Skipper sees red at go-slow accusation

REDS captain Liam Wright has hit back at Rebels star Matt Toomua’s claims Queensland used time-wasting tactics in their 18-18 Super Rugby AU draw but agreed the quicker the game was played, the better.

Melbourne flyhalf Toomua this week urged referees to come down hard on go-slow tactics, particularly the delaying of scrums.

“When we played two nights ago we were waiting for a second rower to tie his shoelaces. That part of the game needs a lot of work,” Toomua said in questioning the Reds’ tactics in Friday night’s “Super Time” draw at Brookvale Oval.

But Wright suggested Toomua and the Rebels needed to take a look at themselves rather than criticise Queensland.

“With people going down, I definitely don’t think that was on our side,” the Reds skipper said. “Our guys are a fit team and want to play footy and were up for it the whole time.

“We won’t see them for another five weeks … but we’re not too worried about what Matty is down there saying at the moment.”

However, Wright liked Toomua’s idea of teams needing to score a try in the 10-minute “Super Time” period rather than win the game via a penalty goal or a field goal.

Both the Reds and the Rebels were tentative in Friday night’s extra-time period, with neither side scoring a point.

“It was a bit of a battle of who could not make a mistake instead of trying to play real decisive attacking footy,” Wright said in admitting the Reds were wary of giving away a ruck or scrum penalty.

Wright has been pleased with Queensland’s unbeaten start to the Super Rugby AU season but said his team’s lineouts needed work ahead of Friday’s clash against Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.