The Brumbies came to Suncorp looking to maintain their impressive record at Suncorp. Given their season, it was clear they were going to be up against it.
The Brumbies got first points after a high tackle was penalised. Giteau kicked it, taking first points. The Reds went straight back up the other end and were awarded a penalty. Quade kicked it, levelling the score. The same thing happened again and after 10 minutes, it was 6-all and no one was winning. Was the Brumbies game plan to kill Rugby?
After Gits kicked another, to give the Brumbies the lead, they must have decided the three point buffer was enough to start playing, and after a near yellow card to James Horwill for lifting, the Brumbies scored, through Stephen Moore, a couple of phases after the line out. Gits slotted the conversion to maintain his 100% kicking tonight making the score 16-6 to the visitors.
The Reds attempted to hit back, but the Brumbies defence was up to it, as they repelled multiple Red attacks. It was becoming clear that part of that defence was based on the old saying “the best defence is a good offence”, as try scorer Stephen Moore was lucky to not receive a yellow for playing the ball on the ground.
The tactic was working though, as they held the Reds out and made their way back into Reds territory and left with points, after Giteau kicked another penalty further extending their lead to 19-6
That looked to be it for the half, but the Reds still had something up their sleeve. They sparked up and began to look like the Reds again, some quick hands saw Ben Lucas run over, after a stumble, for only his second try, but it was one the team needed. Quade missed the first kick of the match and failed to add the extras.
The teams went into the sheds with the Brumbies in the lead 19 – 11.The Reds were looking flat and uninspired, seemingly switching roles with the Brumbies who were full of running.
The second half started in much the same way, but instead of trading penalties they were trading bombed tries. The closest of these were the Mitchell Chapman try, which live looked good. However when it went up to the TMO, it was clear he had put one hand in touch at the same time he grounded the ball. No Try.
Digby Ioane appeared to be killed by Ita Vaea, totally knocked cold. Vaea was lucky to stay on the field, as Diggers was stretchered off. To add insult to injury, the Brumbies were given the scrum feed as Digby was deemed to have knocked on as his corpse fell to the ground. The Suncorp crowd were not happy.
Digby going to sleep may have done the opposite to his team as they appeared to come to life.
It was becoming apparent the Ref had forgotten his cards tonight, thus the reluctance to use them as Rob Simmons and Ben Hand tested him with an off the ball Stink. The Ref warned them for “pushing and shoving” off the ball. This was later proved AGAIN when another ruck infringement from the Brumbies, while the Reds were on attack was treated with a final warning.
Ben Lucas went off with shoulder issues (but came back, apparently nerve issues).
Mark Chisholm went off with knee or ankle.
Genia went off with a leg injury.
Then Lucas came back on, but was lucky to finish the match, with what looked like leg issues.
Matty K correctly asked on Twitter if there would be any Wallabies left, the way they were falling in this match. He also provided the title of this review though is could easily have been called Raiders of the lost Ref; such was his inability to policy ruck infringements and the off-side line.
With two minutes to go, there was only three points scored in the second half, the Reds were under the pump, defending a lineout on their own 22. Scott Higginbotham jumped and took the defensive lineout and it looked like something might be on, but it was not to be. Matt Giteau missed a drop goal attempt. They got the ball back from the 22 drop out and earned a penalty. Stephen Moore wanted to kick the ball out, but was over ruled by Captain Gits, He kicked the Penalty denying the Reds a losing Bonus Point.
Crowd: 27 478
Reds 14 (Try: Lucas, Conv:, Pen: Cooper (3)) Def by Brumbies 22 (Try: Moore, Con: Giteau, Pen: Giteau (5))
