another prediction goes astray Trinuts but no doubt you will accept that.
Posted 14:22 27th April 2012
davodiablo says...
You've really got to admire Blues management for sticking by Pat Lam .
Posted 14:05 27th April 2012
rugby_lord says...
Both teams were bad but I seriously can not believe the Blues are this bad...damn they were pathetic tonight.
Posted 13:49 27th April 2012
turboboy says...
I didn't see the game but if the ref has a good game shouldn't he get a mention aswell. With all the ref bashing a good performance by the whistle blower should also get a gentlemanly nod of approval.
I don't expect Bray to come out and pat him on the head otherwise it would look like patronising a bloke for doing his job or favoritism but PR should give a shout out.
The Blues are living up to their name because that is what they are giving all their fans.
Posted 13:47 27th April 2012
zambokke says...
The Blues have such talented players on paper and most would march into most teams: Ranger, Nonu, Wulf, Weepu (when on form), the Braids, Paulo,Williams and Stanley. These guys are all international or potential international class. The Blues fans must be so frustrated! I don't understand why they can't kick into gear - is it all just coaching? (Similar situtaion to PDV not getting the best from a talented Bok squad!)
Posted 12:20 27th April 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Its not getting any better, is it.
Posted 11:46 27th April 2012
Wallaroo says...
Well done Reds. What a step up, Lucas starting to come good. Always a pleasure to watch Digby play, he's a class act. I'm having a Bundy for Titnats tonight, you sir are a gentleman and a scholar (also a banana bender but we don't hold day jobs against one another).
Jubes must have had a call from Bray. He ref'ed like a true Aussie - effectively, demonstrating a proper understanding of the rules, communicative, all the qualities that make Aussies the best refs in the world.
Posted 11:40 27th April 2012