The Reds held off the Force in a 31-24 win at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
What are we talking about after that Friday night encounter?
1. Tupou raising the bar
Taniela Tupou is looking in the best shape of his career after a COVID-19 conditioning blitz.
Wallabies defence coach Matt Taylor had some big praise for the tightehad and his work during the shutdown period.
It’s clear he is fitter than he has ever been, managing a full 90 minutes in a Super Time game dominated by scrums last weekend and another near-80 minute game on Friday night.
He is monstering opponents at the scrum and reminded everyone of his athleticism with a deft pick up off the ground that almost put him into open space.
Tupou has always had incredible potential but he is starting to look more threatening than he ever has.
2. Force need to convert fast starts
For the second week in a row, the Western Force sprinted out to a big early lead but were run down by a Super Rugby opposition.
While they stayed competitive in both matches, they simply won’t be able to continue that pattern and hope to snatch a win or even a run of close losses that way.
Their fight is admirable and they let a handful of chances go begging in attack but reconciling honourable losses will get harder with each passing week.
They looked more dangerous in the final stages of Friday night’s game than they did against the Waratahs last weekend but they were their own worst enemy late in the clash with lost lineout and basic turnovers.
The longer they go on, the greater the need will be for them to win and their assignment won’t get much easier with the competition favourite Brumbies coming up next week.
3. Ralston’s star rising
Byron Ralston’s stocks are rising with each appearance in Super Rugby AU.
Fans of the NRC will have already been familiar with the youngster’s name but anyone who hadn’t seen him before will be enjoying the displays he’s dishing up.
He had a double, including a super intercept try to keep the Force in the game just before half-time.
Finished with those two tries and 135 run metres off nine carries.
At 20, he would’ve been eligible for a second year of Junior Wallabies this year, after missing out on the World Champs in 2019, and still has plenty of rugby ahead of him.
4. Back row grit abounds in Australian rugby
Look across every Australian Super Rugby team and there is a serious amount of talent in their backros.
On Friday night, that was on brilliant display in both maroon and yellow and black.
For the Reds, Liam Wright consistently sets the tone for his side and he, along with specialist backrowers Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson, were immense for the Reds particularly late.
The Force’s backrow of Henry Stowers, Tevin Ferris and Brynard Stander were similarly influential for the visitors.
Samoan international Stowers finished with an incredible 24 tackles with flanker Ferris wasn’t far behind with 18.
Saturday’s game is set to provide another chapter of exciting backrow battles and it’s an area where Australia certainly finds itself with some incredible depth.
5. Discipline a looming headache for Queensland
It is yet to actually cost them a game but the Reds consistently find themselves having to play a man down after generally avoidable yellow cards.
After three rounds, Queensland has conceded four yellow cards and the only other team to have been slapped with any is the Waratahs with one.
This is not a new trend for the Reds, who have been among the more carded teams in recent seasons as well.
Ironically, they seem to lift when they are battling adversity, but eventually this run of sloppy discipline is going to cost them a match and potentially a pivotal one at that.
They need to iron that out before it leaves them with more than just an in-play regret.
