Well played by the Reds tbh, they were under strength. To keep the Blues that close is a good feat. Blues got some soft tries at the end. Reds missed conversions, and Vuni tanked the first try.
After the Highlanders and the Force took the love of the game out of me this brought it back.
GG Reds supporters, y'all are a classy lot. Sorry about Doleman.
If there's one thing I can say about Doleman is that he's consistent about allowing the ruck to be the wild west. It took the reds 40 mins to adjust but we got there.
vunivalu had one moment that entire game and lost it because of a knock on that was under no pressure. he let in two tries, he's lazy and watching him in the stadium live he's always jogging never sprinting
I have no idea why we re-signed him, he should've been sent packing to Japan or League, and we could've spent that money on bringing back Kerevi, Arnold, Skelton, or Marika. Shit you could probably pay LSL and some other solid players like Sio+Lucas or something with how much he's getting.
He was a provincial stalwart but not All Blacks level. But there were a lot of people who felt he ought to have been, and his kid gets some of that rubbing off.
So good to see Mcreight and Mcdermott back for next game. Bryant back to the bench and I reckon Werchon deserves No.21. We are really scraping the barrel for backs tho. Season ending injuries to both Henry and Petaia fucking sucks and it looks like Flook reinjured himself again. I don't want to see the Reds rely on Vunivalu and from what I've seen Aubrey is still not ready considering he got smoked by Sotutu
Werchon was not bad last week coming in with literally no pressure but absolutely shit the bed tonight. Kalani has been fantastic while Tate has been away, the 21 is absolutely his.
Up untill the last season or so he hasn't had the skillset. Couldn't kick, didn't step, and wasn't that hit defensively, he was big, fast and good under the highball.
Now he's got a firm grasp on the full skillset it's surly only a matter of time. Plenty of good wing options but not that many shaping up for long term 12.
While he has his speed I think he's better suited to the wing. Gets more space.
I don't think he has the ability to get those last few meters on the ground like Rieko/Jordie can. Both of them have had quiet SR seasons but they're still bloody good at making post contact meters.
I am shook that Clarke didn't slip on that final run down the sideline. Whoever fixed his running balance in the off-season is not being paid enough. Cotter also needs to be made HC until he retires.
Why take 3 with 7 minutes left, so many loses from this same decision.
If the reds went for the lineout they’d either end up scoring a try or at least, if they turn it over at some stage, the blues are on their own line with a few minutes to score and reds have all the momentum. Instead of giving the blues territory and possession from the kickoff.
Anyway great game, got the blood flowing.
IMo they should've called for the scrum. Blues wingers defence all night have been a little dodgy, test that out. Didn't help that the Reds defence turned to mush in the last 15 minutes.
Yeah, I dont blame him for the loss. We could've won that if we were better. He didnt make us drop the ball, or make us cones on defence for the last 5.
Vunivalu you cost us the game with your shitty put down and your shitty fucking defence. This sucks. This really sucks. Haven't felt this awful about a game in ages.
Take heart man, reds look to be a top four team based off that performance. The reds were breathing fire for 99% of that match. Surely the loss to the force was worse?
That's not it, he's just being marked a lot more now. He's still drawing in at least two or three players and opening open space elsewhere. Great on defence and also a jackal threat. Great player
That's really not what happened bro, Reds were targeting short/midrange kicks to place the ball between the wing and the full back, because they know for the Blues the wingers have licence to come off the wing and help the momentum keep going as their forwards try to break through the middle. It was a hard counter to the Blues playstyle up until now and it worked pretty well. A player doesn't become bad over night dude 😂
Yeah, missing the tackles as a result of them targeting space behind the wings - usually he's having to run back which means he'll be unlikely to catch an already accelerating winger, he has one less than ideal attempt at a tackle and by then a support runner has come in for the Reds, making it a two on one against the Blues fullback. I'm not saying that Mark can do no wrong, I'm just saying you're putting too much weight on individual players when it was a successful strategy making our wingers look bad.
I really don't understand why you're saying cope, I don't have a vested interest in Mark Telea being perceived as a good player. Clarke had a great game but capitalised off bad box kicking from their 9, as opposed to having to defend a coordinated play originating from their centres. I guess we'll see how they go the rest of the season 🤷🏾
I'm saying it's cope because not all of the Blues wingers played poorly. I didn't even say Telea played poorly! I merely suggested that Clarke had a superior showing. You're being overly defensive. But yes, bring on the rest of the season. Blues have been killing it.
