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Reds: 'Nothing mind shattering in loss'

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:58

Nothing mind shattering: Reds coach Ewen McKenzie

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has dismissed the impact his team's 12-31 loss to the Western Force at the weekend will have on their season, which gets underway when they tackle the Waratahs in Brisbane on Saturday.

Following their 26-24 win over the 'Tahs and 20-12 shock victory over the Crusaders, the big defeat at the hands of the Force in Perth a mere "hiccup" ahead of the season opener against their arch rivals from Sydney.

The Reds were never in the game after the Force raced out to a 20-0 lead inside 20 minutes.

"Both teams have one eye on next week, so the analysis that went into this game was limited," McKenzie said.

"I think we learned [from the loss in Perth] that if we kick the ball away and give away silly penalties it's hard work.

"There's a couple of lessons there but nothing mind shattering, it's pretty much the basics of the game that we didn't get right."

Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper put in a solid performance in his first match since being charged with burglary last year, setting up the Reds' first try of the match in the 29th minute with a surging run and perfectly-weighted grubber kick, which wing Rod Davies pounced on.

But it was not enough to inspire a comeback as the Force's dominant forward pack and clinical backline ensured the visitors endured a miserable game.

* Meanwhile Reds centre Will Chambers made a giant leap in his transition to Rugby Union at the weekend, scoring two tries in the Reds Second XV's 59-7 win over the Australian Barbarians in Brisbane on Saturday.
 
 Chambers showed plenty of positive signs in just his second game of Rugby Union since joining the Queensland franchise from National Rugby League Premiers Melbourne Storm in the off-season - proving a constant threat in attack, while improving on his positional play in defence.
 
 His first try came following a turnover from Reds teammate Lei Tomiki, who dished the ball out wide for Chambers to finish the movement by carrying his opposite defender across the line.
 
 Early in the second half the 100kg outside centre crossed again, this time from a scrum move with Chambers running a perfect line to break through the defence untouched.
 
"Chambers played well and that was good because part of the reason he played in this game was to get a full 80 minutes under his belt," Reds second XV coach Paul Carozza said.
 
"He's a good footballer and he will just get better every week."
 
While strong with the ball in hand, he received valuable support from his inside men with flyhalf Tim Walsh and inside centre Ben Tapuai, who also scored two tries, dominant all game.
 
Tapuai finished off a break down the left flank by Chambers and fullback Aidan Toua to open the scoring in the match, while captain and hooker Saia Faingaa grabbed a try in the first half from a rolling maul.
 
In the forwards the Shaw brothers, Andrew and Liam, played their usual aggressive game, Jake Schatz continued his strong preseason form, and Tomiki was a dominant force at the breakdown. Academy prospect Liam Gill also showed promise in his first taste of senior rugby, scoring a try off the bench late in the match.
 
The Barbarians showed plenty of spirit in the opening half with the score 19-7 at half-time, but the fluency of a Reds second XV team featuring players from both the Reds and Reds Academy proved too strong.
 
"At halftime we thought we could be doing better, so I was really pleased with how they responded in the second half," Carozza said.
 
"Our enthusiasm was better but the Barbarians really gave it to us and put up a strong challenge. Our fitness probably played a factor in the second half, but we did play some good footy at times.

"We've got another four games now and we've got plenty to improve on as well."

With fitness playing a role, Chambers, Tapuai, Schatz, Gill, Cameron Bracewell and Dallan Murphy all grabbed second half tries.

Brothers centre James Harvey scored the Barbarians only try when he capitalised on a break by Brethren team-mate Nathanuel Gendle to score under the posts.

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