The Queensland Reds were slapped with a round one reality check on Saturday night, blown away in the second half by the high octane Hurricanes in Townsville.
The Reds only trailed 16-13 at halftime but were held scoreless after the break as the Hurricanes scored five of their six tries to complete an emphatic 47-13 win.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was in the Queensland Bank Stadium stands for the first trans-Tasman clash of the Super Rugby Pacific season, and would have been concerned at the gulf between the sides.
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The 28 degree heat and sapping humidity was supposed to favour Brad Thorn's side but the Wellington-based Kiwis coped with the conditions better overall.
The Hurricanes' bench impact proved decisive, with dynamic hooker Asafo Aumua the pick of them.
"This is a big blow for Brad Thorn in round one," Reds legend Tim Horan said on Stan Sport.
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"A bit of soul searching to do for the Reds," added former Queensland captain James Horwill.
"It's a bit of a broken record. They're obviously aware that they give away penalties, they give away stupid yellow cards… it comes back to trusting your teammates."
Things were looking promising early when Reds debutant Tom Lynagh sent a cross-field kick to the right edge which resulted in the game's first try to Jordan Petaia.
Lynagh, with proud father Michael watching in the stands, had his kicking boots on with two sweetly struck penalties and a conversion – although he missed the tackle for Billy Proctor's try.
"It was the first time dad has watched me play in Australia," Lynagh told Stan Sport.
"Pretty special moment for me, I'll remember this for a long, long time."
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Horwill was impressed with the 19-year-old's composure.
"He's got the core elements of a good No.10. He comes across as a good English No.10 – he kicks really well, picks his moments," he said.
"He's going to get better, he's going to build into his frame. He's obviously a bit small at the moment. They were defending him either at fullback or the left wing, to keep him away from guys like (Julian) Savea and Jordie Barrett coming down his channel.
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"Once he does grow into his body a little bit – he is only 19 – the sky's the limit for him."
The Reds must now reset for a March 5 clash with the Western Force in Melbourne's Super Round. Fixing a wobbly scrum will be the first priority.
"They've seen the reality without Taniela Tupou in the scrum," Morgan Turinui noted.
Cam Roigard, Jamie Booth, Julian Savea and Tyrel Lomax scored second half tries for the rampant Hurricanes, who were also rewarded with a penalty try from a rolling maul.
Reds forwards Ryan Smith and Seru Uru were yellow carded either side of halftime.
"I guess for us, probably a bit of a reality check," Reds captain Tate McDermott said.
"At least we know where we are now and we've got to get back on the horse. So very disappointing. A bit of a broken record for us, really, discipline and not holding the ball and also not making tackles."
HURRICANES 47 (Billy Proctor, Cam Roigard, Jamie Booth, Julian Savea, Tyrel Lomax tries, penalty try; Jordie Barrett 4 con, 2 pen) REDS 13 (Jordan Petaia try; Tom Lynagh con, 2 pen). HT: 16-13
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