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Rugby News Australia, Top 3 players from the Fijian Drua v Brumbies game in RD8 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

There’s one word to describe Tom Wright tonight; outstanding, even at full-back. He’s got so much speed to process when his Brumbies team found some holes where the Drua struggled after these missed chances, and Wright’s ready to punish them with the ball from start to finish. He sent a message to New Zealand teams following his two tries that there’s more to come from the man, who has Wallaby & NRL experience, to run them down soon.

The next Brumbies player to look at is Irae Simone on the inside midfield at No.12. Not only does he back up as one of the support players, but he can also be a menace to Drua when it comes to the executions that reflect his team’s strong start. His passing and reading look tip-top that require communication with team-mates to keep the ball in play; you saw Len Ikitau protecting him by shielding the Drua defense while they left the finishing directions to fly-half Rodney Ioda. He continues to be a valuable starter where Simone’s blessed to play around & assist tries that brought him to the best of his abilities, such as Tom Wright, Rob Valetini, Andy Muirhead & Nic White. It will be interesting to see what he has to offer in the coming weeks v New Zealand teams, as Simone hopes to add on top of his two Wallabies caps later this year.

And Onisi Ratave stood out for the Fijian Drua tonight after a full 80 minutes on the right-wing at No.14. He was always there to give himself a helping hand when being tested in attack and defense. It goes to show with the numbers around him, Ratave used his physical and pacey force that frustrated the Brumbies at times through his natural game, especially in the 2nd half. He credits his team-mates with the clear & concise read from the Brumbies defense being under pressure when Drua has the ball on hand, before Ratave took these finishing opportunities & scored these Tries twice that gifted his team big points. Imagine if this scoring spree happened from the beginning of the game; that would be awesome. However, a poor start left them too late with the loss tonight.

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Rugby News, Brumbies return to winning ways with an easy win v Fijian Drua in RD8 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Brumbies returned to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tonight following their loss last week v Queensland Reds, as they buckle up this time v Fijian Drua. They fired off well in the first half while Drua was scoreless at the same time, 12-0. Although Drua finally opened their scoring account later on with two tries on the board, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Brumbies from scoring. The full-time score is Fijian Drua 12-33 Brumbies, as we just completed Round 8 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific.

We got to say that the Brumbies backline was on fire, especially with the two tries from Tom Wright & Cam Clark continued to shine for the second week running. The maul after the line-outs was brilliant when they used the ball well in good hands, which is contrary to how Drua failed to live the expectations in one particular area. And they continued to cash in the Drua’s weaknesses with another few tries from hookers Billy Pollard & Connal McInerney, where the Brumbies continued to extend their winning share past the half-time break.

Meanwhile, Fijian Drua’s always strong after the break when Onisi Ratave scored two beautiful tries off the wide right. If Drua launched their big scoring spree in the 1st half, they would’ve been neck in neck with the Brumbies and potentially controlling the game by storm. However, a scoreless first 40 left them too late to catch up where a messy attacking line & poor throw-ins cost them a hard-fought loss.

So both teams will now take the next week off for Round 9 before they return in action against the New Zealand sides beginning in Round 10; Drua v Blues & Brumbies v Highlanders during the Super Round at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

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Rugby News Australia, Queensland Reds end the Brumbies unbeaten run after 7 rounds of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific Season with a 21-7 win

by Sports Benches

The Top 2 Australian Super Rugby teams take center stage for the second time tonight, as the Queensland Reds take on the ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

It was a low-scoring affair in the first half when the Brums overtook the Reds 6-7 ahead of half-time – courtesy of Cam Clark, who made an immediate impact off the bench at full-back after he came on for the injured Jesse Mogg. The Reds rebound later in the second half with two more tries from Fraser McReight & Filipo Daugunu that secured the win, despite coping with 14 men at one point when debutant Tuaina Taii Tualima was given a red card following a dangerous tackle. The final score is 21-7 as the Reds end the Brumbies’ undefeated run after seven rounds in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Brilliant start by the Brums in the opening first 40 when they took good advantage of the Reds’ first-half weaknesses with Cam Clark’s TRY. Thanks to Cam, the away team overtook the Reds’ early lead ahead of half-time with a one-point buffer (6-7). Unfortunately, they were swamped by problems after the break, with more messy discipline that prevented the Brums from scoring before it was too late.

