Queensland Reds overcome absence of Quade Cooper and Will Genia to thump Rebels 36-20

QUEENSLAND Reds overcame the absence of Will Genia and Quade Cooper to thump the Rebels 36-20 at AAMI Park on Friday night.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Nick Frisby of the Reds celebrates after scoring a try during the round 17 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Reds at AAMI Park on June 27, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

THE two-try heroics of fill-in Reds halfback Nick Frisby tonight silenced the Rebels after the Melbourne club’s cocky sledge to promote the game backfired in a huge way.

Without “Will Who” and “Quade What’s-his-name”, the inspired Reds rattled on four tries by half-time to take charge 22-3 into the strong, chill wind that whipped around Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

By full-time, the Reds had claimed a spirit-filled 36-20 result, won back-to-back games for the first time this season and showed their intent to upset the finals plans of the Western Force and NSW Waratahs in their final two games.

You have to give credit to the Rebels for trying to lure fans behind this bold promotional ad: “Not All Reds Get Better With Time. Back To The Cellar With This Lot.”

It was akin to a Bangladeshi spinner sledging an Aussie batsmen when the Australian team was in a dip and being clubbed for six.

The Reds can hardly bleat at a little promotional niggle against them. They were the inventors of “Boo a Blue” back in the 1970s to taunt NSW sides at Ballymore and stirred up a feisty crowd welcome in Brisbane for defector Wendell Sailor in 2006.

If the Rebels sensed the 12th-placed Reds would be a soft kill, they were mistaken. Reds skipper James Horwill produced a vintage display.

Not only was he a rumbling dominator in tight, he found wings in cover defence to make a superb try-saving tackle to drive Rebels finisher Jason Woodward into touch.

It was the giant lock securing a poor pass above his head and throwing a beauty himself that ignited his side’s slick opening try for replacement winger Lachie Turner.

It was Turner’s first touch after replacing Rebels-bound Dom Shipperley, whose 46-game Reds career ended in dreadful circumstances.

He was in hospital last night after suffering a bad fracture dislocation of the left ankle in the sixth minute when caught up in the sprawl of bodies after a strong Anthony Faingaa tackle on Rebels winger Tom English.

Horwill went over to the distressed Shipperley as medics attended him and put him on a stretcher.

“I just told him to keep his chin up and said ‘Look mate we’ll get the job done for you’,” Horwill said.

“We’ll do everything to support him in his recovery.”

The most impressive part was the Reds confidently keeping their patterns off slick flyhalf Ben Lucas and Frisby even with kingpins Will Genia and Quade Cooper both missing from the Reds starting side for the first time since 2008.

“We played very well in trying conditions in that first half and our best period of play was when we were down to 14 men (after a Turner yellow card) because we didn’t release the pressure and got pay with a try when it is normally the other way around,” Horwill said.

Lachie Turner scored two tries and was also sin-binned after coming on as a replacement.

Lucas controlled play well. He produced a lovely inside ball for winger Rod Davies when he scooted by three players for a late try while Frisby’s lust for attack shone behind a commanding pack performance.

Horwill kept the pressure on by five times waving away penalty goal possibilities to kick for 5m lineouts. Twice, the Reds rumbled and maulled ahead and twice veteran prop Greg Holmes flipped a final ball for Frisby to dart over on the blindside.

“I thought for 79 minutes and 30 seconds he (Frisby) he managed the game well,” Graham said with a grin when making reference to Frisby dabbling with a quick tap which led to a Rebels try.

The Rebels’ ruckbase defence, early lineout work and composure was awful under the Reds pressure. The one upside for the Rebels is Mike Harris. His impressive passing, poise and running from fullback for the Reds last night was a constant thorn but he’ll be with the Rebels next season.

“We need to pay credit to the Reds pack. They were excellent and there were times where we were just not tough enough to stay in contests and fight,” Rebels coach Tony McGahan said.

“It’s disappointing to lose as we have to the Waratahs, Brumbies and Reds after such a good win in Brisbane. We’d all like to know the answer to ‘why?’ because we haven’t played to our potential in them.”

The Reds may have been a pale imitation of the champion 2011-13 side for much of this year but not last night. They had a six-try punch for the first time this season and clearly were focused on avenging the embarrassing 30-27 loss when the sides met in Brisbane earlier in the season.

Davies was excellent and his pace will be missed when he heads to French club Biarritz next year. He scored one try but was called back on two others, an intercept and another when putting a boot on the touchline when cleverly kicking and regathering.

Shipperley and centre Anthony Faingaa (calf) going down means the Reds do not have enough backs to fill seven starting spots and three bench positions for next weekend’s visit to Perth.

QUEENSLAND REDS 36 (Nick Frisby 2, Lachie Turner 2, Rod Davies, Michael Harris tries Harris 3 cons)

MELBOURNE REBELS 20 (Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Mitch Inman tries Jason Woodward con pen) at AAMI Park. Crowd: 10,473.

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Originally published as Queensland Reds overcome absence of Quade Cooper and Will Genia to thump Rebels 36-20