Super Rugby AU Round 8: James O’Connor masterminds Reds’ epic win to book first final in a decade

James O’Connor has taken a leaf out of the Quade Cooper book to inspire a come-from-behind 24-22 win and seal the Reds’ first final since 2011.

James O'Connor of the Queensland Reds on the attack during the round-8 Super Rugby AU match against the ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. Picture: Regi Varghese/Getty Images

It was a decade ago that Quade Cooper lit up Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the Queensland Reds and took a state with him.

Cooper brought the razzle dazzle and together with Will Genia and Digby Ioane they produced one of the greatest years in Super Rugby history.

On Saturday night, with the stadium’s colourful seats once again becoming filled, James O’Connor took a leaf out of the Cooper book to inspire the Reds’ come-from-behind 24-22 win against the ACT Brumbies and seal their first final since James Horwill lifted the Super Rugby trophy in 2011.

After being physically dominated for the opening 50 minutes, the reborn playmaker kicked first-phase from inside his own half and found winger Jock Campbell out wide. Two phases later, as the Reds astutely played the blindside, Josh Flook scored.

The Brumbies hit back immediately through the skilful Tom Wright, but the Reds, who lost hard-running centre Hunter Paisami on the eve of the match, had cracked the Da Vinci Code.

Having played laterally all night and into the Brumbies’ rock-solid line of defence, the Reds changed their tactics. It worked a treat.

Fifteen minutes later, with the Reds trailing 22-14, O’Connor put the ball into the heavens and Jordan Petaia leapt into the air and took the ball ahead of Brumbies fullback Tom Banks to score.

The Reds had tried regularly throughout the year to find Petaia and recruit Suliasi Vunivalu out wide from kicks but rarely had it come off. On this occasion, in their biggest match of the year, their bravery paid off in front of a crowd which is growing by the game.

Two penalty goals from O’Connor in the final 10 minutes, including one in the 77th minute, gave the home side the lead for the first time in the match after the Brumbies raced out to a 12-0 lead.

The Reds won the kick restart, but after clearing their own line they were forced to defend for their lives. They did.

Brad Thorn’s men defended for 18 phases before they eventually turned the ball over as the clock struck full-time, but unaware of the time the Reds didn’t kick the ball out and instead hacked it away down field.

Eventually, some 10 phases later, the Reds’ victory was confirmed as the Brumbies’ big men tried one inside pass too many.

The Reds roared and so did the thousands in the stands, who witnessed one of the home side’s best performances in Brisbane since that famous season in 2011 and rivalled their equally entertaining performance from March when they again snuck home at the death.

“Unbelievable. Twenty thousand people here and we couldn’t be happier. We could feel that support and it drove us home,” O’Connor said.

“It’s always an awesome game against the Brumbies, it goes back and forward.

“We wanted a home final, we weren’t talking about it too much, but that was a courageous effort by the guys.”

After a lame effort against the Waratahs a week ago where they lacked sting and punch upfront to scrape home, the Brumbies brought aggression and physicality in Brisbane.

For the best part of an hour it was everything Dan McKellar had asked of his Brumbies side, as Rob Valetini in particular rolled up his sleeves.

They might have raced out of the blocks and scored first through hooker Folau Fainga’a in the fifth minute, but it was Valetini’s no-prisoners hit on Flook that showed the Brumbies meant business.

Not long after the Brumbies were in again as Banks intercepted O’Connor and ran 70 metres to score.

But O’Connor’s cool head once again was on show in front of Australia’s coaching staff.

O’Connor kicked two penalties to halve the deficit to 12-6 after 30 minutes.

Fullback Bryce Hegarty, playing his 100th Super Rugby match, looked to have scored a remarkable try after forcing an error in-goal from Andy Murihead before showing the determination and athleticism to score. But the TMO ruled the ball had been knocked forward in the process of completing the tackle.

A long-range penalty from Nic White on the stroke of half-time saw the visitors take a 15-6 lead into the sheds.

The Reds had 61 per cent of possession in the first half, but without Paisami the Reds looked bereft of ideas.

That rang true as the second half started, with the Reds going nowhere despite another 18 phases.

Eventually O’Connor changed the course of the match as he decided to put boot to ball.

It was a tactic that swung the momentum of the game and revealed his growing maturity as a playmaker and leader.

Earlier in the week O’Connor said he only recently started understanding the game.

“I didn’t know rugby before I was 27 and now I’m understanding it and putting more time into it and it’s beautiful, the game,” he said.

Saturday’s clash was a thing of beauty, as was O’Connor’s masterful second half.

The Reds will host their first final in a decade in a month’s time.

Like O’Connor’s second coming, the Reds have had to wait a long time to celebrate their rugby team.

They now have a side worth coming through the turnstiles to see.

Originally published as Super Rugby AU Round 8: James O’Connor masterminds Reds’ epic win to book first final in a decade