‘Total brain explosion’ – TWO Wallabies stars sent off as Reds pay price for ill-discipline

Colin Newboult
Wallabies duo Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight sent off for the Reds in Super Rugby Pacific.

Wallabies duo Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight sent off for the Reds in Super Rugby Pacific.

The Reds appeared to take lessons from Fijian Drua as they had two players sent off in their narrow defeat to Moana Pasifika on Friday.

Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight were both red carded as the Queensland outfit succumbed 17-14 to Moana Pasifika.

McDermott’s was particularly brainless as he took exception to Irie Papuni’s hand-off by swinging his arm into the head of the back-rower.

It was a stupid and cowardly act and one which met the yellow card threshold for it to go to an immediate review.

Upgraded

Unsurprisingly, a quick decision was forthcoming and, under two minutes after being sin-binned, it was upgraded to a red card, leaving them down to 14 men.

That incident also came just prior to a Reds try, which meant Josh Flook’s effort was subsequently disallowed and denied them going in front.

They therefore remained 10-7 behind due to Julian Savea’s try and William Havili’s penalty which gave Moana a 10-0 advantage at the break.

To the visitors’ credit, they responded well and were much better in the second period, despite McDermott’s lack of discipline in the 47th minute.

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Peni Ravai’s try score brought them back into contention before they went ahead 10 minutes from time through Jordan Petaia’s try.

At that point, they looked like they would secure an impressive win, but another poor decision, this time from fellow Wallaby Fraser McReight, saw another Reds player red carded.

McReight was far too upright in the tackle and, as a result, his shoulder connected with the head of Havili. Like McDermott, he was sin-binned and it was reviewed, but once again a quick decision was made and the flanker spent the rest of the game on the sidelines.

With McReight off the field, the Pacific Islanders took advantage and Havili touched down late in the game to snatch the win.

However, much of the talk surrounded the Reds’ ill-discipline, with McDermott particularly criticised.

“A total brain explosion from Tate McDermott… a bad look for @redsrugby,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

A theme in the south

Tight Five Rugby feels it’s been a consistent theme in Super Rugby Pacific this season, writing: “Seen quite a few head losses in Super Rugby this season.”

Only last weekend, Frank Lomani and Jone Koroiduadua were red carded and banned for cheap shots, and these two Reds players should also be set for a spell on the sidelines.

“Won’t need to worry about playing for the next few weeks. Dumb stuff from McDermott,” journalist and broadcaster Brett McKay wrote, before adding: “Though the recent precedent of poor execution trumping intent might help him?”

Despite the sheer stupidity of the acts there was praise for the 20-minute red card law, which frustrated broadcaster Andrew McKenna.

“Aggghhhh NZ continues the narrative! Tate McDermott is red carded for a swinging arm to the head, and the commentary praises the 20min law for not ‘ruining the game’! How do you change player behaviour like that?! Idiots,” he wrote.

READ MORE: Kurtley Beale makes Wallabies decision after Joe Schmidt chat

Australia Fraser McReight Tate McDermott

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