The second Super Rugby match in Round 1 on Friday is in Brisbane Australia where the Reds host South Africa’s Sharks from Durban.
Good morning Super Rugby fans, kick-off between the Reds and Sharks almost upon us.
The Sharks have won four of the previous five encounters going back to 2012 when they did the double over the Queensland franchise, whose last win in this fixture was in Brisbane in 2013.
The Reds have made some astute off-season signings – which include Wallaby legend George Smith and veteran Wallaby captain Stephen Moore.
Kobus van Wyk is making his Sharks Super Rugby debut on the wing. Flanker Jacques Vermeulen could also make his Super Rugby debut off the bench.
French international Clement Poitrenuad brings some experience to the Sharks but starts on the bench.
Poitrenaud is a 3-time European Champion and a 3-time French Top 14 winner with Toulouse, where he racked up 337 games. The fullback also has 47 Test caps to his name.
You never know what kind of game you will get between these two teams.
Although Pat Lambie is captain, wing Lwazi Mvovo is leading the Sharks onto the field as he celebrates his landmark 100th cap.
George Smith is back, playing in his 143rd Super Rugby match. Wow. He’s been around forever, making his debut against the Sharks in 2000.
Match detail
BEEP! Referee Nick Briant gets us under way.
1.00: TRY SHARKS! What a start. Jean-Luc du Preez goes over after some sloppy play by the Reds. 0-5.
2.00: Pat Lambie adds the extras. 0-7.
4.00: The Reds attack again and win a penalty after going through multiple phases.
5.00: Quade Cooper makes no mistake and the Reds are on the board. 3-7.
6.00: PENALTY! Reds relieve some pressure after Sharks botch the line-out.
7.00: The home team try to move it down field quickly but the referee again stopping play for penalty to the Reds. He kicks it even further, this time a line-out at the 5 of the Sharks.
9.00: Reds lose the line-out but recover a poor kick from the Sharks. A good tackle on Nick Frisby but leads to a Reds scrum.
11.00: Sharks turn to scrum and they kick deep. Reds with the ball inside their half. Penalty to the home team. Cooper kicks to touch.
13.00: Reds opt for a short line-out but the clearance is poor and the Sharks get the ball.
14.00: Sharks going through the phases and win a PENALTY. Scott Higginbotham penalised for going off his feet. Lambie is lining up the kick.
15.00: The kick is good, sailing high above the uprights. 3-10.
16.00: Sharks defence has been good. Some sloppy play however, leads to a Reds line-out.
18.00: PRESSURE! The Reds go wide but Eto Nabuli is tackled short. Scrum Reds on the Sharks 5m.
19.00: BIG scrum from the Beast and the Sharks win a penalty. Lambie kicks for touch. Another kick gives the Reds possession.
20.00: Cooper on the attack but brought up short after Karmichael Hunt’s inside ball. He might have made the wrong decision and gone wide instead of inside. Reds get the put-in to the scrum.
21.00: Reds go to the open-side, Cooper looks for the wide, long pass but the ball is intentionally knocked down by a Sharks defender. PENALTY!
22.00: Cooper’s kick is good, 6-10.
24.00: PENALTY SHARKS! All from a miscommunication in the Reds’ midfield. Lambie will have a shot at goal.
26.00: Lambie makes no mistake and the Sharks extend their lead, 6-13.
29.00: Frisby’s touch-finder goes out on the full. Sharks get the line-out and charge upfield. A storming run from Beast Mtawarira is in vain after Kobus van Wyk knocks on. Scrum to the home side inside their 22.
30.00: Scrum reset.
31.00: Smith with a little grubber into touch. The Sharks botch a quick line-out and the Reds get a scrum inside the opposition’s 22 after Curwin Bosch’s handling error.
32.00: The Reds after some pick and goes might have a score. The ref goes to the TMO.
33.00: TRY! Scott Higginbotham managed to get the ball down. Cooper adds the two and it’s all square.
35.00: Sharks attack. Karmichael Hunt hits Lukhanyo Am high but it is a legal hit. Scrum Reds.
36.00: Reds take their scrum and clear. The boot outfield is returned. Scrum to the Sharks around the mid field area.
38.00: Nick Frisby has his box-kick charged down by Ruan Botha but regather. They get another line-out, Frisby clears but is brought back because the ref deemed he took the ball back into the 22.
39.00: The Sharks set up a driving maul and win a penalty. Lambie opts for a shot at goal.
40.00: It’s good. Sharks take a three point lead into the break.
Sharks lead but the Reds have had more of the possession and the visitors are not doing themselves any favours with the turnover conceded count at 11. Handling errors are costing the Reds with 9 in the first half alone.
The set-piece is interesting; the Reds have lost both a scrum and a line-out while the Sharks forwards are 100% in both. It might prove crucial in the second 40.
40.00: BEEP! We are back under way in Brisbane.
41.00: Some early aerial ping-pong ends with Curwin Bosch attempting a long-range drop goal, but it comes up short.
43.00: Sharks rumble with the forwards and awarded a penalty. Sam Talakai is the guilty party. Lambie points to goal.
44.00: The standoff adds his fourth penalty and is 5/5 from the kicking tee. 13-19.
45.00: Sharks on the attack. A wonderful kick leads to a Reds defensive line-out. Sharks penalised and Cooper releases the pressure.
