The Queensland Reds have defeated an undermanned NSW Waratahs 32-20 in slippery conditions at Suncorp Stadium.
The Waratahs faced plenty of disruption in the lead-up to the match with Head Coach Darren Coleman and Izia Perese left in Sydney due to COVID protocols while Angus Bell was ruled out just before warmup joining Jake Gordon, Michael Hooper, Lachlan Swinton, and Ben Donaldson unavailable for the clash.
In Bell’s absence, Ruan Smith got his first start of the season alongside Te Tera Faulkner in the front-row with Harry Johnson-Holmes reverting to the bench.
Tane Edmed, Ruan Smith, Jamie Roberts, and Mark Nawaqanitase all made big contributions in their first starts of the season with Nawaqanitase playing arguably his best game in a Waratahs jersey. The Waratahs winger was the most dangerous player on the field constantly threatening throughout the match with the ball in hand and winning multiple restarts with his aerial abilities.
Despite the disruptions it was the Waratahs who got the first try of the match through Jack Grant who finished off a sweeping backline move featuring an audacious Nawaqanitase offload.
The Reds hit back with a penalty goal to James O’Connor and a try of their own to Tate McDermott with a sniping run from the back of a ruck.
Dane Zander and Tate McDermott felt the wrath of the officials with Zander receiving a red card for a dangerous high shot on Ruan Smith, while McDermott received a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.
The Waratahs only managed to get three points out of their ten-minute two-man advantage which ultimately proved costly in the end.
Back to a full complement, the Reds burst to a 32-13 lead late in the second half with tries to Tupou, Fraser McReight, and Jock Campbell.
Tom Horton got some respectability back in the scoreline for the Waratahs finishing off a rolling maul try late in the game.
Despite the result, it was a special night for Teddy Wilson who made his Super Rugby debut when he replaced Jack Grant late in the second half.
The Waratahs now turn their attention to their Round 7 clash against the Fijian Drua next Friday at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast.
REDS 32 (Tries: McDermott, Tupou, McReight, Campbell Conversions : O’Connor 2, Henry Penalties: O’Connor 2) def. WARATAHS 20 (Tries: Grant, Horton Conversions: Harrison Edmed Penalties: Harrison, Edmed) at Suncorp Stadium
REDS (1-15): Dane Zander, Josh Nasser, Taniela Tupou, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Josh Flook, Hamish Stewart, Hunter Paisami, Jock Campbell, Jordan Petaia
RESERVES: Matt Faessler, Harry Hoopert, Feao Fotuaika, Connor Vest, Liam Wright, Kalani Thomas, Isaac Henry, Lawson Creighton,
WARATAHS (1-15): Te Tera Faulkner, Dave Porecki, Ruan Smith, Hugh Sinclair, Geoff Cridge, Charlie Gamble, Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Alex Newsome, Jamie Roberts, Lalakai Foketi, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Will Harrison
RESERVES: Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Archer Holz, Jed Holloway, Langi Gleeson, Teddy Wilson, Dylan Pietsch, Triston Reilly
