Queensland Reds -v- Western Force Match Report

[travelling_gerry]

I dont think theyre too far away really. A few passes stick and their world becomes a little less negative
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Totally agree. We had their measure most of the game.

[SinBin]

Well, we're bottom of the conference..

Damn Rabel and their bye points!

Digby did a good job shepherding Tapuai so Poey coudn't stop him scoring. Couple of harsh ref calls in the final 20 minutes - things might have been different, but only because the Reds got complacent. But hell, we're a long way off being a threat so far..

[SinBin]

... gee we missed JOC

And he kept popping up in the Vitamin ads during the breaks dam it - just to remind us!

[Darren]

The Emirates Western Force turned in a much improved team performance up against reigning FxPro Super Rugby champions Queensland as both sides scored two tries but the boot of Reds flyhalf Mike Harris proved the difference following a flawless nine shots on goal.

While the 35-20 result emphasised the impact that Harris had on the match, it didn’t accurately reflect the performance of the Emirates Western Force who showed great character and fight after half time.

Staring down a 17 point margin and a pumped up Reds outfit following two first half tries, the West Australian’s scored 14 unanswered points in the second stanza to get within six with 25 minutes to play.

Tries to David Pocock and James Stannard sent a scare through the Queenslanders who had to rely on penalties to extend the margin back out late in the game.

While the Emirates Western Force will head back to Perth without a point for their efforts, they did show there is only a fine margin between them and the benchmark side in the competition, and with a few minor tweaks the WA side can be a real threat in 2012.

In danger of seeing a blow-out result after 40 minutes, Coach Richard Graham applauded the resilience and fighting qualities of his squad was enthused by the improvement across the park, particularly in the backs, following on from their round one defeat.

“I was really pleased with our character immediately after half time,” Graham said.

“We tried to play a little too much in the opening 40 minutes, particularly in and around the midfield. We didn’t panic at half time and knew that if we played at the right end of the field and applied some pressure that we’d actually score some tries.

“After we went over for that second try we need to continue to play at the right end of the field but weren’t able to keep that position consistently. In those conditions it was critical to building pressure and scoring. We will continue to learn from the result and practice so that we can convert tries into wins.”

Ball security was at a premium for both sides as the heavens opened just before kick-off and heavy rain set in for the majority of the opening half. The Reds enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Ben Tapuai scoring the opening try of the match wide on the left after 20 minutes.

Then, with five minutes remaining in the half, Reds No8 Radike Samo snatched an intercept in his own half and sprinted 50 meters to dot down under the posts. Harris’ conversion and another penalty right on the half time bell saw the Queenslanders open up a 17 point advantage and the Emirates Western Force looked gone for all money.

The West Australian’s though proved they are made of much sterner stuff in 2012 and refused to be bullied into submission in the second half. Far from the Reds enjoying free reign, the Emirates Western Force came out with great intent and following a reshuffle in the halves they looked more potent in attack.

Young flyhalf Ben Seymour was brought into the action for his debut in FxPro Super Rugby and starting 10 James Stannard moved into halfback. The change had almost immediate results as Stannard played a quick ball from the breakdown to feed skipper David Pocock who barrelled his way through the Reds defence to score.

Five minutes later the Perth side was again in good position and this time Stannard took the ball himself and shimmied his way past the Queenslanders to bring the margin back to just six.

From there the game tightened with neither side able to make a decisive break.

The margin was nine with four minutes to play but two more successful penalties from Harris put some space on the scoreboard as he took his personal tally to 25.

After starting the season with back to back away matches, the Emirates Western Force head home to play the Hurricanes at nib Stadium on Friday night.

“There was certainly improvement from last week in a lot of facets of our game,” Graham said.

“I thought our forwards gave us a really good platform again and was happy to see the backs wanting to be involved in the contest.

“I’m happier now than after last week’s game because it was a better team performance but we play this game to win and that didn’t happen so there is of course a lot more hard work to be done.

“We have wonderful support at home and are looking forward to playing in front of our passionate members and supporters.”