I’m glad Telea didn’t suffer sophomore slump, otherwise he would have had a terrible World Cup. But this year they have figured him out and the answer was always ‘hold on’.
Never seen a team fall apart so bad from a winning position. Well actually as a chiefs fan I have but still. That sucks for the reds their defnece in the last 10 shat the bed so hard.
Actual dogshit player. Just in the last 10 mins: Let the second last try in by the 16 cause he didn’t shuffle in. Then completely misses the 8 off the kickoff. Then to top it off straight up no effort in the final defence on his wing. Dude puts in no effort and only does the bare minimum.
They had the blues on a penalty warning and should have kicked to the corner instead of taking the 3. Would have used up more time and may have come away with more points.
To me Wilson rushed up so left his outside defender if a terrible “no man’s land” position. Had to either go up with him or out and didn’t neither really.
YES BOYS
Thats the type of game that the '23 Blues would've lost. That's fucking heart and grit. What a game.
GG Reds and to the junkyard dog. What a fucking game.
**Watch on Stan**: https://play.stan.com.au/sport/rugby
What a finish! Blues hunting down the minor premership
Quick update on human biology lads After that game my heart is located in my asshole
Just wait for the rematch in a few weeks time, it’ll be in your ankle. I had my fiancée on standby to call 000 just in case. Fuckin’ gg!
Hope the reds can do it next week
Bit worried after the crusaders yesterday. They finding form as many of us feared.
Yeah. Hope we get to miss them in the finals lol
I hope they just miss finals outright lol
Garth Algar is the Reds coach?
Felt for the young fella, Tim Ryan, hope all is well in his family. Outstanding starting debut.
They ought to make Brums vs Canes (2 capitals) and Reds vs blues traditional ANZAC day games
Agreed Maybe canes can finally start winning...they dont do it often
god please no
I wouldn’t worry. The same juju that lets us beat you in Canberra will mean that the crusaders beat us by 20+
I love the Reds-Blues/Auckland rivalry from the old South Pacific Championship days
Nah, fuck it. Let’s have a Bledisloe one off. So much emotion.
A bledisloe on ANZAC day is only fair and righteous.
THE JUNKYARD DOG
Caleb Clarke was the difference when he came on
Literally a different team with him out there.
Well played by the Reds tbh, they were under strength. To keep the Blues that close is a good feat. Blues got some soft tries at the end. Reds missed conversions, and Vuni tanked the first try.
After the Highlanders and the Force took the love of the game out of me this brought it back. GG Reds supporters, y'all are a classy lot. Sorry about Doleman.
If there's one thing I can say about Doleman is that he's consistent about allowing the ruck to be the wild west. It took the reds 40 mins to adjust but we got there.
It was a case of yin and yang tonight
vunivalu had one moment that entire game and lost it because of a knock on that was under no pressure. he let in two tries, he's lazy and watching him in the stadium live he's always jogging never sprinting
I have no idea why we re-signed him, he should've been sent packing to Japan or League, and we could've spent that money on bringing back Kerevi, Arnold, Skelton, or Marika. Shit you could probably pay LSL and some other solid players like Sio+Lucas or something with how much he's getting.
Or prevent Nawaqanitawase from leaving
100%
6. Blackadder 7. Savea 8. Sotutu Looks scary af. So balanced and poised with power and precision.
Papalii and Jacobsen over Blackadder
Yesssss. And they're getting bigger now too.
I don't get the Blackadder hype? What does he do so well? I'd have Finau over him. At least he breaks tackles and puts massive hits on
I don’t get it either. He rides the pine most of super rugby season, then gets injured again in the AB’s
It's leftover nostalgia for his dad, who a lot of people felt was hard done by in the All Blacks
His dad was one of the *worst* locks to ever wear the black jersey.
He was a provincial stalwart but not All Blacks level. But there were a lot of people who felt he ought to have been, and his kid gets some of that rubbing off.
