Queensland Reds ‘up for challenge’ of beating Crusaders in qualifying final

The Reds must beat the Crusaders on Friday night in Christchurch to avoid an early Super Rugby Pacific finals exit.

The Reds must narrow the gap between their best and worst over 80 minutes if they want to keep their Super Rugby Pacific season alive by beating the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.

That’s the belief of Queensland lock Josh Canham, who insisted the Reds were “up for the challenge” in the qualifying final.

“Everyone knows the Crusaders in finals are a force but the boys showed last year it’s possible to win over there,” Canham said in reflecting on Queensland’s 33-28 win at Apollo Projects Stadium last season.

However, it was a different story when the teams met at the same venue earlier this season, with the Crusaders winning 43-19.

Crusaders (A) pic.twitter.com/PtvfJ3nikd

— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) June 3, 2025

“We’ve had a lot of good moments in our games, but fluctuated really poorly in our bad areas,” Canham said.

“Don’t bounce up and down. All games fluctuate, but don’t bounce that far, (and) we’ll be in the game.

“It’s never going to be perfect, but when things don’t go perfect we don’t put our heads down and go into a shell, we fight our way out of it.”

Canham’s individual “fight” will include a head-to-head battle with star Crusaders lock Scott Barrett, the captain of the All Blacks.

“I try not to think about my opposition too much but it’s hard to ignore him,” Canham said.

“It’s his all-round game. Detail around his lineout stuff, his carries, maul work … it will be awesome to go against his lineout as well.”

The Reds are hopeful that Wallabies captain Harry Wilson will be fit to play after he went off late in Queensland’s 52-7 win over Fijian Drua last Saturday holding the arm he broke earlier this season.

Wilson went for scans but trained well on Tuesday with his arm heavily strapped.

Fellow back-rower Seru Uru is also in contention to return from a knee injury, but lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto hasn’t recovered from a shoulder injury.

Another certain absentee is back-up flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips due to concussion protocols.

It means that starting No.10 Tom Lynagh will almost certainly need to play the entire match.

Queensland Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh is `ready’ for a full 80 minutes on Friday night. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I don’t think I’ve played a full 80 (minutes) so far but I should be ready for it,” Lynagh said.

“I’ve got a whole season under my belt.”

Lynagh promised that the Reds would “play how we want to play” and not overawed by the tough task ahead of them.

“We won’t let the occasion dictate that. We just need to play smart footy in finals,” he said.

Canham backed Lynagh to give the Reds forwards a platform to take the game to the Crusaders in what was expected to be wet conditions.

“(Lynagh has) been great this year putting us forwards on the front foot, Canham said.

Originally published as Queensland Reds ‘up for challenge’ of beating Crusaders in qualifying final