47.00: Both sides undoing their good work with silly mistakes and daft penalties.
48.00: Franco Marais and Etienne Oosthuizen both give away penalties within range of their goal-line. Referee calls for “time off” to speak to skipper Lambie. Next infringement will lead to a yellow card. Reds scrum, five out.
48.00: TRY REDS! The pressure tolls. The Reds go wide, Samu Kerevi bounces Cobus Reinach to score. It was a mismatch of epic proportions between the big man and the No 9.
49.00: Cooper misses the conversion and it’s a one-point ball game.
51.00: The referee blows for a penalty after Du Preez makes a carry for his team. Scrum for the Sharks at the 22 of the Reds.
52.00: Another PENALTY to the Sharks. Lambie opts for touch and set-up a maul. Again, another penalty to the visitors.
53.00: Coenie Oosthuizen is penalised for going in-front of his jumper. Reds clear.
55.00: Sharks forwards set up another driving maul but waste possession when it comes to a halt.
57.00: The Reds build from midfield but go backwards in the tackle. Ref blows for time off and consults his assistant about foul play from the home team.
57.00: Kane Douglas is sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle.
58.00: Sharks set up a maul – they are getting traction from this tactic. Another maul and the ball is turned over by the Reds. Great defence with a man less. James Slipper and Rob Simmons were immense. Cooper kicks to touch.
60.00: The sharks come again. Substitutes starting to flood the field.
60.00: Power drive by the Sharks and the ref goes to the TMO to see if the ball is grounded. “Try, no try?”
60.00: TRY! Tera Mtembu is credited with the five-pointer. Sharks maul is too strong. Lambie adds the conversion, 18-26 going into the final quarter.
62.00: Hearts in mouth moment as Lambie’s kick is charged down. Sharks clear but Queensland come again.
63.00: The Reds come again. Korczyk is inches from the line. Kerevi goes over in the far side after another TMO consultation, 23-26.
64.00: Cooper misses the conversion, still a one score game.
65.00: Down a man, the Reds score and Slipper wins a penalty at the breakdown to put his team on the attack. The momentum has changed and fast.
66.00: Queensland are going through the phases but a handling error sets them back. However, they regain the ball and go again.
68.00: PENALTY REDS! Lourens Adriaanse pinged in the front row. Cooper is 3/5 but opts for a chance to tie the game.
69.00: MISS! Cooper is not having a good day from the tee.
70.oo: TRY REDS! Cooper makes up for his kicking with a flat ball and James Tuttle, on at scrumhalf, scores. 28-26. Pass looked forward but try stands.
71.00: Tuttle takes over the kicking duties but misses from near the touch-line. 28-26.
75.00: Sharks go wide from the scrum. Mvovo goes down with what looks like a high shot from Karmichael Hunt, his second high tackle of the match. Ref goes to TMO.
75.00: SINBIN! Hunt is off with a yellow. Lambie lines up a difficult kick.
76.00: It’s wide. Lambie misses his first kick and it could prove crucial. Reds attacking.
78.00: Kerevi breaks but makes the wrong call. Reds continue attack but the ball is lost forward. Sharks scrum, two minutes to play.
79.00: OH NO! Kobus van Wyk fumbles the ball into touch. Reds line-out and set up a maul.
80.00: Hooter sounds and it’s game over. Reds come back to win and led only once the entire match. Sharks blow a good opportunity for a hard-fought away win. Not to be.
The final score Reds 28 (13) Sharks 26 (16)
Scorers
Reds
Tries – Higginbotham, Kerevi (2), Tuttle
Pen – Cooper (2)
Con – Cooper
Drop –
Cards – Yellow Douglas, Hunt
Sharks
Tries – Du Preez, Mtembu
Pen – Lambie (4)
Con – Lambie (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 1:Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2:Nic Berry
TMO :Damien Mitchelmore
Teams
Queensland Reds
1. James Slipper ©, 2. Stephen Moore ,3. Sam Talakai,4. Rob Simmons ,5. Kane Douglas ,6. Adam Korczyk ,7. George Smith (Queensland debut), 8. Scott Higginbotham ,9. Nick Frisby ,10. Quade Cooper ,11. Eto Nabuli ,12. Duncan Paia’aua ,13. Samu Kerevi,14. Chris Kuridrani ,15.Karmichael Hunt
Replacements :16. Andrew Ready ,17. Markus Vanzati (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut), 18. Sef Fa’agase ,19. Izack Rodda (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut) , 20. Hendrik Tui ,21. James Tuttle ,22. Jake McIntyre ,23. Izaia Perese (Potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
Sharks
1 Tendai Mtawarira , 2 Franco Marais, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen , 4 Etienne Oosthuizen , 5 Ruan Botha , 6 Philip van der Walt , 7 Jean- Luc du Pree, 8 Tera Mtembu (Vice-Captain) , 9 Cobus Reinach , 10 Patrick Lambie (Captain) , 11 Lwazi Mvovo , 12 Andre Esterhuizen , 13 Lukhanyo Am , 14 Kobus van Wyk , 15 Curwin Bosch
Replacements : 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Thomas du Toit,18 Lourens Adriaanse,19 Stephan Lewies,20 Jacques Vermeulen,21 Michael Claassens, 22 Jeremy Ward,23 Clement Poitrenaud,
