The Queensland Reds fell 43-19 in Christchurch today when running into a seven-try performance from the Crusaders.
The Reds scored three good tries of their own but paid a high price for not treasuring the ball enough at other times in the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific clash at Apollo Projects Stadium.
"Disappointed. We'll make sure we stay positive about the good things we saw in our game but, if you are playing the Crusaders here, you can't be giving them easy access to certain areas of the field," Reds head coach Les Kiss said.
"I won't take anything away from the Crusaders. We did hand them a lot of momentum. That comes back to us being more patient in the game to build more possession pressure and making more of the incisions we made.
"We'll take that on as a team for our next game."
The Reds will now refocus for a blockbuster interstate clash against the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Centre Hunter Paisami and flyhalf Tom Lynagh will both be available for selection for the interstate clash which will be a feature of the competition's Kids Round.
“We’ll own that performance (in Christchurch). Ball security will be a work-on for sure. We know the Waratahs are three-from-three and playing some good footy,” Reds co-captain Tate McDermott said on Sky Sport in New Zealand.
The match in Christchurch was a high-paced Sunday afternoon spectacle in perfect conditions with the Reds wearing the club's new Indigenous jersey for the first time for the away game.
Both sides were intent on attacking from the outset. Fans were treated to seven tries in the first half with the home side ahead 29-14.
The Reds found themselves down 12-0 inside 20 minutes before a superb bounce-back try constructed over 80m off a turnover. Prop Massimo De Lutiis swooped on a loose ball at a ruck and made the initial drive forward.
An excellent Fraser McReight offload put standout lock Josh Canham into space for a bumping 40m run. The final pass from No.8 Harry Wilson put centre Filipo Daugunu over.
The Reds gave up a try almost from the kick-off with a turnover in their own quarter before two strikes by the pacy Will Jordan further pushed the margin to 29-7.
Approaching half-time, the Reds’ offloading game generated a fine raid with lock Ryan Smith putting prop Alex Hodgman away on a 25m gallop. The platform was set and a neat Liam Wright offload put No.8 Harry Wilson over to make the score 29-14 at the break.
Strong turnovers at the ruck by McReight and winger Lachie Anderson plus Anderson and Matt Faessler combining to hold up a Crusaders attacker over the tryline showed steel when the Reds defence was at its best.
Down 36-14 just after half-time, the Reds struck back with a try to the impressive Anderson worked off a lineout.
The Reds kept the Crusaders tryless for the next 37 minutes of the second half when probing for another try but it didn’t come.
Bullocking line-breaks from Canham, Hodgman and Wilson showed the rewards of the Reds’ offloading game when it clicked.
Teenage back Frankie Goldsbrough got his first taste of Super Rugby in the final 15 minutes.
CRUSADERS 43
Tries: Sevu Reece 2, Will Jordan 2, Cullen Grace, Christian Lio-Willie, Levi Aumua
Conversions: Taha Kemara 3, James O’Connor
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 19
Tries: Filipo Daugunu, Harry Wilson, Lachie Anderson
Conversions: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 2
Half-time: Crusaders 29-Reds 14
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
