Super Rugby 2017: Kerevi shines as Reds’ spending spree pays off

The Queensland Reds are winners again, but it took all of their experience and composure to put away the Sharks.

James Tuttle scores the match-winning try for Reds. Picture: Getty Images

The Queensland Reds are winners again, but it took all of their experience and composure to put away the Sharks of South Africa in a pulsating round one of Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium last night.

Not until the 71st minute did the Reds finally claw their way to the lead, 28-26, through a brill­iantly taken James Tuttle try in the corner, but the controversial new high tackle rule almost brought them undone. Fullback Karmichael Hunt had lined up Lwazi Mvovo as he hurled down the left flank, but at the last second the elusive winger ducked low and a tackle that would have been little above hip height suddenly became a head-high tackle. New Zealand referee Nick Briant had little option but to show him the yellow card and award the Sharks the penalty, but Springbok sharpshooter Pat Lambie, who had not missed with six previous attempt at goal, pushed the shot from the touchline to the right.

There was more than an element of justice in the result, as Samu Kerevi had been tossed over the sideline in an apparent headlock not five minutes before in exactly the same spot, but Briant had taken no action. And when he sent Kane Douglas off for a legitimate head-high tackle in the 56th minute, Briant ignored a blatant foul on Hunt as he chipped kick and attempted to regather earlier in the same movement.

Inevitably, for an season-opening match, there were errors aplenty in handling and communication and for a time Queensland looked like they would never get their act together but for Nick Stiles, having his first outing as solo Reds coach, it was the way his players toughed out the win that most pleased him.

“There is no way in the world we would have won (that game) in the last few years,” said Stiles. “It was a good lesson for us to learn in round one, but we fought hard and we can now progress forward.”

There was so much riding on this win from a Queensland perspective. They won only three games in 2016 and went on a spending spree to bolster their strength, recalling Stephen Moore, Quade Cooper and Scott Higginbotham to Ballymore, while also bringing 36-year-old veteran ­George Smith home from Japan to help revive their running game.

All four veterans played their part last night, but it was Kerevi who played the dominant role, scoring two of their four tries. It had been 622 days since Cooper had last pulled on the Reds jersey and initially the long interval showed as he spilt a ball straight into the hands of a Sharks player and three passes later Jean-Luc du Preez was waltzing over.

Higginbotham showed all his nous as he levelled the scores at 13-13, carrying on a pick-and-drive charge to place the ball at the base of the goalposts. He has scored 33 tries in an impressive Super Rugby career but this one showed cunning and guile as well as determination.

The Sharks rolled into halftime 16-13 ahead on the luxury of yet another Lambie penalty goal but with the Reds having boasted 60 per cent of possession in the first half, Queensland fans’ hopes were high as the second half began.

But another Lambie goal and then a stunning referring decision to award number eight Lubabato Mtembu a try no-one saw him score took the team from Durban eight points ahead.

No doubt Stiles had hoped that the test of character of his side would come later in the season, after they had strung some wins together. Yet there was no avoiding it and the Reds held their nerve as Cooper engineered a clean break for centre Duncan Paia’aua, who passed infield for Tuttle to score and the Reds long-awaited revival was under way. Ominously though, Cooper was injured in backplay an force off but Stiles later insisted the injury was minor.