Reds have Super Rugby finals fate in own hands after Tahs, Brumbies fall
Samu Kerevi’s Reds have their finals hopes in their own hands with three crunch games in as many weeks to decide if they are contenders or pretenders.
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Samu Kerevi’s Reds have their finals hopes in their own hands with three crunch games in as many weeks to decide if they are contenders or pretenders.
The tightest fight for top spot in the Australian Conference since the three-conference format was introduced in 2011 keeps feeding Queensland hopes.
The Reds enjoyed their bye week break without dropping a step off the pace because both the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies lost matches they had big chances to win.
The Reds (18 points) are within striking distance of the Melbourne Rebels (24) and Waratahs (20) as well as a Brumbies side (20) which has played an extra game.
Beating Japan’s Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night can pump up the Reds’ position further but the two games to follow are also must-win.
Toppling the Rebels in Melbourne (May 10) and beating the Waratahs (May 18) for the first time since 2013 at Suncorp Stadium would transform the conference table.
The conference winner is guaranteed a finals berth.
Coach Brad Thorn was shrewd enough to pitch seven key squad members into Premier Rugby action last Saturday to keep them sharp.
Top prop Taniela Tupou relished his second half for unbeaten Brothers in the 31-20 win over Sunnybank at Oldmac Oval.
His presence lifted his young teammates and Tupou responded in kind with dominant scrummaging, plenty of energy and even a few unexpected kicks in general play.
Centre Duncan Paia’aua played a key cameo in Norths’ 36-26 upset of University of Queensland at Courtney Oval.
His superb one-handed offload made the decisive long range try for winger Veresa Mataitini.
The Brumbies will curse unforced errors in yesterday’s 20-15 loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
In-form fullback Tom Banks ran 12 times for 131m and never better than his arcing speed to slice through for a try from a scrum play on halftime.
Brumbies hooker Folau Faingaa was outstanding. It wasn’t just his bullocking nine metre charge for a try to finish a front-of-the-lineout play but his workrate.
The Brumbies trailed 20-15 when the Jaguares were reduced to 14 men by a sin-binning but lock Sam Carter spilt a ball on attack after a string of 5m attacking lineouts.
In the closing 10 minutes, Faingaa and Rory Arnold also dropped balls, Banks didn’t find touch with a penalty kick and replacement hooker Connal McInerney was penalised for baulking on a lineout throw.
“The Jaguares put us under a lot of pressure and we just didn’t capitalise on our opportunities,” Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano said.
Originally published as Reds have Super Rugby finals fate in own hands after Tahs, Brumbies fall
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