The Queensland Reds highlighted their Super Rugby title credentials while Ewen McKenzie upped the pressure on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans with a top-drawer upset of the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium.
The Reds outwitted and outplayed the defending champions with a vibrant 31-23 bonus-point victory on Saturday which sets up a massive top-of-the-table clash with the Brumbies next weekend.
In their best performance of the year, Queensland reproduced the form which took them to the 2011 title to inflict just the second home loss on the Chiefs in 14 months.
It was the Reds’ 11th win from the past 12 matches against New Zealand sides, and 14 from 18 in four years under mentor McKenzie, who wants Deans’ Australian post after this season.
With the Wallabies failing to win the Bledisloe Cup since Deans started in 2008, McKenzie’s successful tactics in trans-Tasman battles will be hard for the Australian Rugby Union to ignore in three months’ time if there’s a series loss to the Lions.
McKenzie paid credit to halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper, who were at their influential best, for implementing a game plan which put the Chiefs on the back foot and took them out of the comfort zone.
“In the end, we had enough up our sleeve, enough ideas and enough things we could execute to get the result,” McKenzie told AAP. “The team doesn’t lack belief. It’s more about telling the doubters we’ve got something left in us.”
Cooper has been left out of Australia’s 30-man logistics camp, starting in Sydney on Sunday, but showed he remained Test quality with a try and strong kicking game in a 16-point display following a nervous start.
But Genia was the biggest star in a complete team performance.
His vision and a pin-point flat pass to an unmarked Rod Davies on the blind gave the electric winger his second try in his comeback game and Queensland a 28-13 lead with 28 minutes left.
The Reds had to withstand a Chiefs onslaught in a gripping final 15 minutes, once centre Anthony Faingaa was sin-binned for a ruck infringement.
Dangerous super-sub Patrick Osborne immediately crossed to slice the gap to eight points but some spirited scrambling defence ensured the visitors their four-tries-to-two win.
In-form flanker Liam Gill won the battle of the young gun No.7s by wreaking more havoc at the breakdown than Sam Cane, while skipper James Horwill led the abrasive Reds pack gallantly.
“We think the Kiwi sides bring the best out of us,” said Horwill.
The Reds came out of a gripping first-half narrowly ahead at 14-10 thanks to an early Davies intercept try and a near-unstoppable 11-man driving maul which ended with No.8 Jake Schatz bustling over.
In between, Bundee Aki crossed for a smart Chiefs try but it was his centre partner, Richard Kahui, who posed the most headaches for the Reds, smashing Ben Tapuai with one rib-rattler and creating three attacking raids his side failed to capitalise on.
kombiutedriver
Guest
The Tahs season is really balancing on the precipice now with the Chiefs at home this week then the Bulls and Kings in South Africa , the Stormers back in Sydney followed by the Brumbies ......... Rebels-a, Crusaders-a, Force-a ......... Does not look good for them. Wonder what the reaction will be in Tah land and with Wallaby selections.
kombiutedriver
Guest
Not bad players north of the border....... and with plenty of heart ........ unlike some players with high media profiles.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
That's true. Still a team I don't like the reds playing.
Jerry
Guest
Maybe. The reality is that if in 2011 Cooper hadn't kicked the ball away trying a dumb cross kick instead of holding the ball with a lead, the Canes would have a losing record too, so it's not like the Reds are the Canes bunnies or anything.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I'd think that's got a lot to do with it. Canes games don't generate nearly as much hype and I'm sure the players feel lethargic about them.
Jerry
Guest
That's why I find it so odd that the Canes, who neglect their tight work so blatantly, are the only NZ team to manage a winning record against them. Maybe this time it's the Reds that are underestimating them?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think it all depends on who is selected for the lions, who gets injured or not etc. many crucial players for both the Brumbies and Reds are not sure of making the squad (QC, CL, Toomua, Smith, Quirk, Schatz etc) and they could be well rested come finals time. 11 teams can still make the finals and its still very open: Best case scenario and Oz, NZ or SA could qualify three teams each. On the other hand, each country could also have only one team in the finals.
Jerry
Guest
Well 2 other Aussie sides have won in NZ in the last 2 rounds. In Super Rugby winning In NZ is nowhere near as much of a burden as it used to be. When the Bulls were on top they won in NZ, the Stormers & Sharks have done it recent years.
AdamS
Roar Guru
The Kiwi commentators were pretty lavish in their praise I thought.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Couldn't happen to a nicer team. ;)
winston
Roar Rookie
spot on
winston
Roar Rookie
I have a feeling the Tahs are going cop the brunt of that defeat.
Wii
Guest
No I haven't at all Jiggles stop talk a load of rubbish and trying to stir the pot. You really are a juvenile poster
Red Menace
Guest
Did anyone hear the commentator at about the 75th minute say, " good defence from Cooper"? Nearly dropped my rum.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
There's actually a bit of talent north of the Tweed. If you opened your eyes realised Australian rugby doesn't start at milsons point and end at Gordon you might be surprised.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
None. How many international sides can boast that claim? None. Should Link be the next coach of the wallabies? YES!!!!!
Malo
Guest
I have to eat my words the reds are a lot bettter than I have given credit too and will be up there and QC did play very well but Genia is the guru.
AdamS
Roar Guru
I said in the blog before the game that the key to winning was for Quade to wake up and have the game of his life. Wasn't quite that, but he did wake up and play a smart balanced game. So I'll quietly take the credit there, I'm sure he is a roar reader. Both teams played well and gave us the match of the season, discipline, apart from Ants antics got the Reds over the line. How the Chiefs didn't see that maul building is a marvel.
AdamS
Roar Guru
The style played by both teams was high risk, and on the night, the Reds got the return. While they seemed more stable, that's a luxury given by being ahead on the scoreboard. I think if we played that match again (if only) it's anyone's game. In the end, it was a corking match and a win the Reds needed to put on the board.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
You'd think if they can get a home final they'd be hard to beat. Plus the Australian conference draw is so wonky due to the Lions, I can't see the Brumbies or Reds having the stamina to challenge.