Queensland Reds

Force Fight Reds, but Suncorp Streak Continues

HJ Nelson

March 21, 2021

Greg Holmes led Force out in his 150th Super Rugby appearance, over 100 of them for the Queensland Reds.

Greg Holmes 150th Super Rugby game

The Reds came out of the blocks strongly, with Tate McDermott scoring the first try for Reds from a dominant scrum

Jake McIntyre looks to pass

The Force struck back through their own scrum penalty, converted by Jake McIntyre

The Reds then looked to have butchered at try with Jock Campbell not passing to an unmarked Suliasi Vunivalu, however Hunter Paisami barged over from the breakdown, as Sean Maloney called it “Running out of defenders to run at before surrendering to the try line”

Jock Campbell

The Reds looked to be gaining control, however the Force hit back through a pick & drive try from Feleti Kaitu’u, converted by McIntyre. They then went close to scoring again just before half-time, before losing the ball over the line, however McIntyre reduced the margin to just one from a penalty advantage in an earlier phase. Half-time score Reds 14 – Force 13

Jeremy Thrush

Force then took the lead through a McIntyre penalty, before Hunter Paisami sliced through for a try after a trade-mark show & go.

The Reds put together a couple of pieces of sparkling rugby, with Bryce Hegarty dropping the ball with the line open on one occasion, and Jock Campbell crossing in the other, with Jordan Petaia and Suliasi Vunivali both featuring strongly.

Hunter Paisami offloads

With time running out, and the Force trailing by 7, the last 10 minutes was a tense period. Tim Anstee looked to have broken through a few times, but was brought down. Taniela Tupou was penalized for a high tackle on McIntyre, and the Force were pressuring from the resulting line-out, before Brandon Paenga-Amosa won a turn-over to seal the game.

Tim Anstee

The Game Changer

The Force’s missed opportunity to take the lead with a try just before half-time. A handy lead going into the 2nd half might have been enough to exert enough pressure on the Reds to get the win.

The G&GR MOTM

Jake McIntyre played his best game of the season so far, and his kicking kept the force in the game. But Hunter Paisami was such a powerful runner in the Reds mid-field, he collects the MOTM as well as 2 tries for his efforts.

Wallaby watch

Hunter Paisami impressed again, this time in the No. 12 jersey. Suliasi Vunivali is a certainty to be included in a Wallabies squad. Brandon Penga-Amosa also returned from injury. For the Force, their starting front row of Greg Holmes and Tom Robertson were strong. Fergus Lee-Warner continues to impress. Sitaleki Timani and Tevita Kuridrani were strong, but younger alternatives may be on the Wallaby radar.

The Details

Crowd: 12,000
Score & Scorers

REDS 26
Tries: Paisami 2, McDermott, Campbell
Conversions: O’Connor 3
Penalties:

FORCE 19
Tries: Kaitu’u
Conversions: McIntyre
Penalties: McIntyre 4

Cards & citings
None

Teams

QUEENSLAND REDS (1-15):

Dane Zander, Alex Mafi, Taniela Tupou, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor (c), Ilaisa Droasese, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell

Reserves:

Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Hoopert, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, Kalani Thomas, Hamish Stewart, Bryce Hegarty

WESTERN FORCE (1-15):

Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu’u, Greg Holmes, Jeremy Thrush, Sitaleki Timani, Fergus Lee-Warner, Kane Koteka, Brynard Stander (c), Tomas Cubelli, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui, Henry Taefu, Tevita Kuridrani, Byron Ralston, Robert Kearney