Meanwhile, the Reds’ first-half run was up and down with a one-point trail ahead of half-time (6-7), despite opening the game with a three-point penalty goal from James O’Connor. Then this dangerous play from an unexpected debutant Tuaina Taii Tualima landed him a straight red card on the blindside; he had lots to learn on his first day out at Super Rugby level following Liam Wright’s injury before the game. But the Reds managed to regroup themselves after half-time when Fraser McReight’s TRY put the Reds back in front, which boosted their confidence. And they also noticed the Brums attack not being at the races tonight, where it played a role in the Reds’ extended winning margin.

The Brumbies will stay in Brisbane for a while before they will return to Suncorp Stadium next Saturday against the Fijian Drua.

The Reds, on the other hand, will now get a week-long bye next week as their next game will be at AAMI Park in Melbourne against the Rebels on Friday, 15 April.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies Game in RD7 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Jordan Petaia tops the Top 3 players list tonight when he was outstanding at full-back for the Queensland Reds. He’s tall, young, and talented at age 22, who can fit anywhere in the backline. However, his best position is full-back in the No.15 shirt, having just extended his contract for another two years. He can protect his Reds team defensively when reading & marking one of the Brums stars, so Petaia can hold them accountable with the tackling. He’s also good at clearing out with the kick in difficult situations before he can exploit his attacking skill sets further through the pitch; as long as he has the support players around him, that benefitted the best out of his game.

The next Reds player right after Petaia is Fraser McReight on the openside back row at No.7, as he’s so mobile alongside the physical grunt to grasp against opposition sides in all areas. He can also be an excellent contributor to his Reds team, thanks to his few years of experience with the Reds that reflected his hard work tonight. The biggest highlight of McReight on the field has to come from the 2nd half, where not only did he spot the Brums weaknesses through their messy discipline and attack. However, his big score past the TRY line at the same time has given the Reds some much-needed confidence. Thanks to McReight, the Reds’ extended winning margin threw them in the box seat towards winning before he came off the bench with an early mark; plus a week-long bye for next week.

And Cam Clark made an immediate impact as the best Brumbies player tonight down at replacement full-back when starter Jesse Mogg had to leave the field over a knee sprain. His TRY in the first half saw them overtake the Reds ahead of half-time, who has so much pace to unpack within the Brums backline, thanks to his Rugby 7s days & improved 15s experience. But a messy discipline & misfiring attack ruined the Brums momentum that ultimately robbed them of the game, especially when he was on the radar at one point with the yellow card.

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Queensland Reds overcame a messy 1st half run with 13 men to rebound later in the 2nd half with the win v Waratahs

by Sports Benches

What a way to end Week 6 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, when we looked back at this oldest rivalry, with the Queensland Reds host NSW Waratahs here at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. It was a tight opening 40 minutes of play where both teams were level 13-13 at the half-time break. However, the Reds returned to winning ways following their narrow loss v Brumbies in Canberra last week, as the final score is 32-20.

It may not be the night they liked to reflect on the loss from the Tahs, who got themselves firing with the sensational opening TRY from Jack Grant at half-back. They just couldn’t kick on when it comes to their attacking shape, which caused further lost penalties and opportunities against the ball later in the 2nd half. Not even the consolation TRY from sub hooker Tom Horton is barely enough to make up lost time towards the full-time siren.

Meanwhile, the Reds overcame a crucial 1st half spell when they were level with the Tahs at the break. Their starting loosehead front row in Dane Zander was sent off with a straight red, while Tate McDermott can debate that he didn’t deliberately knock a player down. However, the referee dismissed that claim where McDermott had to sit 10 mins in the naughty chair. Things got much better though later in the 2nd half when the Reds managed to bag two tries that turned the momentum around, as it was enough to maintain themselves in the winner’s circle. And to go from 13 men on the field to a late turnaround following the 20-minute red card replacement is incredible stuff from the home side.

