Despondent Reds after a Hurricanes try. AAP Image/NZPA, Ross Setford
Queensland’s Super rugby finals fairytale was almost certainly blown away after a second half capitulation resulted in a 44-21 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.
The Reds enjoyed a 21-8 advantage after 39 minutes but leaked 36 straight points either side of the break.
Undisciplined play cost them dearly, as they lost the lead after conceding two converted tries while young flanker Anthony Shaw was in the sin-bin for a lifting tackle in the opening minute of the second half.
The result enabled the Hurricanes to leapfrog the Reds and Crusaders into third and Queensland could drop further if the Waratahs and Brumbies win on Saturday.
Queensland, who started the penultimate round in fourth, must win their final round home game against the Highlanders and hope other results go their way.
Three converted tries in 11 minutes from some typically enterprising play gave Queensland the ascendancy, but they didn’t produce a single point outside that burst.
“We tried to play, but in the end we weren’t disciplined enough to pull it off,” Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said.
“When you play catch up the risk is you are going to make mistakes. Your whole psyche changes and you start pushing.”
The Hurricanes, who finish off against the Waratahs in Sydney, scored six tries to three.
All Blacks winger Hosea Gear crossed three times in 18 minutes either side of halftime.
McKenzie said regardless of where Queensland ended up after this weekend they needed to focus on producing a decent performance next week.
The Reds struck back quickly after Gear scored the first try of the game, with in form halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper the architects of their surge.
A Genia break near halfway following a great aerial catch by Cooper set up flanker Scott Higginbotham.
Winger Rod Davies zipped 40 metres to score the second, but reinjured his hamstring a few minutes later.
Outside centre Will Chambers then won the chase to a Cooper kick for try number three.
The Hurricanes struck a crucial blow in the closing seconds of the half following a tap penalty inside their own half after the siren.
Jane combined brilliantly with Gear down the left with the latter scoring his second try and reducing the Reds halftime advantage to eight points.
The Hurricanes ruthlessly capitalised on their numerical advantage and some scatty play by Queensland after Shaw’s indiscretion.
Chambers threw a suicidal pass near his own line, which cannoned off Genia and ultimately ended in a try in the left hand corner to Gear.
The Hurricanes crossed again just before Shaw returned through winger Tamati Ellison and Gear completed his hat-trick as the Reds struggled to convert what little possession they did get into points.
Asked about the sin-binning McKenzie said “from a severity point of view I don’t know, but if you lift in a tackle you ask the referee to make decisions.”
The demoralised Reds conceded a sixth try to replacement back David Smith and a few late attacks failed to deliver them a five-pointer which would have got them a bonus point.
McKenzie was pleased with the debut performance of lock Radike Samo and the efforts of “usual suspects” Genia and Cooper.
brad
Guest
Adieu Reds, you served us well. Reds showed that rugby is indeed the game they play in heaven bravo to them. Unfortunately player depth was the noose around their neck from the start of the season and will continue to haunt all of the Australian franchises. The need for foreign imports is indeed a consideration I think a young australian player will develop better under the guidance of an experienced import as opposed to being thrown into the cake tin and getting smashed 36 points. even if they end 6th this year, the redds are defineatley my team of the season
Rusty
Roar Guru
I think you are forgetting that the Reds would end up on the same points as the Stormers except the current points difference is 166 to 56. Sooooo unless the Reds do what the Bulls did to them and beat the Highlanders by 90-110 points (whatever the Stormers go down to) they are gone
Rusty
Roar Guru
on that note then - are the Bulls the new Crusaders? not a new tag line of course but they have been able to dig themselves out of hole consistently now, a very Saders of old trait
Rusty
Roar Guru
'09 Burgess/Giteau '10 Genia/Cooper '11 ?
Rusty
Roar Guru
Hey Photon - just have to chime in. One, proud you support the Cheetahs as that it cant be easy in the Super14 where your depth and faith gets severely tested on weekly basis. It just seems the Cheetahs cant buy a break in this format with injuries or other issues to the key players like Brussouw and Smith. Perhaps its a mental thing, as if you look at their track record the amount of games lost by 7 or less is incredible. Hopefully they can get the tour win monkey off their backs next year. That and if they can keep the core roster through the currie cup and into next season. Which is always the kicker isnt it - you guys have the currie cup side sorted much better than my WP/Stormers but come Super rugby it all falls apart. What do you think about Naka's coaching?
KGW
Guest
Haha too funny Rusty, Seems poor Spencer's had a bad day at the office, what a silly thing to do resort to name calling, makes him look more lije a Dutchman M.... than his intended target.
Rusty
Roar Guru
its always that way with the Canes, them and the Chiefs, you just dont know what version you will get
Rusty
Roar Guru
trying to work out how a kiwi could be a dutchman?
