Heartbreaking Loss for Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss expressed his frustration after his team narrowly lost 19-14 to the Western Force in Perth during a thrilling Super Rugby Pacific match. The loss was particularly painful as the Reds were just moments away from potentially changing the outcome of the game.
In the 77th minute, with the Force leading by five points, the Reds launched a fast break that saw Treyvon Pritchard sprinting down the wing. Pritchard passed the ball inside to fullback Jock Campbell, who was just 23 meters from the try line. However, Force flyhalf Max Burey intervened, and the ball deflected off him.
The Reds’ coaching staff were visibly upset, believing that Burey had committed a cynical knock-down. A yellow card or a penalty try could have been awarded, but the referee ruled it a legitimate play, stating the ball had come off Burey’s chest. This decision left the Reds’ coaching team fuming.
Kiss, who is also set to become the incoming Wallabies coach, remained calm when discussing the incident after the match. He said, “Well, you knock the ball and knock it to the ground. That’s up for them (referees) to make a choice. It certainly seems to have changed in terms of its interpretation in that area. But it is what it is. We’ll live with it and accept it, no problems.”
The loss has left Queensland (6-6) in sixth place, just two points ahead of the seventh-placed Waratahs with two rounds remaining. Meanwhile, the Force (5-7) moved up to ninth, now six points behind the Reds in their bid for a top-six berth.
Key Moments and Tactical Struggles
Just a day after announcing Simon Cron as their coach for 2027, the Force opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Carlo Tizzano using a rolling maul. The Reds struggled in the first half, losing four of their nine lineouts, a trend that has continued in recent weeks.
Reds flanker Joe Brial managed to score in the 20th minute, equalizing the score. However, the Reds missed several other opportunities to take the lead. Centre Isaac Henry failed to pick up a grubbered ball while attempting to dive and trap it for a try.
Zac Lomax, a key recruit for the Force, had a tough start to the game when he was tackled hard by lock Hamish Muller. Despite this, he made a crucial juggling intercept that prevented the Reds from scoring. His pressure on a high ball allowed Mac Grealy to dive on the crumbs for a 44th-minute try.
After Reds winger Tim Ryan scored shortly after, the Force regained the lead when Burey executed a chip kick, and George Bridge made a juggling grab to set up Tizzano for his second try in the 55th minute. This proved to be the final score of the contest.
Reflections from the Field
Force captain Jeremy Williams reflected on the game, saying, “It was a bit of a do-or-die game for us. All of them are really going forward. We’ve just got to walk towards it I guess.”
The match highlighted the intense competition in the Super Rugby Pacific, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. As the season progresses, both the Reds and the Force will need to address their tactical issues to secure their positions in the standings.