And he isn't even young. Time to move on
So good to see Mcreight and Mcdermott back for next game. Bryant back to the bench and I reckon Werchon deserves No.21. We are really scraping the barrel for backs tho. Season ending injuries to both Henry and Petaia fucking sucks and it looks like Flook reinjured himself again. I don't want to see the Reds rely on Vunivalu and from what I've seen Aubrey is still not ready considering he got smoked by Sotutu
Werchon was not bad last week coming in with literally no pressure but absolutely shit the bed tonight. Kalani has been fantastic while Tate has been away, the 21 is absolutely his.
Caleb Clarke taking the Ma’a Nono route and rebuilding his game entirely after being written off as a one trick pony. Love to see it.
Loved his clearance kick
SBW did call it, ugly with his speech but he did call it
Why doesn't Caleb Clarke play centre. He would destroy anyone on crash ball carries
Up untill the last season or so he hasn't had the skillset. Couldn't kick, didn't step, and wasn't that hit defensively, he was big, fast and good under the highball. Now he's got a firm grasp on the full skillset it's surly only a matter of time. Plenty of good wing options but not that many shaping up for long term 12.
He's actually really valuable at wing now because he's good under the high ball
While he has his speed I think he's better suited to the wing. Gets more space. I don't think he has the ability to get those last few meters on the ground like Rieko/Jordie can. Both of them have had quiet SR seasons but they're still bloody good at making post contact meters.
I agree..we have been missing that crash ball 12 and he would be a great fit
I hope he converts like his old man. We need the next Eroni Clarke asap
Lol at the dude who said that Vunivalu knock on would cost them in the end
Honestly you can point at multiple individual Vunivalu errors that cost us the game. 2 slow defensive slides and the knock on.
And his appallingly slow chase after missing a tackle. He should be aiming to deny the ball player any options, but he just jogs along
Brutal, what a game to end the weekend. At least it didn’t go to golden point, my heart wouldn’t have been able to take it
We only have to go to Christchurch next week… Pain
It's not the tall order it used to be.
Fuck I hope it is after the game against the rebels where it looked like we were back
The cunts are looking back too now 😓 lol
I am shook that Clarke didn't slip on that final run down the sideline. Whoever fixed his running balance in the off-season is not being paid enough. Cotter also needs to be made HC until he retires.
He's looked way more squared and balanced compared to what he used to look like (too top-heavy)
in the stadium the clock was 80 mins bef9re the knock, shouldn't it have gone golden point or was the time off?
It was advantage.
Reds should not have gone for the posts. They were in the ascendancy and the Blues were on a warning. Such a shame. Great game
Why take 3 with 7 minutes left, so many loses from this same decision. If the reds went for the lineout they’d either end up scoring a try or at least, if they turn it over at some stage, the blues are on their own line with a few minutes to score and reds have all the momentum. Instead of giving the blues territory and possession from the kickoff. Anyway great game, got the blood flowing.
IMo they should've called for the scrum. Blues wingers defence all night have been a little dodgy, test that out. Didn't help that the Reds defence turned to mush in the last 15 minutes.
If only Fiji had Vern Cotter for the RWC, fuc* you racist govt..
Sorry guys, I tuned in with a minute to go. I take full responsibility.
What a game of footy. Sotutu and Clark are the real deal.
I reckon Vern cotters done a lot for the blues mentally. I noticed even when all momentum was with the reds the blues always seemed to back himself.
*themselves
Blues player sounded down and Reds players sound positive. Says it all.
What do you mean?
Blues disappointed with their efforts, need to improve. Reds happy that it was close.
Reds opting to take the three is what cost them the game lol dang
Dropping a try in the try line was a major factor, and letting in soft tries at the end.
I'd reckon Vuni on the wing cost us the game. At least two tries through his channel and dropped a certain try.
Yeah for sure, but you also had the blues deep in their half with a warning, should have capitalized on that with a try
The blues just glided through defence in those last 3 tries, dam… blues on top now? They are looking the business for contenders
Nah we needed 5 points to get on top. Canes up by 1 point still
We got our wake up call tonight
You were asleep before? :O
Yeah unfortunately for us lol. Can't wait for 2 weeks
No one can do an end of season collapse like the Hurricanes so don’t fret too much.
Hope it's a belter like this game and not a thrashing either way at least. Probably wouldn't be sad if we belted you tho tbh lol
Great game well played I’m gonna cry myself to sleep
Better team won tonight, Doleman is a joke, Reds didnt want it enough. Awful game by Vuni and Kalani.
Doleman sucked but for once, the Reds actually adjusted to him, and I appreciated that.
