A week’s a long time in footy. Just ask Brad Thorn and the Queensland Reds.
Embarrassed in the second-half against the Hurricanes to heap more pressure on Thorn’s side, the Reds responded by smashing Simon Cron’s Western Force side that were coming off just their second first-up victory in their history.
After running in four first-half tries to open up a 29-13 lead at half time, the Reds turned it on in the second-half by running in six second-half tries to rack up their highest score in a Super Rugby match, winning 71-20 winners in Melbourne to end Super Round.
“Bang on, it is. Obviously pleased with the result and for the guys going on with it and whatnot but a week ago we were hurting around the score,” Thorn said.
“It just shows you the game, and what’s great about the game, you’ve got a week later that you can to turn that around. We needed a response, and the guys did that in spades today.”
Jordan Petaia had one of his best performances at fullback as the Reds smashed the Force in Melbourne. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Cron described the match as a “car crash” as the wheels fell off after an excellent try-saving tackle from Tom Lynagh early in the second half denied Bayley Kuenzle just short of the line.
“Sometimes if you’re off by 10 per cent at Super Rugby it can look like a car crash, and that’s what I saw today,” Cron said.
The Reds had far too much class for their opponents, with back-rowers Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson starring alongside a lethal backline that was led by fly-half Lynagh and fullback Jordan Petaia.
Cross-code winger Suliasi Vunivalu had a strong second half that started with beautiful line off Lynagh, before firing a lovely cut-out pass to send Filipo Daugunu over.
Vunivalu then did it all himself, scoring a runaway intercept to blow out the score in the second half.
Along the way the 27-year-old, who fired a shot at former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie ahead of his return, sent shivers down the spine of Thorn and Eddie Jones after appearing to injure himself when striding out. But those fears were eased when he continued to play on, before he was replaced and spent the final quarter of the match smiling on the sidelines.
Suliasi Vunivalu (R) scared fans and Wallabies coach Eddie Jones as he pulled up lame in the process of scoring a try, but the code-hopper had a strong return for the Reds. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
The match also saw the returns of Wallabies backs Jock Campbell and James O’Connor, with the duo making impressive second-half cameos.
O’Connor, particularly, looked sharp as he took control and showed off his impressive array of skills and short kicks.
Co-captain Liam Wright also played his first match of the season, scoring a late try and getting through plenty of work across the park.
More to come…
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