VIDEO: Reds win Brisbane snorefest
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Reds got their campaign back on track with as 24-12 win over the Stormers in a scrappy affair in Brisbane on Friday.
The Reds outscored the Stormers by three tries in a game lettered with errors.
It was the Stormers’ third straight loss on their Australasian tour.
In contrast, the Reds will head to South Africa with wind in their sails.
It was a game riddled with errors – 30 turnovers in total, 17 of those by the Stormers.
Both sides did everything but get on the scoreboard at Suncorp Stadium on Friday in the competition’s first scoreless opening stanza in six years.
The Stormers had more than 80 percent possession in the opening quarter, but nothing to show for it on the scoreboard – having had two attempted tries denied by the TMO, after players went into touch in the ingoal or just before it.
By half-time the Stormers’ error count had already reached double figures.
Stormers and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s sin-binning on half-time broke the shackles, with the Reds prevailing in a five-try second half.
Reds leader Samu Kerevi took 90 seconds to exploit the overlap with a lovely cut-out pass before he backed up to score the game’s first.
The Reds were through the line again thanks to speedy scrumhalf Tate McDermott minutes later, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa claiming the five-pointer for an eventual 14-0 lead.
Kolisi’s return coincided with the Stormers’ first try, Kobus Van Dyk powering over from close-range next to the upright as the game opened up.
McDermott duly sniffed out his own five-pointer from a quick tap and – notwithstanding a Damien De Allende try for the Stormers – Bryce Hegarty booted the side out of reach with a penalty goal.
The Reds now move to three wins and four defeats, ahead of a two-game trip to the Republic.
The Reds’ task was made easier by the absence of the injured Eben Etzebeth and fellow Springbok star Pieter-Steph du Toit, who flew home for the birth of his child.
It didn’t slow the visitors early though, who were desperately unlucky not to draw first blood through Damian Willemse and Sergeal Petersen.
Man of the match: In a game of few highlights, Reds captain Samu Kerevi was the one shining light – well over 100 metres, more than a handful of defenders beaten and a couple of clean breaks. It is an easy choice.
The scorers:
For the Reds:
Tries: Kerevi, Paenga-Amosa, McDermott
Cons: Hegarty 3
Pen: Hegarty
For the Stormers:
Tries: Van Dyk, De Allende
Con: Du Plessis
Yellow card: Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers, 39 – cynical foul, killing the ball at the breakdown)
RECAP OUR LIVE FEED: Reds v Stormers
Did you miss any of the action? Recap all the drama here!
Teams:
Reds: 15 Hamish Stewart, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Sefa Naivalu, 12 Samu Kerevi (captain), 11 Jack Hardy, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Isaac Lucas.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 SP Marais.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Nic Berry
TMO: James Leckie