2012 FxPro Super Rugby – Week 2
Saturday, 3 March 2012 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Queensland Reds 35 (Tries: Ben Tapuai, Radike Samo; Con: Mike Harris 2/2; Pen: Mike Harris 7/7; DG: Will Genia 0/1)
Western Force 20 (Tries: James Stannard, David Pocock; Con: James Stannard 2/2; Pen: James Stannard 2/3)

Emirates Western Force: 15.Alfie Mafi, 14.Nick Cummins, 13.Patrick Dellit, 12.Winston Stanley, 11.Napolioni Nalaga, 10.James Stannard, 9.Brett Sheehan, 8.Ben McCalman, 7.David Pocock (capt), 6.Matt Hodgson, 5.Nathan Sharpe, 4.Toby Lynn, 3.Salesi Ma'afu, 2.Nathan Charles, 1.Pek Cowan. Res: 16.Ben Whittaker, 17.Kieran Longbottom, 18.Phoenix Battye, 19.Angus Cottrell, 20.Ben Seymour, 21.Rory Sidey, 22.Sam Wara.

Queensland Reds: 15.Luke Morahan, 14.Dom Shipperley, 13.Ben Tapuai, 12.Jono Lance, 11.Digby Ioane, 10.Mike Harris, 9.Will Genia, 8.Radike Samo, 7.Beau Robinson, 6.Jake Schatz, 5.James Horwill (capt), 4.Rob Simmons, 3.James Slipper, 2.Albert Anae, 1.Ben Daley. Res: 16.James Hanson, 17.Greg Holmes, 18.Van Humphries, 19.Eddie Quirk, 20.Liam Gill, 21.Ben Lucas, 22.Rod Davies.

By the clock
Min Score
5 James Stannard Missed PG 0 - 0
10 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 3 - 0
20 Ben Tapuai Try 8 - 0
22 Michael Harris Conversion 10 - 0
25 James Stannard Penalty Goal 10 - 3
28 James Stannard Penalty Goal 10 - 6
33 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 13 - 6
35 Radike Samo Try 18 - 6
37 Michael Harris Conversion 20 - 6
40 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 23 - 6
44 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 26 - 6
50 David Pocock Try 26 - 11
51 James Stannard Conversion 26 - 13
55 James Stannard Try 26 - 18
56 James Stannard Conversion 26 - 20
59 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 29 - 20
75 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 32 - 20
80 Michael Harris Penalty Goal 35 - 20
80 Will Genia Missed DG 35 - 20

http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsE...3/Default.aspx

[beige]

it didn’t accurately reflect the performance of the Emirates Western Force who showed great character and fight

The novelty's worn off that line :\

[Rex Messup]

how about the move on the blind from a ruck when in the clear he deadset dropped a easy pass?

bad coaching,he wasn't trained to expect it

niggle niggle

don't you start you old bastard

[Rex Messup]

And he kept popping up in the Vitamin ads during the breaks dam it - just to remind us!

Krill oil. That'll get the chicks...... "Eau de dead prawn"

I thought the lighting was very unflattering for his make up

Melbourne will do that to your tan

[James]

I don't see what the big deal is. Who thought we were going to beat the reigning champions at home?

That definitely wasn't a Queensland B side. It didn't have Higginbotham but then Schatz was solid. It didn't have Cooper but then Mike Harris' goal kicking is twice as good as Cooper's and that is where most of the Red's points came from.

We were fairly dominant in the scrums, admittedly less so towards the end. We were dominant in the line-outs, but Anae's throwing didn't help that. The breakdown was a bit of a mixed bag but I thought we were at least equal to the Reds.

If a couple of passes had stuck, and that horrendous intercept hadn't happened, it could have been a completely different ball game.

You guys moan too much.

Next week against the Hurricanes should be good.

[normie]

We scored TWO (2) tries. That has to be a positive.

[Hoolly Doolly]

Canes beat the currie cup champions in jo'burg..........

[SNOB]

Go On then mate. You have a go. See if you can do better as opposed to being a keyboard warrior.
Posted via Mobile Device

We should never have let Mitch go or bought in the Comite.
Look at what he is doing with the Lions.
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[palitu]

comite?

[SNOB]

comite?

Commitee OK?
Posted via Mobile Device

[beige]

And he kept popping up in the Vitamin ads during the breaks dam it - just to remind us!

"Tired? Stressed? James O'Connor!"

[Cowboy]

If we could give them some confidence in a pill it would go a long way to solving our problems.
I thought Cottrell and Battye did well with their time on the field.