Peter K
Guest
Justin I agree. Faingaa had a good game. I also agree we should have a running 12 but at this stage I still think Giteau is a better option at 12. In many ways the leeks down Gears side was Brandalus fault. Big turning point when Davies came off. Hynes had a poor game and ensured AAC gets the 15 jumper. AAC has been playing really well the last month or so. All season AAC has been good.
forcefulfan
Guest
How about complete the triumvirate and get Colby?
rockin rod
Guest
Rebels will be after Samo for sure after that game
Jerry
Guest
"IF that mug video ref had given Genia a try in the last minute against the Stormers" "Given" is an appropriate choice of words there, cause there was no concrete proof a try had been earned.
Harry
Guest
Abandon hope Frank. A real pity ... IF they had got a 4th try on Friday or IF that mug video ref had given Genia a try in the last minute against the Stormers (and thus denying them a point) then they could have had a realistic chance of sneaking into the final 4. No hope now however (well if there is a bizzare draw somewhere in theory) but I really hope the Reds finish the season strongly. IF eh, still very happy with the Reds season. Tahs v Canes in Sydney will be a corker. Brumbies v Saders as well. Should be fantastic. They are effective quarter-finals and all four sides playing good rugby.
Eastboy
Guest
The difference being Peter K is the Reds turned up to play and put up a fight, The Chiefs were totally inept and devoid of any playing nous they were a disgrace to watch and should feel absolutely ashamed of their pathetic performance. I feel for the Tahs because they deserved a better hit out than what the Chiefs gave them
chris
Guest
What a shame as i hoped the Reds where be one of the top teams in australian sport this year and the S14 be worse off for it too as no doubt th Crusaders will win it in front of 20000 fans or a SA team winning it with SA Rugby fans thinking it's a Currie Cup game.
rockin rod
Guest
Peter Hynes and Quade Coopers last game in Reds jersey next weekend
DTS
Guest
Reds could make the semis if they beat the Highlanders next week with a bonus point, and the Sharks and Bulls both beat the Stormers, and give them no bonus points. Seems unlikely, but it's half time in the Sharks-Stormers game as I type this, and the Sharks are up 14-0. Then spots 2 and 3 on the table would be Crusaders/Hurricanes/Brumbies/Waratahs.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It's not really "winning rugby" until they make it into the semis, though. I mean if you wanna take a hard line approach, they've lost to three of the top sides (Bulls, Stormers and Crusaders.) If they lose to the Hurricanes then it wasn't quite winning enough. I can respect the Waratahs, but I don't know if I appreciate what they bring to the game.
nicksa
Guest
yea i agree 100%, the brumbies (who beat the stormers in cape town), the hurricanes and especially the crusaders gave the bulls a scare of note!! But each of these teams have the class to win the comp unlike the reds. I just believe winning rugby is good rugby in my opinion and that is why at the end of the comp its these 4 teams that are battling it out for a semi final spot. People should realise that rugby can be good rugby even if it is not 'entertaining' in the traditional sense. England 2003 world cup winning sqaud did not play the traditional 'entertaining' rugby yet know 1 could beat them, to me they played top class rugby because they played to their strengths and conquered all before them. same with the all blacks of 2005, they played 'entertaining' rugby but they played to their strengths and that were they excelled!! people cant expect all the teams to play the same brand of rugby. teams will win in different ways and fans need to start appreaciating it...
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
After a second week in which Cooper's defence has become questionable, Mark Ella made a great point about Berrick Barnes and the Wallaby five-eighth role: "Barnes is certainly not a brilliant attacking footballer like Giteau, Cooper and O'Connor, but in many ways his style of game is better suited to Test rugby where sensibility is often required." I have no hesitation saying Barnes has the best Test match temperament of the three five-eighth candidates. Cooper's been in the best form this year. But his defence is the worst of the three and when things go bad he's prone to errors. Giteau at 10 hasn't worked for the Wallabies, but by all accounts he showed-up Cooper last week. Deans may have to accept that since he's committed to him, he's stuck with him. Barnes has perhaps been in the worst form of the three, but he's the best 'Test' player of the three. He's got composure and time. He's a great thinker too. I've said it about him 1,000 times - he's an old head on young shoulders. He also has the best kicking game of the three, which is important when the pack in front of you is getting a mauling. It wouldn't surprise me if the Wallabies pack is the weakest of the three tri nations sides this year (Australia really needs an excellent second rower this year, it makes such a difference to the pack). And what about James O'Connor? There are reports Deans wants to bring him closer to the action this year. He's a pretty good 12, but he's so small. The Wallabies backline got bashed from side to side last year because they were too small. Plus O'Connor will have Nonu running at him all game. I'll fo as far to say the 10 and 12 selections this year will make the Wallabies.