Queensland Reds win three on the trot with gutsy showing in Argentina

QUEENSLAND’S Super Rugby renaissance has continued with a stirring 18-7 victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires — their third win in a row.

DESPERATE, spirit-infused defence and a classic 60m try won the Queensland Reds their first victory overseas since 2015 today with a gritty 18-7 landmark in Buenos Aires.

The Fox Sports Lab recorded the Reds as making 149 tackles in the second half compared to the 41 by the home side and every one was needed to quell a Jaguares side with all the ball.

There were mighty efforts across the field but the match was still in the balance when 82-Test Argentinian flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon charged for the corner with just over four minutes to play.

Reds lock Kane Douglas (top-C) vies for the ball with Argentina's Jaguares flanker Pablo Matera.

Replacement fly half Hamish Stewart hit him with a classic covering tackle that forced a boot onto the sideline before Leguizamon grounded the ball and the Television Match Official confirmed the value of the Reds’ desperation.

Stewart, 20, had not played a minute in three games this year but was drafted into action for the second half when first-choice fly half Jono Lance did not return after being assessed for a head knock.

It was Lance who had but his body on the line with two terrific front-on tackles to save tries in the first half when he again proved he is the foremost tackling No. 10 in Super Rugby.

Stewart, despite a few uncharacteristically wonky kicks, stepped up with a decisive play at the 46-minute mark in the best Queensland try of the season.

Izack Rodda (C) is tackled by Argentina's Jaguares lock Matias Alemanno.

From a back-of-the-lineout win by standout lock Izack Rodda, the Reds engineered a perfect set play.

Stewart used prop Taniela Tupou as a 135kg decoy so he could send impressive No. 8 Caleb Timu careering into a hole on his side of halfway.

Timu’s pass and those of centres Samu Kerevi and Chris Feauai-Sautia were crisp and in front of the man and they gave winger Filipo Daugunu a shot on the outside.

Daugunu showed great balance to keep his feet in a flying Jaguares tackle to dash over for the try and the 18-7 lead.

The result earned the Reds their first streak of three consecutive wins in five years since the 2013 season.

“That’s a special one for us ... we haven’t won away from home for a long time,” skipper James Slipper said in his on-field interview post-match.

The Jaguares made countless errors to cruel themselves but many were forced by Reds pressure. There were also not the freebies handed the Jaguares by the NSW Waratahs just a week earlier when an intercept pass, a poor kick-off reception and sloppy ball-control and made it far easier for the Argentinians.

Brad Thorn take a bow. U got these Reds players believing+ caring. First WWW by @Reds_Rugby since 2013 #JAGvRED pic.twitter.com/ikQrwmhk5P

— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) March 17, 2018

On halftime, the Reds showed their resolve when the Jaguares seemed certain to score. An Aidan Toua tackle on his tryline had starch before Kervi stripped the ball in the try-bound dive of centre Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias. Danger averted. Again.

Rodda stole a Jaguares’ lineout throw 10m out early in the second half as one feature of his strong game.

Lock Kane Douglas had one of his best games in a Reds jersey with his thumping defence while Timu too produced a try-saver on Jaguares fullback Joaquin Tuculet.

Once again, the Reds scrum was superb and this time against one of the most vaunted scrummaging outfits in world rugby. A scrum penalty was converted into a valuable three points by James Tuttle just before halftime (11-7).

Reds centre Samu Kerevi (R) is tackled by Argentina's Jaguares flanker Pablo Matera (2-R).

The Reds had led 8-7 when hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa forged over in a maul drive off a lineout.

Reds coach Brad Thorn can take a bow. He has embedded the team spirit, care and starch that he promised and every player is buying into it.

“To come here to Argentina, where they love their scrummaging and eating red meat, and to do the business again was special,” Thorn said. “There’s good aspects everywhere.

“We’ve got many things we need to get better at. But there is ticker, there’s fight.

“You don’t walk away from the ground or the TV set going ‘those guys don’t have a go.’”

Thorn cleared his bench in the second half when young flanker Liam Wright, replacement halfback Ben Lucas, Stewart and co all had to contribute.

SCOREBOARD

QUEENSLAND REDS 18 (Filipo Daugunu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa tries James Tuttle con 2 pens) bt JAGUARES 7 (Bautista Delguy try Nicolas Sanchez con) at Velez Sarsfield. Referee: Paul Williams.

Originally published as Queensland Reds win three on the trot with gutsy showing in Argentina