The Queensland Reds celebrated with the Super Rugby Next Gen trophy in Perth today after a comprehensive 57-17 victory.
Slow starts had been a curse in their previous two games so a switched-on 21-0 jump in the opening 11 minutes against the Western Force showed the Reds’ intent.
The Force were on the back foot from the outset against the power, speed and precision that the young Queenslanders brought to the west.
The start was telling because the match was over at half-time (33-0) before the Force’s admirable fightback.
There were heroes aplenty for the Reds who scored 21 tries in all during their rollicking unbeaten run past the ACT Brumbies (47-31), NSW Waratahs (33-26) and the Force in this showcase of the country’s best young rugby talent.
The spin-off will be a big chunk of selections when the Australia Under-20s squad is named.
The match was less than two minutes old when the Reds got to work.
A strong run from lock Charlie Brosnan and another from centre Frankie Goldsbrough, who latched onto a flick pass from hooker John Grenfell, had the Force defence scrambling. A cutout pass from cool flyhalf Finn Mackay put winger Nic Lynagh over untouched to capitalise.
It was 14-0 on five minutes when Grenfell’s strength at the back of a maul set up a chance for prop Levi Slater to surge over on a pick-and-go.
Mackay may still be just 18 but he’s already one of the best general play kickers in Australian rugby.
A week after his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench for the Reds, he clinically lasered a 25m cross-kick over a Force winger into the arms of flanker Tom Robinson for the Reds’ third try.
Prop Kingsley Uys’ hunger for work generated two tries close to the line.
As the second half unfolded, there were fine strikes. Winger Taione Taka shed three defenders for his strong finish to his try.
He accepted the final pass from centre Dre Pakeho, who threw the final ball to replacement hooker Isaac Rauluni for another after a strong 25m gallop in broken play.
Flanker Ilan Cloete impressed again. He seized an early turnover. Late in the game, he sliced through, grubber kicked ahead and regained to set up Uys’ second try.
Grenfell, Uys, lock Kenny Harris, flanker Robinson, Mackay, Pakeho and Taka all had excellent games while others did their jobs superbly.
Angus Kelly cleanouts, a big Trevor King tackle, replacement prop Jonah Rangiwai’s big tighthead scrum shunt to open the second half and centre Goldsbrough’s 80-minute workrate were other features.
QUEENSLAND REDS NEXT GEN 57
Tries: Kingsley Uys 2, Levi Slater, Nic Lynagh, Tom Robinson, Josh Takai, Alfie Bowman,
Taione Taka, Isaac Rauluni
Conversions: Nic Lynagh 6
Def
WESTERN FORCE NEXT GEN 17
Tries: Migael De Lange 2, Boston Fakafanua
Conversion: Evan Hooper
Half-time: Reds 33-Force 0
Venue: Wanneroo Rugby Club, Perth
