Super Rugby 2015: Queensland Reds overcome tumultuous week with dominant victory over Western Force
THE Reds have overcome a tumultuous week and the loss of James O’Connor to defeat the Force 18-6 at Suncorp Stadium.
LOSING new general James O’Connor 20 minutes before kick-off spun the Reds week into the chaos that can only be cured by stubborn guts, pride and a brilliant 75m try from nowhere.
The Queenslanders somehow pulled it off in stirring fashion with an 18-6 win over the Western Force that also defied the disruption and shock triggered by fullback Karmichael Hunt facing them on match eve to tell them of his cocaine charge.
There was no certainty there was even going to be a game until 5.30pm when the final call was made to go ahead at a sodden Suncorp Stadium after two days of drenching rain.
RE-LIVE THE ACTION INCLUDING STATS AND VIDEO IN MATCH CENTRE.
Even losing frontline forwards James Horwill (hand) and James Slipper (head knock) in the opening 30 minutes could not derail a mighty redemption mission that completely flipped their lame disappearing act in Canberra eight days earlier.
O’Connor warmed up and practised his goalkicking for more than 30 minutes before deciding his troublesome left knee would not be able to handle the uncertain footing.
Halfback Will Genia expertly took over as captain when Slipper departed. He had an inspiring role as team leader, astute kicker and distributor in a tight game plan and took the pressure off emergency flyhalf Nick Frisby.
His halfback understudy had not started a game at No.10 in five years since his days at Marist College Ashgrove and his brief trial minutes in the position in Cairns last month was his only relevant background.
Frisby stepped up admirably with the sort of can-do attitude that coach Richard Graham had demanded. The pack, so maligned after failing to front against the ACT Brumbies, delivered big time to shut out the Force pack that upset the champion NSW Waratahs a week ago.
Slipper showed it too but might not remember in his haze. In a bizarre scene, Slipper tried to run away from the team doctor in an effort to prove he was fit to continue after lurching groggily to the turf. There was no way.
It’s full credit to the passion of the Reds fans that 14,199 turned out. They were rewarded just before half-time with a super try to rate with any dry day classic on a surface that was surprisingly good.
Rookie winger Chris Kuridrani decided to back himself from just outside his own quarter. The linking with centres Chris Feauai-Sautia and Samu Kerevi uncorked a wonderful raid that gave former Wallaby Lachie Turner 25m to finish.
He steamrolled Force defender Luke Morahan for the try and the 11-6 jump that the Reds never surrendered.
The Reds scrum took charge of the match early in the second half with one powerful scrum shunt after another, all the more impressive because scrum leader Slipper and Horwill were onlookers only.
Replacements Ben Daley and Dave McDuling were at the core of the work that ultimately generated a penalty try on the Force feed. So dominant was their shunt that they forced a tighthead on the decaying Force scrum in the 54th minute.
Genia and Turner showed their experience and former All Blacks backrower Adam Thomson really stiffened the pack with a lineout steal, his poise, positional play and general hardness.
QUEENSLAND REDS 18 (1 penalty try) (Lachie Turner try con 2 pens) bt FORCE 6 (Sias Ebersohn 2 pens) at Suncorp Stadium.
Referee: Nick Briant. Crowd: 14,199.
Originally published as Super Rugby 2015: Queensland Reds overcome tumultuous week with dominant victory over Western Force