Schmidt’s List: Brumbies speed merchant catches the eye while Reds contingent also impress
The Brumbies' Corey Toole and the Reds shone in Round 15 of Super Rugby Pacific.
In our sixth instalment of Schmidt’s List, we discuss selection prospects and topics which Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt could be considering after the weekend’s action.
In the final round ahead of the play-offs, Australia’s two leading teams – the Brumbies and Reds – were their country’s only sides who managed to secure victories and there were several players from their ranks who showed Schmidt their ability.
Meanwhile, despite finishing the regular season with defeats, there were players from the Melbourne Rebels, Waratahs and Western Force who also caught the eye and will be hoping they did enough to come into the reckoning for Wallabies call-ups.
Brumbies flyer shows that nothing beats speed
In Perth, the Brumbies faced a tough assignment against the Western Force but got the job done courtesy of a 24-19 triumph and leading the way for the men from Canberra was highly rated flyer Corey Toole.
The 24-year-old hit the ground running at the start of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign and was the tournament’s leading try-scorer during the early part of the season but sustained an ankle injury in his team’s Round 10 victory over the Hurricanes and was on the sidelines for a few weeks.
The former Australia sevens representative returned to action in the Brumbies’ Round 14 win against the Rebels and although he did not trouble the scorers then, he showed some nice touches on attack.
Well, that was just a warm-up for this weekend’s encounter against the Force as Toole’s speed proved a real handful to the home side on a few occasions. Early in the first half, Toole outpaced the Force defence to gather a Tom Wright grubber kicking before racing away to score a deserved try.
?? Does Corey Toole have the most gas in #SuperRugbyPacific?pic.twitter.com/4yf9Ky5vXE
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 1, 2024
And in the second half his speed proved handy as he raced back to haul in Issak Fines-Leleiwasa to make a try-saving tackle on the home side’s replacement scrum-half. In the end, Toole gained 97 metres on attack from eight runs which included two clean breaks, three defenders beaten and an offload and his performance was a timely reminder to Schmidt that he has the potential to make the step up to international rugby.
Apart from Toole, the usual star performers like Wright, Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini and Nick Frost also caught the eye while replacement back-row Luke Reimer made an impact off the bench as he shone on defence and won some crucial turnovers at the breakdown.
Reds contingent show their class
In Sydney, the Reds had to dig deep to see off their arch rivals, the Waratahs, and there were several of the Brisbane-based outfit’s players who came to the fore with strong individual performances.
Leading the way was Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight, who stamped his authority on that match with a strong performance at the breakdown while also emptying the tank on defence as the Reds clinched a narrow 27-26 victory in Sydney.
The 25-year-old’s prowess at the breakdown is well known and he proved to be his team’s hero as he delivered the match-winning play – after the full-time siren had sounded – when he won a crucial turnover with the Waratahs on the attack inside the Reds’ half.
Added to that, he also came to the fore with an outstanding defensive effort as he made a whopping 27 tackles which was more than any other player during Round 15 of Super Rugby Pacific.
Meanwhile, the midfield partnership of Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook combined brilliantly on attack while also putting in huge defensive shifts.
Paisami has been one of the Reds’ most consistent performers this year and will be desperate for a return to the Wallabies set-up as he missed out on international selection in 2023 after sustaining back-to-back ankle injuries.
The inside centre’s ability to create space for his outside backs is one of the strongest features of his game – especially during the early stages of Saturday’s clash when the Reds were dominating – while he also impressed on defence with 14 tackles made.
His centre partner Flook was not far behind as he made 10 hits but had his biggest impact in the execution of his attacking duties as he rounded off a superb team try and finished with 33 metres gained from five runs.
Of the other Reds, scrum-half Tate McDermott and full-back Jock Campbell also had good games with McDermott leaving his stamp on the clash with the Waratahs when he caught his opponents napping by taking a quick tap penalty deep inside their 22 before crossing for a try. Meanwhile, Campbell was dangerous from the back and eventually gained a team high 74 metres with ball in hand.
Tate goes himself and does it quickly! pic.twitter.com/QYe37BvM1U
— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) June 2, 2024
Shining lights in losing causes
Although the Waratahs’ campaign finished on a low note as they suffered their 12th defeat from 14 matches played, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as some of their players put in excellent individual performances.
Left wing Dylan Pietsch was brilliant with ball in hand as he finished with a match-high 131 metres gained from 15 runs which included four defenders beaten and he was rewarded with a deserved try for his efforts.
Young fly-half Jack Bowen and experienced scrum-half Jake Gordon also had some good moments with the former impressing with his game management while his more experienced half-back partner provided a slick service to his outside backs and varied his play well by bringing his forwards, like Langi Gleeson and Jed Holloway, into play on attack.
Gleeson gave his side good attacking momentum as he gained 70 metres from 15 carries while Holloway made 37 metres from 10 runs and also crossed the whitewash.
Elsewhere, in Perth, veteran full-back Kurtley Beale was once again at the forefront of the Force’s attacking play in their loss to the Brumbies as he gained 16 runs while another experienced player,?Nic White, wasn’t far behind as he had some good moments with ball in hand, while Izack Rodda and Carlo Tizzano shone in the forward exchanges.
Meanwhile, in Lautoka, Andrew Kellaway was the Rebels’ shining light as they came off second best in most departments in their 40-19 loss to the Fijian Drua. The utility back was playing on the right wing and proved dangerous on attack, finishing with a match-high 103 metres gained from seven runs and scored a try as well.
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