2. OMG! The Reds Didn’t Lose!
This is a bit of a secret. I’ve kept to myself a long time. Here goes. I’m a Reds fans. And I had a pretty good time on Saturday night watching my side nearly win against the Aukland Blues. It just goes to show how far the Reds have fallen that almost everyone was insanely happy to get a draw. But what has really changed in the Reds game plan? From what I could see nothing really. The scrum was still great, the lineout was okay, ruck and maul average. Jake McIntyre still ran towards the sideline every time he touched the ball and most of the backs ran with him.
So what was different? Well Andrew Ready had a blinder for 76 minutes. (more on this later) Ant Fainga’a did straighten the attack and never shut his mouth for every second he was on the field. And that’s good. Eto Nabuli didn’t chip kick once and used his size and pace for good. Nick Frisby played possible his best game in red. Karmichael Hunt was threatening in attack and solid in defence. Hendrick Tua started slow but improved as the game went on. Chris Feauai-Sautia found his in and away. There is a spine in this team but it’s still lacking in some key areas.
But the most pleasing thing to see was the complete despair on many players faces when they realised they’d missed a golden opportunity. They’d bought into the dream. They’d believed.
But one coaching decision flummoxed me. 76 minutes in and the Reds were up 25-22 and have just one a penalty that puts them into the Blues 22. Andrew Ready is having his best game in his short carrier with the Reds. On the bench sits Super rugby rookie Mat Mafi. Someone decides Ready has had enough and trots Mafi out. Mafi’s throw to Rob Simmons is low and is easily picked off by the Blues. WHY! Why through a rookie in in the final minutes of the first game we actually had a chance to win all year? Don’t get me wrong here. I know very little of Mat Mafi and I’m not saying he’s a dud. He could be the next Stephen Moore for all I know. I just think it was the wrong thing to do at the wrong time.
