NSW coach Darren Coleman has made ‘Tah Tough’ the mantra during his first season at the helm of the rebuilding Super Rugby club.
And the Waratahs again showed the fighting qualities that were so sorely missing last year at a rain-soaked Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
But as Coleman, in COVID-19 isolation, watched on in his “pyjamas” in Sydney, Brad Thorn’s Reds gave a reminder that their game is built on the starchy stuff too.
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Queensland, the defending Australian champions, survived a testing period when they played with just 13 men, to emerge deserved 32-20 winners in Brisbane and regained their position of second on the ladder.
Prop Dane Zander was sent off for a dangerous shoulder to Ruan Smith’s head and then returning captain Tate McDermott saw yellow for what the referee contentiously ruled as a deliberate knock down.
That was an open invitation for NSW to strike but they couldn’t due to a combination of their own mistakes and some stubborn Queensland resistance.
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“We pride ourselves in the fight so being a man down, two men down, we knew we had to step up. Sometimes we play our best footy when we’re a man or two down so that always helps us,” man of the match Harry Wilson told Nine and Stan Sport.
McDermott, whose return from injury provided Queensland with a much needed shot of energy and direction, concurred.
“We make it pretty tough for ourselves but that’s what we’ve built over the last couple of years. We’re always showing up for the mate next to us and we’re a resilient bunch as well,” the halfback said.
McDermott scored the first of four Reds tries with Taniela Tupou, Fraser McReight and Jock Campbell – with a killer second half intercept – the others.
NSW halfback Jack Grant opened the scoring for the visitors during an entertaining start in torrential rain while Tom Horton grabbed a late consolation try.
The win sets up a top of the table rematch against the Brumbies, who shaded the Reds 16-12 in Canberra in round five.
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“They resisted with 13 men, held on with 14 and when it got back to 15 on 15, they showed their class,” commentator Morgan Turinui said.
“They were just too good, the Reds, too good man on man, too good collectively. Their program is two to three years further down the track (than NSW). The Waratahs embodied the words that are important to them.
“They were Tah tough, they were resilient but the Reds are a classy outfit. We’re seeing a high quality, champion team.”
Sean Maloney and Andrew Mehrtens are joined by Lori Cramer as they talk Super W, Super Rugby Pacific and Six Nations. Seanny and Mehrts have some new jerseys on, the NSW refs sent in pies and Lori offers up a selection for the ‘Weird Cat XV.’
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