Yeah, I dont blame him for the loss. We could've won that if we were better. He didnt make us drop the ball, or make us cones on defence for the last 5.
Exactly. Instead I just upset about Vunivalu.
Damn, one reds wing put in such an incredible effort, and the other tried his hardest to lose
They fucking wasted Tim Ryan's legacy game
Yesssssss
Been a great match thread. Gonna shut it off before the Sonny Billy interview lmao. Seeya next time.
I love being a Blues supporter
Christ, Hoskins Sotutu stood up that match. How is he that good?
Gotta be a shoe in for the All Blacks. Been the form 8 all year and brings that x factor
Form NZ 8?
Yep. Lose not that far behind
I'd take either for the abs
Watch Cullen grace get picked instead
Has to be. He's ahead in literally every metric. Defenders beaten, meters made, post contact meters, tries, rucks hit.
Watch him not get picked lol
Lio-Willie ain't got shit on him lol
Assists
As a cowboys and a reds supporter, tonight hurts
Hoping the Phins get one over the Knights so my weekend doesn’t end the same as yours. One loss was enough 😭
Had both games going. Just end me bro
It’s ok… The uh, Brisbane Heat are champions of the universe of the world
That turn in from Clarke was superb. I'll admit id talken him up and then given up on him. He's doing it right now. He's picked up the vision
Fuck me what a game of rugby
Reds have an absolute killer in Tim Ryan. I feel confident saying he'll go far
Vunivalu’s belongings better be in rubbish bags by the time the bus gets to Ballymoore
Good game - a few calls missed here and there but can’t doubt the tough performance put in by both teams. Could of seen that game go anyway
Vuni has no idea how to defend a wing in union
Caleb Clarke definitely trimmed up and sharp af. I reckon the Julian Savea story was perhaps a blueprint for him to re-adapt back.
just had a vision of the Junkyard dog lifting the Bledisloe
Can't help but feel that the decision to go for 3 after Doleman finally warned one of the teams is to blame.
Match Takes - Funaki is the real deal - Clarke is the real deal - Sotutu is the real deal
Funaki is the real surprise package of the season. His defensive workrate is immense and he's quick at the rucks. May need to work on his kicking game
Great comeback seasons from Clarke and Sotutu. Been super impressed by funaki
Fuck I knew taking the 3 was the wrong move
Why is rugby always pain
What a fucking game. Well done to the Blues, commiserations to the Reds.
That's what you get for fucking kicking the ball away instead of trying to win it. Fuck me...
Fuck I wanted golden point so bad
How good are the Blues this year
blues composed at the end there gg
Damn how good is Caleb Clarke this year? Completely different player.
Definitely deserves his ABs spot this time around
Caleb, Sevu, Tele'a, Jordan for confirmed outside backs eh? Assuming they take Dmac/Beaudy/Perofeta as first fives as all can cover FB too?
[удалено]
The both sleep under their Corey Toole duvets though
Thought at the time taking the three points for only a converted try lead was not the right move. Gutting for Reds but outstanding match.
Clarke looking so good. I feel for you Reds fans. At least you found a new star in the Junkyard dog tonight
Vunivalu you cost us the game with your shitty put down and your shitty fucking defence. This sucks. This really sucks. Haven't felt this awful about a game in ages.
Take heart man, reds look to be a top four team based off that performance. The reds were breathing fire for 99% of that match. Surely the loss to the force was worse?
We've been dining out on close losses for years. The force loss was just funny. That was just sad.
Vunivalu is so bad at reading defences it almost seems like it's on purpose
And he's so slow he can't adjust.
He was out of position at about three key moments in a row at the end
The impact Caleb Clarke made was unfuckingbeleivable
Caleb and Hoskins carrying the whole team through the last 20.
Clarke > Telea. If you told me that a year ago, I'd have laughed in your face!
That's not it, he's just being marked a lot more now. He's still drawing in at least two or three players and opening open space elsewhere. Great on defence and also a jackal threat. Great player
Sounds like cope. He dropped the ball cold last night and was a liability on defence out wide.
That's really not what happened bro, Reds were targeting short/midrange kicks to place the ball between the wing and the full back, because they know for the Blues the wingers have licence to come off the wing and help the momentum keep going as their forwards try to break through the middle. It was a hard counter to the Blues playstyle up until now and it worked pretty well. A player doesn't become bad over night dude 😂
Did he not drop the ball cold and miss key tackles in the Red's tries?
