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The Queensland Reds have retained the Bob Templeton Cup and booked a Super Rugby knockout semi-final against the Crusaders with an ugly 14-12 derby win over the NSW Waratahs.
Enigmatic five-eighth Quade Cooper delivered a typically mixed bag, but his first-half try assist for Ben Lucas and three penalty goals were ultimately enough to secure victory for the Reds.
The Reds will face the Crusaders in Christchurch next Saturday night, but will need to improve on an unconvincing performance against the Waratahs to trouble the five-time champions.
The 26,037 diehard fans who ventured to ANZ Stadium hoping to see the Waratahs sign off their campaign in style were forced to sit through a howler of a second half punctuated by handling errors.
In a comical finish, the Waratahs had the chance to steal victory after the siren but botched a gilt-edged field-goal chance.
Instead of setting up for five-eighth Bernard Foley right in front of the sticks, Berrick Barnes fluffed a shot with his unfavoured left foot.
Playing his last match for NSW before heading to Japan in October, Barnes also missed a penalty goal attempt three minutes earlier that would have won the match for the Waratahs.
All up, Barnes and halfback Brendan McKibbin landed just one goal from five shots in a sorry snapshot of NSW’s season of near-misses.
Missing Wallabies captain James Horwill and halfback general Will Genia, Queensland trailed 12-8 at the break but two penalty goals from Cooper were the only points scored in the clumsy second half.
Queensland were already assured a place in the semi-finals and NSW were out of the playoff picture, but there was still plenty on the line in the interstate derby.
Players from both sides were out to impress the Reds’ newly appointed Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie before next month’s Bledisloe Cup showdown with the All Blacks.
Queensland opened the scoring with a ninth-minute Cooper penalty, but NSW struck straight back with a try to fullback Cam Crawford.
Crawford powered onto an inside ball from halfback Brendan McKibbin, beat prop Greg Holmes and carried two more defenders over the line with him.
McKibbin converted to give the Waratahs a 7-3 advantage.
Cooper put the Reds back in front 8-7 with a lovely two-man cut-out pass for Lucas to dive over in the 20th minute.
But the Reds playmaker handed the Waratahs back the lead when McKibbin intercepted his inside ball meant for winger Rod Davies and raced 40 metres before Barnes loomed up to score out wide.
Barnes’ try was a bonus for the Tahs, who were a man down after New Zealand referee Steve Walsh over-reacted to John Ulugia’s strong, but legal, tackle on Davies and sent the NSW hooker to the sin bin.
The Reds lost Rod Davies in the second half to a serious knee injury that coach McKenzie said was likely to sideline the luckless winger for three to four months, while a hamstring strain has also placed backline utility Mike Harris in doubt for the Crusaders clash.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.