Reds vs Brumbies: Five things we learned
The Reds snatched victory from the Brumbies with the final kick of the ball tonight.
Here’s what we’re talking about after the 16-15 result.
1. Brumbies battered and bruised
The 16-15 loss may be the least of the Brumbies’ concerns ahead of their finals run.
Chris Alcock suffered a thigh gash that required orthopaedic surgeon Peter Myers to be pulled from that stands to treat it, Kyle Godwin was taken off in the second term after hurting his knee, Rory Arnold was pulled in the first half after hurting his shoulder and Aidan Toua tried to fight through an ankle complaint before being replaced late in the first term.
Post match, Stephen Larkham said two will require scans.
Godwin is thought to have suffered a bad knee injury, with Toua also struggling with the ankle.
Arnold may have only suffered a stinger, while Alcock will be fine after a hospital trip to treat the gash.
2. Simmons stars in Suncorp finale
Rob Simmons was awarded man of the match in his final home game tonight and although there may have been one or two out there that were better, it was a fitting farewell for the towering lock.
His first half was particularly strong and that was when he was packing down at blindside flanker.
That selection was Nick Stiles thinking outside the square and it clearly revitalised Simmons, who carried hard, slipped a cheeky flick pass through contact and whacked Brumbies ball carriers on the defensive end.
Maybe he should have been playing at blindside all along?
3. Generation Next take it to a new level
The Reds have invested precious minutes into Izaia Perese, Duncan Paia’aua, Adam Korczyk, Campbell Magnay, Taniela Tupou and James Tuttle and they were all influential in the win tonight.
Perese looks to have taken great confidence from an extraordinary Australian U20s campaign, as he glided across the dewy turf and busted tackles at will.
Paia’aua was similarly destructive with ball in hand and aimed up defensively – an area of his game that requires consistent work.
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Korczyk was his tireless self and the man that held the Brumbies maul that sparked the final winning movement.
Magnay, fresh off announcing a move to Suntory at the end of this season, was outstanding.
He whacks blokes defensively and runs hard lines at holes in attack.
Tupou has edged away from the flashy runs and now is more than capable of holding his own at scrum time, while Tuttle commanded the Reds pack on a night in which Quade Cooper was found wanting.
The Nudgee College product is really starting to come of age.
4. Fog frenzy
Brisbane was engulfed by fog tonight and it didn’t miss Suncorp Stadium.
While Simmons didn’t seem to think it drastically affected the players sight, it did make ball handling tough.
One would think so, anyway, given the alarming number of handling errors in the first term.
The conditions were the kind usually reserved for Canberra and naturally, the Brumbies looked more at home.
5. Seven Brumbies sins
Tonight’s one point loss takes the tally of Brumbies losses by less than seven points to seven.
Larkham said the team is constantly working on and will work on it moving towards the finals but the fact remains, the Brumbies have an issue closing out tight matches.
Let’s hope the can address that issue come finals time.