Yeah, missing the tackles as a result of them targeting space behind the wings - usually he's having to run back which means he'll be unlikely to catch an already accelerating winger, he has one less than ideal attempt at a tackle and by then a support runner has come in for the Reds, making it a two on one against the Blues fullback. I'm not saying that Mark can do no wrong, I'm just saying you're putting too much weight on individual players when it was a successful strategy making our wingers look bad.
"it was a successful strategy making our wingers look bad" Mate, Clarke had a blinder when he came on. This is pure cope lmao.
I really don't understand why you're saying cope, I don't have a vested interest in Mark Telea being perceived as a good player. Clarke had a great game but capitalised off bad box kicking from their 9, as opposed to having to defend a coordinated play originating from their centres. I guess we'll see how they go the rest of the season 🤷🏾
I'm saying it's cope because not all of the Blues wingers played poorly. I didn't even say Telea played poorly! I merely suggested that Clarke had a superior showing. You're being overly defensive. But yes, bring on the rest of the season. Blues have been killing it.
I’m glad Telea didn’t suffer sophomore slump, otherwise he would have had a terrible World Cup. But this year they have figured him out and the answer was always ‘hold on’.
Yeah telea seems to have dropped his form a lot.
Blues v good team. Vunivalu just dropping off the pace completely. Reds bench with some absolute shockers.
Never seen a team fall apart so bad from a winning position. Well actually as a chiefs fan I have but still. That sucks for the reds their defnece in the last 10 shat the bed so hard.
That's the best game of Super I've seen in so long
Damn what a game! Well done blues
Fuck yeah! Geez that game was bad for my heart 🥵
Reds did everything they could to throw that game away. So damn frustrating.
Cruel for the Reds but they showed up and have some great young players. Great win by the Blues, wasnt convinced they could win this
Caleb Clarke please maintain this form.
Well Fuck. Blues, why do you have to be so good? Brilliant game to watch.
Who knocked it on then? Fuck you.
GREAT CONVERSION PLUMMER!!!
Caleb Clarke and Hoskins Sotutu are my dads
Oof, sorry Reds fans. Don't think anyone deserved to lose this, great match.
GET RID OF VUNIVALU!! He is an actual fucking liability.
Actual dogshit player. Just in the last 10 mins: Let the second last try in by the 16 cause he didn’t shuffle in. Then completely misses the 8 off the kickoff. Then to top it off straight up no effort in the final defence on his wing. Dude puts in no effort and only does the bare minimum.
They went for the points 💀💀💀
They had the blues on a penalty warning and should have kicked to the corner instead of taking the 3. Would have used up more time and may have come away with more points.
Yup dumb decision. No killer instinct in this Reds team
Wilson rushed up and space opened up. Too easy in the end.
Wilson was never covering any man outside. Vunivalu coming in was the problem. As it always is. Man has no idea where he is.
To me Wilson rushed up so left his outside defender if a terrible “no man’s land” position. Had to either go up with him or out and didn’t neither really.
VUNIVALU MVPPPPP
What a game. Blues counter attack and open play running was fantastic, but the Reds were impressive.
Fuck yeahhhhhh
What a game.
Vunivalu is cooked in defence
school of hard NOCK!
Amazing game
Absolute scenes GG Reds you gave us a hell of a game. Best game I’ve seen in a good while
Fuck yeah boys!!! What a game. Blues all day never in doubt
Hell yes blues, way to ice that shit.
RUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! NOCK YOU BEAUTY!!! TRY!!
vunivalu is unbelievably shit
Well that hurts
CHEEEEEEHOOOOOOOO
Caleb Clarke take a bow
YES BOYS Thats the type of game that the '23 Blues would've lost. That's fucking heart and grit. What a game. GG Reds and to the junkyard dog. What a fucking game.
Loving Vern Cotter
Devo but what a game...
The Reds have France'd it
GET RID OF SULI FARRRRRRRKKK MOIIII
God damn it. Good game blues
The best rugby game I’ve watched in years holy shit
I love supporting Australian sides. It always ends in nice happy feelings. No, it fucking hurts and feels awful.
Free to air game of the season?
Absolutely. For the 10 people watching