Super Rugby
Reds must improve discipline after Crusaders humbling - Rob Simmons
AAP
February 7, 2016
Kieron Fonotia
Kieron Fonotia makes a break against the Reds at Ballymore© Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Rob Simmons has told his Queensland Reds team-mates they must improve their discipline after their 31-3 drubbing by the Crusaders in a Super Rugby pre-season trial at Ballymore on saturday.

Simmons, the acting Reds captain while James Slipper recovers from shoulder surgery, took his side into the interval with a three-point advantage but the visiting New Zealand side ran rampant after changes from both teams in the second half.

"The scoreboard's a bit irrelevant for what the goal was out of tonight," Simmons said.

"We wanted to get a few combinations and do a few things we've been working on in practice, which we probably didn't get to because of the scoreboard.

"There was plenty of intensity and scramble, but we need to get our play shape.

"The discipline slipped at the end of both halves really. It's something were working at."

Simmons praised Jake McIntyre, who seems to have the inside run to replace Quade Cooper as the Reds No.10 and showed flashes of his predecessor's flair - especially in the first 20 minutes.

"I thought he controlled the game really well," Simmons said.

"He got the forwards in the game well and knew what he was doing.

"We didn't get passed three phases too much, so it's hard to know what's going on.

"Hopefully everyone can take one thing from the game and get better at it.

© AAP

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