Reds blitz Cheetahs 41-8, Robinson stars
Queensland's cheapest player Beau Robinson hit pay dirt in style as the dazzling Reds ensured the surprise-packet Cheetahs fell to earth with a thud on Saturday.
Old-fashioned amateur Robinson, who has poured beer in an Ipswich hotel to make ends meet, celebrated his Super Rugby contract-sealing fifth match in style with a man-of-the-match display in a 41-8 thumping at Suncorp Stadium.
The former NSW Waratahs flanker was prominent in attack and defence but most importantly nullified the massive threat of Springbok ball-scavenger Heinrich Brussow at the breakdown.
So much so Reds coach Ewen McKenzie looked past the excitement and audacity of his star backs to laud the tenacity and character of the reborn Robinson after the record seventh straight home victory.
"I thought he was outstanding," McKenzie said of the 24-year-old who paid his way north late last year to trial with the Reds in the hope of filling Auckland-bound Daniel Braid's boots.
"That's why he is there. He fought hard for that (No.7) spot. He's got it and he's shown why and that's what you want.
"You want your guys to step up."
Robinson had some good help from his fellow forwards in the first half as the Reds dominated the breakdown to produce a four-try burst in 22 minutes to lead 29-3 at halftime.
In his third straight start, which have all been Reds wins, after two cameos off the bench, Robinson automatically gained a base Super contract for reaching the threshold of five matches.
"It's great to see the reward he's getting now," said skipper James Horwill.
"Everyone saw the effort he put in the off-season and the long hours he was putting in on the field and then going to work."
While Springbok Brussow finished with a rib-cartilage injury which will sideline him for three weeks, Robinson produced the hit of the match when he pole-axed Kabamba Floors.
Wallabies halfback Will Genia and blazing winger Rod Davies both finished with two tries as the Cheetahs wilted in the 27-degree Brisbane heat as Queensland ran them off the park.
Davies should have become the first Reds player to bag a Super Rugby hat-trick but botched a certain 70th-minute try when he spilt the last pass from playmaker Quade Cooper.
Cooper was instrumental throughout and almost produced the one of the most audacious tries in the 16-season history of Super rugby by producing a cross-field kick behind his goal-line for a 70m Digby Ioane break which only required a good pass to Ben Lucas for a five-pointer.
However, fullback Lucas had more worrying matters on his mind post-match with a groin strain costing him a flight to South Africa on Sunday for matches against the Lions and Stormers.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske bemoaned refereeing inconsistencies at the tackle area with Brussow heavily penalised for the sort of line-ball breakdown work he got away with in the 23-3 upset of NSW.
"That may be a problem in Super 15 rugby," he said.
"Every referee has his own way of refereeing it and I don't believe there is consistency."
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