Super Rugby: Reds go down 43-19 against Crusaders

The Queensland Reds were their own “worst enemies” after suffering a heavy loss at the hands of the Crusaders on Sunday afternoon. Here’s where it went wrong and the one major positive.

Dallas McLeod of the Crusaders charges forward. Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images.

Queensland were architects of their own demise in a disappointing 43-19 loss against the Crusaders on Sunday.

After last year breaking a 25-year drought winning in Christchurch, the Reds failed to earn their way forward enough and were impatient in the seven tries to three defeat. It led to a 12-0 deficit within the first 20 minutes and an unassailable 36-14 deficit with 27 minutes left.

The visitors rallied well in parts playing without Wallabies centres Josh Flook and Hunter Paisami as well as kicking maestro Tom Lynagh who was a late scratching.

The Reds sorely missed Lynagh’s booming clearance kicks because they were often camped in their half and rarely got any breathing room with their exit kicks.

At times they were too fancy in their own quarter and it cost them two tries. Not having the boot of their best kicking back certainly did not help.

“It was incredibly disappointing. We were our own worst enemies at times,” Reds co-captain Tate McDermott told Stan Sport.

“We have to make sure we own that. We were too loose with the ball in hand.”

ALL BLACKS ASSASSINS STAR IN FIRST 40

All Blacks outside backs Sevu Reece and Will Jordan were the Reds’ worst enemies in the first half of Sunday’s skirmish in the heat.

Diminutive left wing Reece ran in two tries to move into third on the all-time Super Rugby tryscorers list.

Meanwhile Jordan continued to enhance his reputation as the best fullback in Super Rugby with two stunning tries.

He was electric. For his first try Jordan slipped out of a tackle and burnt past the last line of defence before dotting down a deft grubber from Chay Fihaki for his second.

The Crusaders led 29-14 at half time. Bench utility Levi Aumua scored in the 79th minute which added the exclamation point on the wire-to-wire victory.

Aumua, a Brisbane Grammar old boy, was a player the Reds had no interest in a little over a decade ago and he pursued club rugby across the Tasman.

His try, converted by former Reds playmaker James O’Connor, twisted the knife into a Reds outfit which will rue their poor ball security.

Frankie Goldsbrough made an impressive cameo off the bench for the Reds. Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images.

GOLDSBROUGH THE GOODS

Frankie Goldsbrough’s cameo off the bench in his Super Rugby Pacific debut was one of the few positives glimpsed in an underwhelming effort by the Reds.

The 19-year-old was utilised at outside centre for the final 20 minutes and made plenty of involvements. He charged down a kick, sprung to his feet after being clobbered in a tackle, made a handful of big tackles himself and was among the first players getting to breakdowns.

It will be a game the error-ridden Reds will want to forget but for Goldsbrough there was plenty of promise.

The 24-point loss sets up a blockbuster bout next Saturday between the Reds and Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium where the hosts will be eager to hit back.

Paisami will return for that match, as will Wallaby prop Zane Nonggorr.

Originally published as Super Rugby: Reds go down 43-19 against Crusaders