GREAT QUALITY, SAYS REDS
COACH BRAD THORN AFTER NARROW WIN
The Queensland Reds have secured a home Super Rugby AU grand final after claiming a stunning come-from-behind 24-22 win over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday night.
Trailing by nine-points with less than 30-minutes to play, a spectacular Jordan Petaia aerial try and following James O’Connor penalty put the Reds into their first lead of the night in the 76th minute, with the side holding on for a dramatic two-point victory in front of a crowd of more than 19,000.
The win sees Queensland reclaim the Rod Macqueen Cup while also maintaining their unbeaten run in 2021.
Fullback Bryce Hegarty celebrated his 100th Super Rugby cap in the win, as Queensland clinched their 10th-straight victory at Suncorp Stadium. Reds head coach Brad Thorn said it was a great game between two worthy teams. “Massive respect to the Brumbies- they came in and left it all out there. It was two teams going at it.
“It’s just good for rugby– let’s have more of it.
“I’m so proud of the guys in the maroon jerseys. Our guys won’t go away. They don’t know how to do that. It’s such a great quality. I have faith in them they’ll get the job done and they did just that.”
SCORERS
Reds 24: Tries: Flook, Petaia; Conversions: O’Connor; Penalties: O’Connor 4:
Brumbies 22: Tries: Fainga’a, Banks, Wright, Conversions: Lolesio 2, Penalties: White
McKenzie saves the day
Damian McKenzie provided the goal-kicking difference to land an extra-time golden point penalty goal to give the Chiefs a 26-23 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday. He kicked 16 points but two late shots, a dropped goal and a penalty goal, in normal time missed, and the game was the first in two years of Super Rugby Aotearoa to go to golden point. .
SCORERS Chiefs 26
(Etene Nanai-Seturo, Angus Ta’avao tries; Damian McKenzie 2 cons, 4 pens). Highlanders 23 (James Lentjes, Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane tries; Ioane con, pen, Mitchell Hunt pen). HT: 10-5. –Rugby Heaven.