Waratahs wary of ‘dangerous’ Reds ahead of Townsville double-header

The Waratahs are primed to face a “dangerous” Queensland as the tussle for finals spots heats up across Super Rugby Pacific.

NSW managed a last-gasp win over the Highlanders on Friday to stay in the fight for a quarter-finals berth and they must now account for a Reds side sitting a rung above them on the ladder and playing with freedom after the announcement coach Brad Thorn was moving on at season’s end.

The news lit a fire under the team and helped them overpower the Force 31-17. It did not go unnoticed by NSW coach Darren Coleman, who was in a box at Suncorp Stadium watching the match as part of a 30-year reunion with college rugby friends.

“They’re playing with some spirit and they’re dangerous,” Coleman said. “Looking at the ladder and form, clearly there’s a gap between the top five [and the rest of the field], so [the Reds], like us, have aspirations of pushing into the six and they’re the next best Aussie team. This game is going to have a bit of extra feeling and importance to it.”

Queensland No.7 Fraser McReight said Thorn’s announcement was a big part of the team’s improved showing.

“I think it’s great for Queensland and Thorny ... it’s out in the open ... the players know what we want to do,” McReight said. “We actually love Thorny so much. We respect him massively and we want to get the win for him. It’s lit a fire for all of us that this is it, it’s our last chance to play under Thorny, so we want to get the results for him.”

NSW coach Darren Coleman praised Jake Gordon’s tough love approach in Saturday’s clutch win over the HighlandersCredit: Getty

Coleman’s hopes that his team can mount a five-week run into the finals were boosted with confirmation he will be able to field his first-choice squad for Saturday’s match in Townsville.

Ned Hanigan is still sidelined as the team takes a cautious approach to a recent head knock, and Tane Edmed’s return from a stress fracture in his back has not been given a concrete timeline.

Beyond those two players, however, the Waratahs will have a chance to play themselves into some continuity to build on their 21-20 win over the Highlanders.

“We’re competing hard, we’re playing physical, we’re defending with real toughness and resilience so I’m excited,” Coleman said. “We’re getting ourselves in good positions to create a lot of line breaks ... I’m confident we can start finishing them off.

“It was hard watching that second half, it’s not where we want to be and it’s the quality of performance we want to be giving our supporters but I’m optimistic we’re in the final stages of having it all click.”

‘It lit a fire under us’: Fraser McReight on the Reds’ reaction to Thorn’s resignation.Credit: Getty

Coleman also praised his captain, Jake Gordon, for giving his team mates a pointed spray when a converted try to Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith gave the visitors a six-point lead with less than 20 minutes to go.

“I thought it was good what he did. The momentum had slipped away from us. Until then I thought we were pretty, not comfortable, but I felt we were in control of the game,” he said.

“Their attack wasn’t troubling us, we were defending for long periods without fracturing us, then when that momentum swung he felt he had to do something to jolt the boys out of it, to get them switched on. Every now and then if you’ve got to give them a spray, you’ve got to give them a spray.”

Fijiana Drua defy turbulence to knock out NSW in Super W semi

Meanwhile, the Waratahs women will miss a Super W final for the first time in the competition’s history after falling 20-17 to the Fijiana Drua on Sunday.

The Drua, who are defending champions, will vie for back to back titles when they play the Reds in Townsville on Saturday in a double header with the Reds and Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.

The Reds beat the Brumbies 23-20 in a thrilling contest at Concord Oval on Sunday afternoon, narrowly avoiding a second semi-final upset.

The Waratahs were devastated by their three-point loss earlier in the afternoon. They were unbeaten in the regular season and raced to a 17-0 lead in the first 20 minutes, but the Fijiana Drua “bit back hard”, in the words of NSW winger Maya Stewart.

The Drua scored two tries in the back end of the half, kicked a penalty goal to get within two points of their hosts and scored a third try in the 69th minute to take the lead 20-17.

It was an emotional win for the team, after leaking a number of its championship-winning squad members to rival franchises and rugby league in the off-season.

They have also had to endure a disrupted preparation in recent weeks, with the game’s governing body in Fiji cash-strapped and under fire from within.

Karalaini Naisewa fends off Jade Sherdian in the Super W semi-final.Credit: Getty

The team were turned away from the restaurant in their Brisbane hotel in the lead-up to their final regular season fixture because the Fiji Rugby Union had not paid the team’s bill.

The team was fed by Brisbane’s Fijian diaspora and grassroots clubs, while Rugby Australia paid the account on the FRU’s behalf. Back home, the FRU board deferred its annual general meeting in the midst of a governance and financial crisis.

“There were a lot of tears and also laughter after so many things that we have gone through,” coach Inoke Male said after the match.

“We know we have a big task ahead. I will take any team that comes our way, we’ll prepare, go back to the drawing board, rectify our weaknesses and prepare for the final.”

It was heartbreak for the Waratahs, who have not missed a final since the competition started in 2018 and were on track to make it six straight. The competition heavyweights had posted an unbeaten run of five games, including a 31-5 demolition of the Drua in round three.

“There were a lot of tears and also laughter after so many things that we have gone through.”

Fijiana Drua coach Inoke Male

The Waratahs raced out to a 17-0 lead by the 20-minute mark through tries to Desiree Miller, Maya Stewart and Adiana Talakai. But the Drua “bit back hard”, in the words of Test and NSW winger Maya Stewart at halftime.

Barnstorming prop Siteri Rasolea scored in the 23rd minute and outside centre Vani Arei dotted down three minutes later to make it 17-12.

The match settled into an arm wrestle for the remainder of the half, staunch NSW defence holding out the Drua’s attacking raids. Fullback Lani Tarei kicked a penalty goal to narrow the gap to two points in the 43rd minute and the visitors had two tries held up thanks to their players carrying too high.

The Waratahs led 17-0 by the 20th minute but couldn’t hold out the Fijiana Drua. Credit: Getty

Miller looked to have bagged her second but lost the ball over the line and it was the Drua who scored instead, taking the lead for the first time in the 69th minute.

The Waratahs fought hard to find a way but were frequently penalised on the Drua’s line, snuffing out their attack. The Drua’s defence was desperate, eventually securing them the win.

“We showed we had the Waratahs back peddling in the back of the first half and we knew we could do that again if we kept going through the middle. I’m really proud of the girls that they stuck to our game plan,” Male said.

England v France sets new attendance record for women’s rugby

The win came after a women’s Six Nations match set a new world record for a women’s rugby match in London overnight.

A new high of 58,498 fans watched England beat a spirited France 38-33 to win their fifth straight women’s Six Nations title and lift the grand slam at Twickenham.

The fixture smashed the world record for attendance at a women’s rugby game which was previously 42,579 at last year’s World Cup final at Eden Park when New Zealand beat England.

It gave England coach Simon Middleton a fitting farewell, as his side won a 24th straight match in the competition.

Their last Six Nations loss came in 2018 when France narrowly beat the Red Roses 18-17 en route to the title.

with Reuters