Rugged Reds bury Mitchell’s Brazilian Blues in Brisbane

The Reds beat the Bulls 20-14 to record just their second successive Super Rugby win for the first time since May-June 2014.

For the improving, but hapless Bulls, it means they have won two of their last 20 matches overseas since Round 10, 2016.

The Blues, playing in their away Brazilian strip of yellow, blue and white, were brave in defence and busy for 80 minutes. But they weren’t good enough to win.

The OptaStats data also reveals that each of the last 12 meetings between the Reds and Bulls has been won by the home team. This was the first match play in Brisbane between the two teams in five years.

The Bulls struck early for a seven point advantage and led 14-3 midway through the first half. The Reds changed ends 14-10 down but dominated the second half and were far more convincing victors than the six point margin suggests.

Scorers:

Reds 20 (10)

Try: Caleb Timu, Aidan Toua

Conversions: James Tuttle (2)

Penalty: Jono Lance

Penalty: Tuttle

Bulls 14 (14)

Tries: Warrick Gelant, Andre Warner

Conversions: Handre Pollard (2)

How the Oracle  called the odds in the Betting Preview 

Keo Live Match Centre Commentary, powered by Opta

How Sport24 depicted the Bulls’s agony at another overseas loss 

• It’s all over! The referee has blown his whistle to end the game.
• 80+1‘Samu Kerevi has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 80+1‘Jono Lance has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 78‘This is dangerous for the defence as Marco van Staden bursts through to advance the Bulls attack.
• 78‘Bulls have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 77‘Adam Korczyk has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 77‘A gap opened in the defence and Warrick Gelant took full advantage.
• 75‘Jono Lance kicks the penalty.
• 73‘Reds have won 100 rucks so far this game.
• 72‘Sef Fa’agase comes on.
• 72‘Taniela Tupou comes off.
• 67‘Trevor Nyakane has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 63‘Reds decide to make a substitution, with Harry Hockings getting some game time.
• 63‘Reds decide to make a substitution, with Kane Douglas being replaced.
• 63‘Bulls make a substitution with Marco van Staden coming on.
• 63‘Bulls make a substitution with RG Snyman coming off.
• 63‘The defensive line has been broken as Warrick Gelant goes through the gap.
• 62‘Reds sub Alex Mafi comes onto the field.
• 62‘Brandon Paenga-Amosa departs for Reds.
• 60‘Angus Scott-Young comes on for Reds.
• 60‘Liam Wright leaves the field.
• 58‘What a run here by Jono Lance as they gets over the gainline!.
• 56‘Embrose Papier comes on.
• 56‘Andre Riaan Warner comes off.
• 55‘Reds have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 54‘Tate McDermott comes on.
• 54‘James Tuttle comes off.
• 54‘Lizo Gqoboka comes on.
• 54‘Pierre Schoeman comes off.
• 54‘Bulls decide to make a substitution, with Jason Jenkins getting some game time.
• 54‘Bulls decide to make a substitution, with Hanro Liebenberg being replaced.
• 53‘Samu Kerevi makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 52‘Nick de Jager has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 51‘Reds have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 51‘Pierre Schoeman has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 50‘Bulls make a substitution with Marnitz Boshoff coming on.
• 50‘Bulls make a substitution with John-Ben Kotze coming off.
• 48‘Bulls sub Adriaan Strauss comes onto the field.
• 48‘Jaco Visagie departs for Bulls.
• 48‘Lodewyk De Jager has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 46‘Jean-Pierre Smith comes on for Reds.
• 46‘James Slipper leaves the field.
• 46‘James Tuttle does the business as his conversion attempt goes over.
• 45‘Spellbinding play by Brandon Paenga-Amosa is finished off with a try.
• 45‘Silky skills by Reds ends with a try for Aidan Toua.
• 45‘Fabulous play by Reds has led to Filipo Daugunu being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 43‘Bulls have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 43‘Trouble here as Handre Pollard breaches the defence.
• 42‘This is dangerous for the defence as Lodewyk De Jager bursts through to advance the Bulls attack.
• 40‘Handre Pollard has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 40‘Trevor Nyakane comes on.
• 40‘Frans van Wyk comes off.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 38‘A gap opened in the defence and Samu Kerevi took full advantage.
• 37‘The defensive line has been broken as Caleb Timu goes through the gap.
• 37‘James Tuttle makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.
• 35‘Taniela Tupou played a key part in that try.
• 35‘A wonderful passing move by Reds is finished off by Caleb Timu.
• 35‘What a run here by Caleb Timu as they gets over the gainline!.
• 35‘Liam Wright makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 34‘Fabulous play by Reds has led to Filipo Daugunu being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 32‘Reds have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 25‘Handre Pollard converts the try.
• 25‘That’s a great try assist by John-Ben Kotze.
• 25‘Trouble here as Travis Ismaiel breaches the defence.
• 24‘A series of passes by Bulls results in a try for Andre Riaan Warner.
• 24‘Bulls have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 23‘James Tuttle has kicked a penalty goal.
• 19‘What a tackle there by Andre Riaan Warner as he saves a certain try!.
• 19‘This is dangerous for the defence as Taniela Tupou bursts through to advance the Reds attack.
• 19‘Reds have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 7‘A gap opened in the defence and Hanro Liebenberg took full advantage.
• 5‘Handre Pollard has kicked a conversion.
• 4‘The defensive line has been broken as Warrick Gelant goes through the gap.
• 4‘Jesse Kriel sets up the try.
• 4‘Great hands by Bulls leads to a try for Warrick Gelant.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.

Reds – 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Filipo Daugunu , 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jono Lance, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Adam Korczyk, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Duncan Paia’aua

Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Handré Pollard (c), 9 André Warner, 8 Nic de Jager, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Divan Rossouw