VIDEO: Aussie teams' zero from six tale of woe

Reds coach Brad Thorn insists he’s not fazed as the Queensland franchise limps home winless from a torrid tour, after surrendering a big lead against the Jaguares – ensuring Australia’s Super Rugby sides are zero from six against foreign foes this season.

The Reds let another winnable game slip, racing ahead 24-7 in Buenos Aires only to fall 43-27 following four unanswered second-half tries from the hosts in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

It capped a ‘zero from three’ tour to start the season for the Reds, who will be desperate to beat Japan’s Sunwolves at home on Saturday – having coughed up multiple chances to convert enterprising rugby into wins.

In Canberra, the Brumbies’ 10-game home winning streak came crashing to a halt as they ran into their first foreign opponent of the season and the Highlanders scored and converted after the full-time hooter to prevail 23-22 on Saturday.

• Also read: Winless Waratahs are in a deep hole

It’ll be scant comfort to Brumbies coach Dan McKellar that the citing commissioner later agreed with him the visitors should have been reduced to 14-men as he charged Highlanders wing Sio Tomkinson with a dangerous tackle.

Tomkinson’s shoulder which rattled Brumbies fullback Tom Banks drew only a yellow card from referee Nic Berry during the match.

After impressing in wins against the Reds and NSW Waratahs, rookie Brumbies No.10 Noah Lolesio was given a rude introduction to pressure from New Zealand opponents in Canberra.

The Reds were left to ponder a penalty count of 13-3 against them as the Jaguares built a tidal wave of momentum before home fans in Buenos Aires.

Thorn was mystified by several decisions from local referee Federico Anselmi that went against his side, particularly at scrum time, and insisted it wouldn’t be panic stations for the Reds.

“In the first two games we were our own worst enemy but in this match, I thought the guys played outstandingly well and there was a lot to like,” he said.

“Last year we dropped our first three as well, but by mid-season, we were equal with the Rebels on top of the conference, so we’re not fazed.”

Thorn said the guys will be “disappointed” with the loss as they know played a lot of good rugby.

“It’s been a solid first three weeks,” the coach said, adding: “Down in Canberra and then a round the world trip. Every game I think there’s been times when we’ve led and probably the first two games, we were our own worst enemy, but tonight I thought the guys played outstandingly well and there was a lot to like.

“That second half – I think it ended in a 13-3 penalty count. It was 13-2 with a penalty at the end. That’s a tough one to contend with in a game of rugby. It was frustrating, but it is what it is.

“We just want to keep on improving and getting better. I think last year we dropped our first three as well, but by mid-season we were equal with the Rebels on top of the conference, so we’re not fazed.”

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One bright spot for the Reds was the performance of James O’Connor after he was retained at five-eighth ahead of Isaac Lucas.

The versatile veteran had been pigeonholed as a centre after occupying that space in his Wallabies return for last year’s World Cup.

But O’Connor’s no stranger to the halves and showed with his composure, assertive footwork and passing game that he remains an option for new national coach Dave Rennie later this year.

The Melbourne Rebels at least got on the board with a scrappy home win over the hapless NSW Waratahs, who are without even a bonus point three games into the season.

After dominating possession early, Queensland opened the scoring in the 11th minute, James O’Connor combining with McDermott to send his scrumhalf across the line for his second try of the season. Jock Campbell converted to give Queensland a 7-nil lead.

Queensland had their second in the 18th minute, captain Wright crossing when Taniela Tupou broke the line and found Henry Speight on his inside, who then linked with the supporting Wright to score. Campbell again converted to put the score out to 14-nil.

The hosts hit back with a Julian Montoya rolling-maul try in the 25th minute, before Feauai-Sautia scored to again stretch Queensland’s lead.

Feauai-Sautia found the line on the back of a well-worked set-play starting from within the Queensland half, with Campbell slicing through the defence after a neat Speight offload before passing to Feauai-Sautia who dashed 20-metres to score and finish the sequence.

Feauai-Sautia soon had another, Hunter Paisami busting the line with a bulldozing carry before McDermott lofted a pass over the defence from close to the line to give his winger space to score and Queensland a 24-7 lead after 36-minutes of play.

Emiliano Boffelli crossed for the Jaguares’ second five-pointer after the first-half siren, bringing the score to 24-12 at the break.

The home side carried their momentum into the second-forty, Montoya crossing for his second try in the 44th minute and Domingo Miotti slotting a penalty soon after to cut the Queensland lead to just two points.

Queensland put the score out to 27-22 in the 52nd minute with a 20-metre Campbell penalty-goal, before Wright was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute to reduce the Reds to 14-men.

The Jaguares quickly made the most of their advantage, a pair of rolling maul tries delivering Montoya his third five-pointer of the match and Santiago Socino his first as the Jaguares raced to a 36-27 lead.

With momentum on their side, the hosts scored the sixth try, as Tomas Cubelli crossed in the 70th minute to give the Jaguares an unassailable 43-27 advantage.

The Reds return to Suncorp Stadium next round for their first home game of 2020, when they host the Sunwolves.

The scorers:

For the Jaguares:
Tries: Montoya 3, Boffelli, Socino, Cubelli
Cons: Miotti 4, Albornoz
Pen: Miotti

For the Reds:
Tries: McDermott, Wright, Feauai-Sautia 2
Cons: Campbell 2
Pen: Campbell

Teams:

Jaguares: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente (captain), 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Rodrigo Buni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Javier Diaz, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Juan Cuz Mallia.

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Henry Speight, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Liam Wright (captain), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith.
Replacements: 16 Sean Farrell, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Josh Nasser, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Isaac Lucas, 23 Bryce Hegarty.

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Pablo Deluca (Argentina), Martin Cordoba (Argentina)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)

* Additional reporting by Queensland Rugby