Super Rugby AU: Brumbies’ big winning celebrations were a nod of respect to the new-look Reds
Beaten by a penalty after the siren, the Reds took some consolation from the way the Brumbies celebrated their win
Super Rugby
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Queensland skipper Liam Wright says the Brumbies finals-like celebration after Saturday’s 22-20 weekend win was flattering for the gallant Reds.
The Brumbies needed a penalty after the siren to clinch the top-of-table Super Rugby AU clash in Canberra to end the Red’s winning streak.
While it was scant consolation for the Queenslanders, the Brumbies’ post-match celebrations gave the impression they had a won a grand final , which was an encouraging sign for the Reds ahead of their clash with arch rivals NSW at the SCG on Saturday night.
Brumbies prevail over desperately unlucky Queensland Reds
“It shows for us the respect they have for us that we’re a good team and it takes a lot to beat us,” Wright said.
“It’s a bit of a token that we can us that teams are pretty stoked to beat us and we’re not just easybeats anymore. It takes a long hard 80-minute battle to get that result.
“For us, it’s still round four, we’ll save that celebration until the end of the season.
“We’ve got to out together more consistent performances, and have a few more games to rectify that ... for us, it’s not crunch time just yet.”
It was a heartbreaking way to lose for the Reds, who despite being caned 12-7 in the penalty count did everything but maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Wright admitted discipline and lineouts were problem areas for the Reds
“Our defence held really strong, which was a positive for us, but we didn’t restrict their (the Brumbies’) game plan,” he said.
“We had a must-win (lineout) ball at the end which we lost, and just gave them another opportunity to win the game.”
It may not have come to that had returning Wallaby Jordan Petaia not had a try disallowed on the stroke of half-time by referee Nic Berry for an alleged high tackle from Reds forward Lukhan Salakai-Loto on Brumbies winger Tom Wright several phases before Petaia crossed the line.
“It’s disappointing. We put through a lot of good phases of footy, (and) as I was saying to ‘Bez’ (Berry) we had about six or seven replays while we were about to take the kick that they got a chance to look out and then he had to call it,” Wright said.
It made for an interesting trip back to Queensland straight after the match, with former Reds halfback Berry catching the same bus and plane as the team.
“It is a bit weird flying in and out with the refs, and that’s just part and parcel of this fly in-fly out stuff,” Wright said.
“We have a little joke with them afterwards but it was fine. Everyone’s got a job to do, and they did theirs.
“`Bez’ is a good fella. I thought his interaction with me was really respectful.”
Originally published as Super Rugby AU: Brumbies’ big winning celebrations were a nod of respect to the new-look Reds