Super Rugby: Five things we learned from the Reds’ crushing loss to the Sunwolves

QUEENSLAND’S horrible away form continues, a wasted opportunity and erratic intensity. Some of the five things we learned from the Reds’ big loss to the Sunwolves.

Hosea Saumaki of the Sunwolves about to reach out and score his team’s sixth try against Reds on Saturday.

THE Queensland Reds were embarrassed 63-28 by the lowly Sunwolves in Tokyo where their woeful record on the road resurfaced. That’s now just one win from the last 13 games on the road.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. The Reds wasted a huge chance to stay alive in the play-offs race because they had to win their easiest away game with four of their six games to come at Suncorp Stadium. Don’t imagine the Hurricanes will go easy in Wellington on Friday night.

2. The erratic intensity of the Reds in the opening 20 minutes can’t just be explained by how many young players there were in the starting team in a very different city. They were white hot against the Lions yet asleep against the Chiefs and Sunwolves. Frustrating. Couldn’t adapt on the run.

Hosea Saumaki of the Sunwolves about to reach out and score his team’s sixth try against Reds on Saturday.

3. Ben Lucas is a gritty, super-competitor but you can’t have a halfback taking two little steps before he passes from the ruckbase. It’s an area he has to address or the Reds will have to select a new halfback in Moses Sorovi or James Tuttle.

4. The tame Reds allowed Super Rugby fans to see how well the Sunwolves can play. The Sunwolves scored five tries and a penalty try and tackled better than they have all year. Imagine if they ever got to select the best possible team out of Japan not a Lite version.

5. Start Duncan Paia’aua. Two pop balls and a glimpse of footwork did lift the Reds when he joined the centres from the bench. The Reds were limited in attack and really felt the lack of a big line-busting backrower with Caleb Timu and Scott Higginbotham absent.

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Originally published as Super Rugby: Five things we learned from the Reds’ crushing loss to the Sunwolves