Reds shock Brumbies, Blues see off Crusaders
SATURDAY WRAP: Carter Gordon has stepped up in Queensland’s moment of need to lift the Reds to a thrilling 34-31 win against Super Rugby Pacific leaders, the Brumbies.
With the Brumbies leading by 11 points with five minutes remaining, they looked in the box seat to claim a fourth consecutive win and continue their perfect start to the season.
But Les Kiss’ Reds refused to give up, with Filipo Daugunu crossing in the 78th minute before Gordon secured the win with a post-siren diving try at a soggy GIO Stadium on Saturday.
Former Wallabies playmaker Gordon’s heroics capped off a stunning return to rugby as he only played his first competition union game since 2024 last Friday after a stint with Gold Coast in the NRL.
Having lost their last 11 from 12 matches in Canberra, Queensland struggled to find a solution to the Brumbies’ second-half rigid defence, coughing up 18 turnovers to the home side’s 13.
But they held their nerve to emerge with a second consecutive win.
The Reds victory overshadowed athletic back rower Charlie Cale’s prolific performance for the Brumbies as he continued to make his case for a Wallabies return, scoring two tries to bring his season tally to seven in four games.
Without Rob Valetini (rest), Corey Toole (leg tightness), and Ollie Sapsford (hamstring), the Brumbies faced an uphill battle in keeping their undefeated start to the season alive.
But two missed conversions by Ryan Lonergan would prove the difference.
The loss came as prop James Slipper featured in his 202nd game, equalling the most matches played in the competition, set by former All Black prop Wyatt Crockett with the Crusaders.
After lightning delayed the start of the clash for more than an hour, it was a frenetic opening 20 minutes as Lachie Shaw and Cale planted the ball over the line.
Queensland found their groove though, first through Lachie Anderson, who was on the receiving end of an inside pass from Wilson, before Josh Flook crossed in the 27th minute after some silky skills down the left flank.
Cale scored again in the 35th minute after some persistent Brumbies attack, but scrum-half Louis Werchon slotted a penalty goal to help the Reds lead 20-19 at halftime.
Both teams struggled to put phases together in the second half, but fullback Andy Muirhead reclaimed the lead for the home side before back rower Luke Reimer scored to set up the hosts’ handy late lead.
But that was before Daugunu crossed to set up a thrilling finish and before Gordon stormed over the line to emerge victorious.
*The Blues returned to winning ways with a 29-13 victory over the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday.
Wing Caleb Clark scored a hat-trick of tries, and the Blues also enjoyed the return of All Black veteran Beauden Barrett.
Clark scored two of his tries in the first nine minutes before getting a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the 31st minute.
Codemeru Vai scored the home side’s other try in the first half before Clarke got his third in the 49th minute.
The win moved the Blues into the top four in the standings.
*In Dunedin, the Highlanders are dedicating victory to jilted coach Jamie Joseph after denying the Western Force a milestone moment with a frenetic 39-31 Super Rugby Pacific comeback win.
In a rollercoaster encounter in which the lead changed hands six times, the Force looked on the cusp of notching back-to-back wins in New Zealand for the first time since 2008.
But winger Caleb Tangitau broke Force fans’ hearts with his second second-half try as the Highlanders snatched a much-needed victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Wooden spooners last year, Joseph’s Highlanders had won only one of their past nine matches and, midway through the second half, were staring down the barrel of suffering seven consecutive defeats to Australian opposition for the first time.
The great escape will be an especially welcome relief to Joseph, who, in a shock, missed out on the All Blacks coaching job this week to former Wallabies boss Dave Rennie.
Joseph largely had inspirational captain Timoci Tavatavanawai to thank after the powerhouse centre single-handedly shifted momentum back his side’s way after the Force had grabbed a 21-17 half-time lead.
See below for Saturday’s scores and scorers!
Highlanders 39-31 Force
The scorers:
For Highlanders:
Tries: Lasaqa, Lowe 2, Tangitau 2
Cons: Millar 3, Pasitoa
Pens: Millar, Pasitoa
For Force:
Tries: Ekuasi, Williams, Stewart, Tizzano, Bridge
Cons: Donaldson 3
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox Stratford, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Divad Palu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 George Bridge, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekausi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crepsigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Blues 29-13 Crusaders
The scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: Clarke 3, Vai
Cons: Barrett 3
Pen: Barrett
For Crusaders:
Tries: Taylor, Reihana
Pen: Reihana
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (captain), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Xavi Taele.
Crusaders: 15 Taha Kemara, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Manumau Letiu, 17 Finay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Xavier Saifaloi, 22 Kyle Preston, 23 Dallas McLeod.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Louis Trisley
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Brumbies 31-34 Reds
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Shaw, Cale 2, Muirhead, Reimer
Cons: Lonergan 3
For Reds:
Tries: Anderson, Flook, Daugunu, Gordon
Cons: Werchon 4
Pens: Werchon 2
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tuiana Taii Tualima, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 5Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 4 Zane Nonggor, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Treyvon Pritchard.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Additional source: AAP
