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Queensland substitute Dom Shipperley’s 78th-minute try guided the Reds to a come from behind 24-21 Super Rugby victory over the Western Force at Perth’s nib Stadium on Saturday night.
The Force had seemed set for an upset win after David Pocock’s try in the 68th minute gave them a 21-17 lead.
But the Reds, battling to retain top spot on the table, stole a line-out in the 77th minute before Quade Cooper’s 20m cut-out pass allowed Shipperley to dive over.
It was a case of deja-vu for the brave Force, who were also left heartbroken in the season opener after the Reds came from behind late to snatch a 21-20 triumph.
Force inside centre Rory Sidey scored a brace of tries in the first half, but the Reds’ ability to score against the run of play proved the difference.
Queensland’s 12th win of the year keeps them in prime position to finish in top spot.
The Reds will get a home semi-final if they finish in the top two, and Queensland will host the decider if they finish on top of the table and win their semi-final.
One downside for Queensland was winger Rod Davies’ return lasting just 16 minutes after the 22-year-old speedster injured his right shoulder by landing awkwardly in a tackle.
Queensland were already without backline regulars Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas and Anthony Faingaa but overcame the heavy injury toll to post their first ever win in Perth.
The Force were dealt a blow of their own when skipper Nathan Sharpe rolled his ankle after a bad line-out landing, forcing him off in the 25th minute.
His absence was keenly felt in the second half as the Reds stole three crucial line-outs to help set up the win.
The Reds gave away four penalties in the opening five minutes and the ill-discipline cost them dearly, with James O’Connor nailing an early penalty and Sidey crossing in the seventh minute following a well-taken scrum.
But just as the home side looked set to build on their 8-0 lead, Cooper popped up for an opportunistic try, intercepting Sidey’s attempted pass to Nick Cummins before racing 70m to the tryline.
The Force hit back in the 21st minute when Sidey landed his second try but once again the Reds responded against the run of play, with Scott Higginbotham sneaking down the blindside for a crowd-silencing try.
A 34th-minute penalty to O’Connor gave the Force a 16-14 lead at half-time but the Reds re-took the advantage when Cooper nailed a 43rd-minute penalty.
Pocock’s try in the corner pushed the home side ahead once again but like so many times this season the Force were unable to hold on to the lead, with Queensland’s late push being rewarded.
Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie revealed after the game that winger Luke Morahan had torn a hamstring and would miss four weeks.
But McKenzie said Davies, who suffered a suspected jarred shoulder, remained a chance to take part in next week’s clash with the Chiefs.
McKenzie praised his side’s fighting spirit against the Force.
“They (the Force) got that try, so it was going to be hard work, but we knew that if we just hung on to the ball and treasured it … in the end it’s an 80-minute game and you’ve just got to keep persisting and we got our reward,” McKenzie said.
Force coach Richard Graham was a shattered man after the loss.
“Certainly the two soft tries late in the first half, the intercept and the ball out the other side of the tunnel, hurt us and kept them in the game,” Graham said.
“And ultimately that’s probably kept them close enough to put the nail in the coffin.”
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