Reds starting to believe they can go all the way
REACTION: Reds livewire scrumhalf Tate McDermott says he knows the team must frustrate their fans but hopes their latest efforts have won them over as they force their way back into contention in Super Rugby AU.
They leaked six tries in their last game in an awful loss to the NSW Waratahs but tackled themselves absolutely bloody to take a bonus point 19-3 win over the Melbourne Rebels this weekend.
Making 204 tackles to the Rebels 66 New Zealand-born head coach Brad Thorn described it as “State of Origin-Esque” as they forced themselves from fourth to second in the competition with a hard-earned 16 points just 2 points behind competition leaders the Brumbies with three rounds to play.
The plucky scrumhalf who’s known for his all-out defence threw his 80Kg frame about with absolute ferocity holding up the Rebels advances time after time must have surely captured Wallaby head coach Dave Rennie’s attention at Suncorp Stadium.
The 21-year-old saved at least two certain tries in one-on-one efforts against far larger men as the Reds stopped wave after wave of Rebel attacks all while they were down to 14 men with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa in the bin for 10 minutes.
This was in stark contrast to their sieve-like defence a week earlier and McDermott is the first to admit that they need to find consistency if they’re going to finish amongst the silverware at the end seasons of the season.
“It’s all about believing and we’re slowly believing we can” McDermott told the Western Australian
“It’d be massive (to win Super Rugby AU); it’s hard to sit here and promise you stuff but we keep talking about it and it must get frustrating listening to it”
“But hopefully people are starting to see what we’re about”
After toppling the undefeated Brumbies last weekend the Rebels did themselves no favours by losing this game as it would have put them at the top of the competition’s tables.
Instead they’ve slipped to fourth behind the Waratahs (15 points) who are fresh off an inspiring win against the Western Force. They’d need wins against both the ‘Tahs and Western Force to have any hope of qualifying amongst the final three now, which is a daunting task indeed!
The Brumbies, fresh off a bye, head into a clash with the Waratahs on Saturday and if the Reds beat the Force on Friday could give them a nice gap with the rest desperately needing a win against Rob Penney’s men.
McDermott acknowledged the snakes and ladders feel to the season but hoped the Reds had turned a corner on Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot to work on in terms of one week having a good attack, bad defence and vice versa,” he said.
“We’re not perfect, we know that and you’ve seen Reds teams in the past give up and that’s why last week was so disappointing; that’s not us and we’re trying to make amends.”
The Reds depths will be tested once again with Hunter Paisami (knee) who is a likely casualty while Jack Straker has now become the fifth player to start in what seems to be a cursed no.1 jersey.
SUPER RUGBY AU RUN TO FINALS
* Four points for a win, plus a bonus point for scoring three or more tries than the opponent or losing by seven points or less.
1. BRUMBIES (18 points, +17) v Waratahs (h), Force (h), Reds (a)
2. REDS (16 points, -6) v Force (Gold Coast), bye, Brumbies (h)
3. WARATAHS (15 points, +36) v Force (a), Rebels (a), bye
4. REBELS (14 points, +18) v bye, Waratahs (a), Force (a)
5. FORCE (2 points, -65) v Reds (Gold Coast), Brumbies (a), Rebels (a)
Source: The West Australian
