Super Rugby: Highlanders beat Queensland Reds 18-15

THE gutted Reds will kick themselves for blowing Saturday night’s shot at ending their two-year hoodoo against Kiwi sides because it was a prized scalp there for the taking.

Queensland’s Izack Rodda after the narrow loss to the Highlanders on Saturday night.

THE gutted Reds will kick themselves for blowing Saturday night’s shot at ending their two-year hoodoo against Kiwi sides because it was a prized scalp there for the taking.

The Reds had to absorb an 18-15 loss instead which was such a waste of the supreme scrambling, heart and moments of excellence they did throw at the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium.

Kick themselves? If the Reds had kicked like Highlanders fly half Lima Sopoaga they would have won easily because the kicking in general play by the Queenslanders was awful.

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With the Reds putting unnecessary pressure on themselves, lock Izack Rodda was the player who copped the late penalty for a high collar grab that Kiwi Sopoaga turned into the match-winning penalty goal with three minutes to play.

Replacement halfback Moses Sorovi hacked away usable ball again and again late in the game when the scores were tied 15-all for 20 minutes while Ben Lucas and Jono Lance should also have kicked far better although kick-chasers were too often absent.

Reds skipper Scott Higginbotham was to the point because ending a 10-loss streak against Kiwi sides since 2016 should have been broken for 11,729 fans.

Queensland’s Samu Kerevi on the charge on Saturday night.

“We did everything to lose the game at the back end of the second half ... kicking it back and not backing our defensive lineout because the plan was to kick ball out,” Higginbotham said.

It was such a waste because the Reds scored one of the tries of the season, a 20-phase special to lead 15-8.

Winger Izaia Perese had kept it alive with a backhanded fling inside as he tumbled over the sideline. It was finished by a lovely interplay with fullback Hamish Stewart finishing off a Lance-Samu Kerevi switch.

Hamish Stewart reaches out to score for Queensland.

Lance made a brilliant, low try-saving tackle on All Black flanker Liam Squire, Lucas held a far bigger body up over the tryline, Taniela Tupou roared from behind to save another and Kerevi knocked over bodies again and again.

This match had enormous significance for coach Brad Thorn, from tiny Mosgiel in the heart of Highlanders country where his late father first instilled his values and gave him a lust for football.

It was a poor Lucas kick with his left boot which came back to bite the Reds. Only desperate defence repelled four pick-and-drive surges at the tryline before they escaped by conceding just a penalty goal early on.

It was a messed-up lineout 10m from their own tryline that created the chance for winger Tevita Li to got through Izaia Perese for 8-3.

The Reds stopped shooting themselves in the foot for the final 10 minutes of the half when prop Taniela Tupou led two imposing scrums that smashed the Highlanders’ eight.

Queensland’s Izack Rodda after the narrow loss to the Highlanders on Saturday night.

The second of those scrum penalties was turned into a seven-point play when hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa burrowed over after a lineout drive for a confidence surge and a 10-8 halftime lead.

Upfront, there were superb performances from Paenga-Amosa and prop Tupou, another forward certain of selection in this week’s Wallabies squad.

As good, were young wingers Perese, with his superb, veering 45m run late in the game, and Jordan Petaia, who impressed marking All Black Waisake Naholo.

Full credit to the Highlanders. They were immeasurably better with the steering of All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith when he came on as a second half replacement.

The Reds can’t use the inexperience card for this one because basic errors let them down. You don't get the chance to beat a Kiwi side too often when Ben Smith and three others have been withdrawn to rest for All Blacks duties.

HIGHLANDERS 18 (Tevita Li, Liam Squire tries Lima Sopoaga con 2 pens) QUEENSLAND REDS 15 (Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Hamish Stewart tries Jono Lance con pen) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Rasta Rashivenga. Crowd: 11,729

Originally published as Super Rugby: Highlanders beat Queensland Reds 18-15