Why Reds are yet to opt for a penalty goal in 2025
NEWS: So trusting is Tate McDermott in his forward pack that even a wet night in Hamilton might not convince the Queensland captain to bet against them.
The top-of-the-table Reds (5-1) are the only team yet to take a penalty goal attempt entering the eighth Super Rugby Pacific round.
They’ll face the second-placed Chiefs on Friday in Hamilton. The hosts have won 19 of their last 21 games.
Rain is forecast and McDermott hinted that might be enough to twist his arm into taking the three points, rather than backing his forward pack to set up a try via the scrum or line-out.
Or maybe not.
“Who knows, this week might be one of them, given the conditions,” McDermott said.
“(But) every time we’ve opted to trust our plan and a majority of times it’s worked.
Just ask the Western Force, who have twice watched the Reds turn down a shot at goal and instead score a late match-winning try in their encounters this season.
On the first occasion, they turned to third-choice kicking option Dre Pakeho for a superb touch-finder that led to a try, while in Brisbane on Saturday they pressed ahead for an eventual try even with a misfiring lineout.
That’s despite the Reds’ kickers converting at a competition-best 86.2 percent this season.
“That’s a given, the way they’ve been striking it,” McDermott said of the prospect of choosing to kick for goal.
“Every week’s different and a lot is circumstantial, but I put all my trust in our forward pack because they’ve been brilliant in their ability to get us across that line in a variety of ways.”
In-form lock and lineout disrupter Josh Canham’s return will help a side also set to welcome back Wallabies trio Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Matt Faessler.
All Australian teams have managed their Test contenders this season ahead of a hectic international calendar, with Seru Uru and Tim Ryan left out of this week’s team and form No.10 Tom Lynagh benched.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, who started at flyhalf in a heavy loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch this season, will get another chance to steer the ship in enemy territory.
“The whole team would have learned a hell of a lot,” McDermott said of their 43-19 loss.
“The biggest being just how important our exits will be.
“You’ve got to transfer that pressure … and go hard at their lineout.”
McDermott scored the match-winner against the Force last week after coming off the bench.
“It’s been brilliant the way they’ve managed it,” he said of Kiss and his staff’s squad rotation.
“It’s an interesting situation; it’s not often you get asked to rest in Super Rugby, which is relatively short.
“The depth and positions changing here and there … regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, you do your job for the team.”
The Reds bounced back from the Crusaders hiding to beat the Highlanders in Dunedin for the first time in 12 years, leaning on their scrum in the comeback win.
Victory would be the Reds’ first consecutive wins in New Zealand since 2013.
But the Chiefs are formidable, boasting a 15-2 record against Australian opponents in their last 17 games.
