Reds alert at Pretoria farce
THE spluttering Reds last won in Pretoria in 2001 and the 32-17 loss there yesterday was an error-prone re-run of tired themes.
The Queenslanders’ poor 3-5 win-loss record midway through Super Rugby only sets them up to equal 2018’s six-win season unless there is sharp improvement.
The indecisive Reds didn’t even get in the air to grab the short second-half kick-off so that Bulls ace Handre Pollard was scoring a few phases later.
That was game over at 20-3, even though you could be fooled that the first of Samu Kerevi’s excellent tries made it a ball-game (20-10) with 20 minutes to play.
What the Reds can’t seem to fix is being their own worst enemies with unforced errors and the woeful first 41 minutes had it all.
When fullback Hamish Stewart was whistled for tossing the ball away to prevent a Bulls’ lineout throw, the penalty kick to touch gifted a lineout-drive try for flanker Marco van Staden.
That 13-3 deficit became 20-3 with the Pollard try.