Super Rugby: Five things we learned from Reds defeat to Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium

IT’S a tough learning curve for the young Queensland Reds who botched a game they really should have won when falling 18-15 to the Highlanders. Here are five things we learned about them.

Jordan Petaia turned heads with an impressive display.

IT’S a tough learning curve for the young Queensland Reds who botched a game they really should have won when falling 18-15 to the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium.

Here are five things we learned about the Reds in yet another defeat.

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1 WOEFUL KICKING

In damp conditions, kicking for field position made plenty of sense. Good tactical kicking is contestable kicking or good kicking to touch to back your lineout. It wasn’t the rubbish the Reds so often served up from the boot with inconsistent chasers to apply pressure.

Jordan Petaia turned heads with an impressive display.

2 JORDAN PETAIA

The kid is just 18 but looks completely at home on the wing and this in a stern test against All Black Waisake Naholo. He has lovely feet, grabbed a high kick expertly and has real timing to make more and more of his moves infield. A big prospect.

3 TACKLING HEART

The Reds hacked kick after kick to the Highlanders. In just about every case of urgent defence they stood tall. Flyhalf Jono Lance felled All Black Liam Squire like he took an axe to his ankles to save one try. Coach Brad Thorn has certainly engineered some steel into the side.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa is looking good for a Wallabies role.

4 WALLABIES-IN-WAITING

Expect hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa to be one of three hookers named in the Wallabies squad this week. He showed again he is an excellent scrummager, involves himself repeatedly backing-up as a linkman and generally has an accurate throw to lineouts. Messed up the connection on a couple of lineouts which won’t please him.

5HALFBACK

Aaron Smith showed the difference a quality halfback can make when he guided the Highlanders so well when coming off the bench. The Reds have three halfbacks on the books in Ben Lucas, Moses Sorovi and James Tuttle but not an ideal solution.