The Tahs will be staying within QLD for a while, but this time it will be on the Gold Coast when they head off to Cbus Super Stadium next Friday v Fijian Drua. Then the best of the best Super Rugby teams in Australia between the Reds v Brumbies continues back at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday night.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs Game in RD6 of 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Taniela Tupou proved to be a powerful front-rower with valuable Wallaby experience at tighthead tonight for the Reds. He’s got such a great eye when Tupou had the chance to look at the Tahs’ weaknesses in the attack before he spotted their mistakes & used it against them, especially in the scrummaging defensively. And the Reds redeemed themselves later on that helped extend & maintain their winning margin when Tupou exploited the Tahs defense further in return, where he squeezed his way through the gate & bagged himself a TRY in the second half. That kind of hard work Tupou safeguarded his Reds side in the box seat earned him an early mark in the 67th minute, with unfinished business ahead v Brumbies also at home next Saturday.

The next Reds spotlight player after Tupou to look at is Harry Wilson on the back row at No.8. He has been a brilliant contributor as always who never stops running back and forth throughout the full 80 minutes of play. The teamwork was there to work out and set up a trap when identifying the Tahs’ attacking weaknesses, before he helped them hold the ball up phyiscally when it comes to his defensive contribution. Then Wilson had a crack to build some pressure back to the opposition half with the ball on hand, while he can be mobile alongside the physical grit to get the job done, especially after half-time with a couple of successful big scores.

And the standout Tahs player is Mark Nawaquanitawase on the right-wing tonight at No.14. His pace & the high-flying catches saw him in cruise control with the ball, such as that sensational TRY assist towards scrum-half Jack Grant via the short side in the 1st half. While he continued to provide a decent threat against the Reds’ defensive line, he just needed more support to make good use of his attacking skillsets that would’ve steered past the Reds tonight.

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Fijian Drua’s series of tries late in the 2nd half wasn’t enough to stop the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park

by Sports Benches

It’s been a huge scoring game from last night at AAMI Park between the Melbourne Rebels v Fijian Drua. Drua may have bounced back from behind late in the match and were closer to stealing this game. However, it’s the Rebels who finally secured their first win of 2022, having fired off well in the 1st half at 18-6 before they extended their lead as it goes, 42-27.

Shoutout to the Rebels with two tries and a couple of three-point penalty goals in the first half, before they kept the momentum after half-time with more big scoring points on the board even though the Drua’s late comeback melee didn’t affect them too much. And credit to their forwards who were hard at work all game with the physicality, communication, and execution, so they were able to unpack and get the job done past through the Drua’s gate. There’s still a long way to go, as they hope the Rebels can keep their key men together in the weeks ahead that would hopefully strike more wins.

And Drua were closer from behind and almost in the winning circle that would’ve marked an upset in their first few steps at Super Rugby level. We love how they utilise the substitute’s bench well into the 2nd 40 where the Drua were flying high with three tries in almost ten minutes. The pace, patience through phases, winning penalties & passage of passing, now that caused the Rebels mayhem at the other end whenever Drua touched the ball on the TRY line. If they can repeat this attacking masterpiece throughout all game, then the Drua would be too good to pull off like some New Zealand teams. But the poor first 40 and some messy play that exposed their defensive contribution, especially when trying to catch the Rebels so late, has let them down.

Drua will host the NSW Waratahs for Round 7 next Friday at Cbus Super Stadium in the Gold Coast, QLD. Meanwhile, Rebels will have the week-long off before they jet off to HBF Park in Perth for Week 8 v Western Force.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Melbourne Rebels v Fijian Drua in RD6 of 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Matt Phillip is outstanding once again for another week on the second row at No.4 for the Rebels. He’s such a great communicator alongside a brilliant eye, especially when backing up at all times as a support player. And he has no problem smashing the Drua into pieces where he opened the account with the Rebels TRY, not just through the line-out, maul, phases, and execution in the attack but also in defense. They’re thankful to bring Phillip back from Pau in France following the end of last year, with more unfinished business to unpack in the next coming weeks.

Next up is another Rebel in Brad Wilkin at No.6 on the blindside flanker position, who was flawless throughout the full 80 last night. He possesses so much tackle with the physicality that threw the pressure back on the other opposition end. Not only did Wilkin help his Rebels side push through the TRY line for a couple of big scores, but he read the Drua’s messy passage of play with their lack of support before he came in to halt this process defensively. He’s been there for four years now, as his Super Rugby experience will hopefully guide the Rebels towards more wins this season.

