After back-to-back early wins on what has been a flying start to the new season from the Western Force, Queensland Reds has just hit back at the last minute that broke their hearts on home turf by a mere four point win (24-28) at Perth’s HBF Park.
Yes, there were lots of rampaging and expansive rugby from the home side that puts them on the board right from the word go. Although the Reds even though they’ve lost the plot a couple of times alongside their inability to build pressure and eventually knock down the Force’s scrambled defense, they know how to rebound thanks to their counter-attack under coach Les Kiss whenever they’re right on the money via break or penalties.
Hard to tell when both sides were battling so hard right through full-time that makes this contest so great but there can only be one winner and it turns out to be the Reds as said with their scrambled stronghold defense and counter-attacking display every time things do come their way.
Top 3 Players
Seru Uru is like Ballymore’s Great Wall of back rowers that broke the Western Force’s hearts on the blindside 6 Reds jersey thanks to his solid defence that mixes and matches along with his attacking muscle. It goes to show Les Kiss trusts him well all game long and so does Joe Schmidt who gave him a chance 1-2 times at the back end of last year with the green and gold at International level.
Josh Flook, meanwhile, has benefitted Les Kiss’s style of play on the counter-attack on the outside 13 with back-to-back tries while he can keep a great eye when being tested defensively of the Force’s running and expansive way of playing rugby. Hope he’s okay as not the same without him when the Reds blew their chances at times but at least his good work gave them a fighting chance though with the ugly win – special mention to the Filipo Daugunu also who scored the winner on the wide 11 left.
And former Red Mac Grealy does mean business at the top level on what’s lost every time QLD lost the ball and he’s there and everywhere to pick it up like his ability to kick out from the back at 15 as well pushing the Force’s passage of play further afield. The team’s good start after two wins as of Week 3 has just came to an unlucky end when they lacked discipline while being a touch isolated but interesting to see if they can carry on with their running rugby v the Waratahs next Saturday & the NZ teams after that.
