Reds Pipped By Brumbies In High-Quality Clash

The Queensland Reds have been shaded 20-19 in a tense, tight derby against the ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium in Super Rugby Pacific.

A game with four lead changes was anyone’s to win throughout even after Noah Lolesio potted his final penalty goal to give the Brumbies the lead with 11 minutes to play.

The match-up between Australia’s top two teams in Super Rugby Pacific produced some exhilarating moments, crunching defence, desperate scrambling and some excellent individual displays.

Elusive fullback Tom Wright was a two-try factor for the Brumbies while Jordan Petaia’s return on the wing was high impact with 177 running metres off 11 ball carries.

Flanker Fraser McReight (19 tackles) led the tackle count and was as busy on the attacking side of the ball.

The biggest crowd (17,782) to a Reds game at Suncorp Stadium since 2022 roared encouragement when
Reds centre Josh Flook was over for a try within two minutes of the kick-off. A neat inside ball from flyhalf Tom Lynagh and nifty offloads from Seru Uru and Peni Ravai had set up the score for 7-0.

The Reds trailed 10-7 at half-time. Two rolling maul tries in the space of four minutes gave the team a 19-10 lead entering the final 20 minutes of the game.

“It’s disappointing big time. I thought we started brilliantly and perhaps could have scored another try early on,” Reds head coach Les Kiss said.

“Our attacking shape and ability to penetrate is there, our defence is really strong and kept them at bay for periods. In the second half, we possibly lost a little field management and a couple of errors put us on the back foot.

“I guess that’s why the Brumbies are the best team in the country. We’re close. We’ve got some growth still and we’re prepared to work hard to get there.

“I’m not going to accept any negativity. There was a lot of good stuff that came out of that game.

“This team is real. They’ve never got ahead of themselves. They’ll address the right things and make sure they challenge each other to get better.”

The 3-3 Reds (16 points) sit fifth entering a bye week before their next game against Moana Pasifika in Whangarei on April 12.

Reds co-captain Tate McDermott said he was pleased with the lift in quality after the poor showing in Perth a week earlier when the Reds lost 40-31.

“I’m really proud of how we bounced back. Last week was disappointing. Tonight wasn’t. We came up against a really good Australian side and lost by a point which speaks for itself,” McDermott said.

Kiss paid tribute to prop James Slipper, whose 15-season career for the Reds and now Brumbies has taken him to a record-equalling 177 Super Rugby games.

“We caught up at the end of the game. It’s massive effort when he’s not always had it his own way. He’s got huge respect within the rugby community,” Kiss said.