Reds snap 12-year Dunedin drought, defending champs slump further

WRAP: The Reds’ scrum has powered a season-defining comeback win over the Highlanders that was 12 years in the making.

A 29-23 win on Saturday in Dunedin came without rested captain Tate McDermott, injured star flankers Liam Wright and Fraser McReight (shoulder) and Test hooker Matt Faessler (leg).

The visitors defied some early pressure to lead 12-0 before conceding 20 straight points when unforced errors and missed tackles crept in.

But the Reds, powered by reserve prop Alex Hodgman, turned to their scrum in a pulsating second-half effort that moved Les Kiss’s side to 4-1.

It was their first win at the venue since their inaugural fixture there in 2013 and just the Reds’ third win in New Zealand, against Kiwi opponents, in their last 27 games.

In his first game as Reds captain, Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson was inspirational, plucking a crucial late turnover, charging into the line and adding a deft kick ahead that led to their decisive final try.

“It’s very special. We’ve talked all week about 2013 and being a side that could re-write the history books there,” Wilson said.

“For us to do that, missing a few key players … they were immense.

“We were pretty disappointed at halftime, thought we didn’t play our brand of footy. And the scrum changed the game.”

The moment of a busy second half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ubimx7V9jR

— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) March 22, 2025

Outside centre Filipo Daugunu scored twice and was formidable in defence, the Reds following his lead to produce consecutive turnovers once they hit the lead with 17 minutes to play

But it was their scrum that made the difference. The Reds were able to steady themselves behind their reliable set-piece superiority, which yielded four penalties inside 11 minutes.

That led to a yellow card for All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, who felt the pressure, gave away a penalty at the breakdown, and gave the Reds the platform to surge clear.

Tries to Anderson and Daugunu – the latter’s coming after Tim Ryan sped through the line and Wilson kicked ahead – put the Reds clear.

The host’s only second-half points came courtesy of penalty kicks, the second of those after the bell with victory out of reach.

Their inability to penetrate was at shocking odds to their first-half form, when scintillating winger Caleb Tangitau burst out of the blocks.

Denied a brilliant first-minute try when his chip ahead narrowly went into touch, the former rugby sevens star was robbed of another when replays showed an accidental offside in the build-up.

They led 17-12 at that stage, Reds winger Heremai Murray yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown and the visitors reeling.

Tanielu Tele’a and captain Timoci Tavatavanawai crossed for the Highlanders, who had forced five consecutive penalties out of the Reds and were calling all the shots.

But the visitors showed tremendous resolve to stop the bleeding and then turn the screws after the break to earn a bonus-point win.

*The Blues’ title defence is officially teetering on the brink after going down 19-42 to the Crusaders.

It’s not just the fact the Blues lost again but the nature of the one-sided result that sparks major concern.

The Blues’ only saving grace was Crusaders playmaker Taha Kemara missing three conversions, with the final scoreline flattering the Blues.

The Crusaders carved off meters at will to leave the Blues regularly on the back foot defending their line.

At the breakdown,n the Blues were often beaten to the punch with nuggety Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu earning two turnover penalties over the ball.

The Crusaders held the upper hand throughout and should have led by more than 20-7 at the break.

With the Hurricanes at Eden Park to follow, it’s fast entering now-or-never territory for the Blues.

All the scores and scorers are below

Super Rugby Pacific

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Chiefs

6

5

1

0

22

2

Crusaders

5

4

1

0

19

3

Reds

5

4

1

0

19

4

Waratahs

5

4

1

0

17

5

Brumbies

6

3

3

0

15

6

Highlanders

5

2

3

0

11

7

Hurricanes

5

2

3

0

9

8

Force

5

2

3

0

9

9

Fijian Drua

5

1

4

0

7

10

Blues

6

1

5

0

7

11

Moana Pasifika

5

1

4

0

6

Highlanders 23-29 Reds

Scorers:

For the Highlanders
Tries: Tavatavanawai, Tele’a
Cons: Robinson 2
Pens: Robinson 2, Gilbert

For Reds:
Tries: Thomas, Asiata, Daugunu 2, Anderson
Cons: Lynagh 2

Yellow cards: Heremaia Murray (Reds, 36), Ethan de Groot (Highlanders, 61)

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Finn Hurley, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie; 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Te Kamaka TK Howden, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Will Stodart, 21 James Arscott, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Sam Gilbert.

Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Josh Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Goerge Blake, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Massimo De Luitiis, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Dre Pakeho.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

Blues 19-42 Crusaders

Scorers:

For Blues:
Tries: Papalii, Renata, Christie
Cons: Taele, Plummer

For Crusaders:
Tries: Preston, Fihaki 2, Williams, Christie, Springer, Jordan
Cons: Kemara, O’Connor
Pen: Kemara

Yellow card: Laghlan McWannell (Blues, 45)

Teams:

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Cameron Christie, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Tristyn Cook, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes.

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Kyle Preston; 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Macca Springer.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referee: Mike Winter, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly

Waratahs 28-23 Brumbies

Scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: Wilson, Reilly, Leota, Walton
Cons: Creighton 3, Edmed

For Brumbies:
Tries: Alaalatoa, Reimer, Muirhead
Con: Debreczeni
Pens: Lolesio 2

Yellow cards: Billy Pollard (Brumbies, 26), Tom Hooper (Brumbies, 54)

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Henry O’Donnell, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair (captain), 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Leafi Talataina, 22 Jack Grant, 23 Tane Edmed.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Ollie Sapsford, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Caudeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachie Shaw, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Devreczeni, 23 Austin Anderson.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman