Queensland Reds score upset 27-22 win over Lions

[Nergal]

 

THE standing ovation for the Reds’ rousing 27-22 upset was well warranted on Saturday because it may be a signpost as big as the 2010 overthrow of the Crusaders when they visited Suncorp Stadium.

No, it wasn’t toppling a Kiwi side but this win was over vaunted South African opponents who were top of the ladder entering the round as Super Rugby finalists for the past two seasons.

It took everything this youthful Queensland side had to declaw the Lions because the visitors roared home with a 22-0 spurt over the final 27 minutes to fray the nerves.

So often teams talk about a shake up in concentration and attitude after a chastening loss like last weekend’s 36-12 tumble to Chiefs and the needle of intensity shifts just a few per cent.

The Reds were transformed and the devoted crowd of 12,369 acknowledged it.

Instead, of being 24-0 down at half-time they were 24-0 ahead and beating the competition pacesetters in every facet of the game.

“We’re not an 80-minute team yet but it was an oustanding first half against last year’s finalists and there was a lot of good stuff in the second period too,” coach Brad Thorn said.

“I like winning...I’m not much of a participator.

“I could see they were engaged straight away and I want to do more for Queensland with a wonderful group of young men.”

Reds lock Izack Rodda had promised pre-game that a pack with three youngbloods 21 or under, a rookie hooker and a golden oldie like George Smith could win the physical fight against a South African team that has dominated Super Rugby for much of the past two years.

They did just that in their best first 40 of the year.

Flanker Angus Scott-Young rattled a turnover with a crunching front-on hit and Lions fullback Andries Coetzee coughed up another when three Reds swamped him.

The line speed forced a chance when No.8 Caleb Timu raced in an intercepted pass from 45m out for 10-0 before his early exit with an ankle injury.

Either side of that try, prop JP Smith crossed off a driving maul after just two minutes and 20-year-old flyhalf Hamish Stewart showed his mettle for the big time.

The Reds were looking for a spark at the 26-minute mark when Stewart took the initiative himself with a right foot sidestep, beat three defenders and ran 25m to the shadow of the goalposts.

It was the skill in the little things that made such a difference because hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa expertly scooped the wet ball from the turf, after a shower, to score for 17-0.

Stewart’s tackling was terrific, 13 in all. He made two rippers on his own tryline, took the ball the line, kept a cool head and his only real blemish was a careless long pass late in the game that could easily have been a seven-point intercept play.

The Reds had many heroes. Ageless flanker Smith was super-steadier for the full 80 minutes, Scott-Young made 18 tackles, prop Taniela Tupou was a powerful scrum influence, Rodda was non-stop, Kane Douglas rose in the tough second half skirmishes and winger Filipo Daugunu had some key plays.

Centre Samu Kerevi showed some excellent shades to his game. It was his clever kick ahead which set up field position for the first try, his defence was starchy and he showed the way.

The Reds can be immensely proud of this bounceback win to reach 4-5 in the season because they have already won as many games as they did in the whole of 2017 with seven games to come.

Kerevi saluted the Smith factor: “The experience and calmness of the guy from all the Super Rugby and Test footy he’s played made a difference because even though we were in the lead we were still a bit jumpy with certain calls.

“He was that threat over the ball (at the tackle) and when they were worried about him, other guys like Nela (Tupou) won us a few turnovers.”

QUEENSLAND REDS 27 (Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jean-Pierre Smith, George Smith, Caleb Timu tries Filipo Daugunu 2 cons pen) LIONS 22 (Malcolm Marx 2, Marnus Schoeman 2 tries Elton Jantjies con) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Angus Gardner. Crowd: 12,369.