And Kitione Salawa Jr. played a big part in Fijian Drua’s late turnaround in the 2nd 40 from the bench on the openside role, replacing Vilive Miramira. He’s proven to be the real deal in their attack where he looked so mobile with the pace & tall reach, thanks to the winning penalties and teamwork handed over to him on display. His opening TRY for the Drua caught up some lost time & was there for all of it when Salawa both smashed through the Rebels’ defense & act as their support runner. If he started and did that all game, then he would’ve been the man of the match & most likely upset the Rebels. However, the team’s poor first 40 and some messy play with the passage of passing let him down.

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Waratahs go back to back with the win for the first time since August 2020 after they held off the Rebels by five points (24-19) at the SCG

by Sports Benches

It’s been another close match-up to round off Round 5 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season at the Sydney Cricket Ground. NSW Waratahs fired off with two tries on the board in the 1st 40 where they led comfortably at half-time (14-6), while the Melbourne Rebels made up some lost time late in the 2nd half. However, a few finishing mistakes, poor throw-ins, and lost penalty chances ruined Rebels’ late resurgence with a five-point loss (24-19).

Unlucky from the Rebels, who brings a brilliant defensive shape when it comes, to their impressive forward pack for a start. They racked up some winning penalties that made the most of successful three-point goals as a safe pair of hands. And the Rebels were able to build some momentum over time, where they bounced back late thanks to Cabous Eloff on the tighthead front row in the 2nd half. They were so close to pipping the Waratahs in the last minute, but the Rebels couldn’t justify their messy finishing, which led to several missed opportunities before it was too late.

And hats off to the Tahs with the win they deserve once again tonight as the home team. We love how the Tahs were patient with the ball on hand, where they took advantage of the Rebels’ slow start & got ahead early with two big scores in the 1st half by Lalakai Foketi & Will Harris. Alex Newsome extended the Tahs winning margin in the 55th minute from the backline, while the Rebels began to close into their radar late in the 2nd half. But the Tahs knew one or two things the Rebels aren’t good at, and that is the finishing where the away team blew their chances away even with the penalty in place, before they defended well & kicked the ball into touch after the full-time siren.

So the Tahs will head off to Brisbane where they will battle against the Queensland Reds in another State of Origin rivalry match-up next Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium. And the Rebels will return home at AAMI Park on Friday night v Fijian Drua.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Waratahs v Melbourne Rebels game in RD5 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

Lalakai Foketi looked so aggressive on the inside midfield tonight at No.12 for the Waratahs. He brings so much power and pace to the squad that blew away the opposition half like the Rebels, where Foketi opened up the Tahs’ scoring account. As soon as Foketi knew what the Rebels are capable and not so capable of, the Tahs were able to help him out in the process thanks to the Rebels’ slow start, through more opportunities with the ball on hand. And the Tahs managed to rack up more big scoring points under his watch before Foketi returned the favour for his Tahs side defensively, when the Rebels may have bounced back late in the 2nd half alone, but the home team successfully held them off five points.

The next Tahs player alongside Foketi when it comes to shoutouts is gonna to be a hard pick here. But I will have to go with Charlie Gamble on the openside back row at No.7, where he provided excellent team-work & all-round contribution so the Rebels couldn’t get past his Tahs team. He was running around the field all game long when Gamble noticed the Rebels weaknesses, before he held them accountable alongside a few of his numbers with the physical application. It gave Gamble ample time to have an extended go against the Rebels defense at the other end with the same traits, and that gave a clear path for his Tahs side to punish them through the gate.

And Matt Phillip rounds out as the standout player through a losing Rebels side on the second row. He has a brilliant defensive mindset as always, where his side were able to win some penalties & converted two three-point goals in the 1st half.
Now there is nothing wrong with his attacking contribution by smashing the Tahs with the ball going forward, that help the Rebels catch up late in the 2nd half. However, a poor throw-in and missed chances have left their executions a lot to be desired, as the Rebels were out of steam by full-time.

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