The Queensland Reds are the 2021 Super Rugby champions, having defeated the Brumbies in a 19-16 thriller in the final at Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds had all the possession in the closing stages, but it took them until the 85th minute to get the winning try, James O’Connor crossing for the decisive score.
With the score at 12-16 and just five minutes left on the clock, it looked as if the Reds had blown their chance of winning the title when, after Darcy Swain had been sin-binned for illegally pulling down a maul, Alex Mafi’s lineout throw went awry and the Reds were able to clear their line and earn a lineout of their own.
However, they returned the favour, Fraser McReight picking off Folau Fainga’a’s loose throw and allowing his side to mount one last attack.
The Brumbies did all they could to hold on, but were frequently penalised for infringements both at scrum time and for breaching the offside line, and another yellow card was handed to Luke Reimer to reduce the visitors to 13 men for the last few minutes.
After peppering the try-line with a barrage of pick-and-goes – and bizarrely opting for two quick taps off penalties instead of packing down scrums against an undermanned opposition pack – the Reds finally found the winning score by throwing the ball out the back, O’Connor making the most of the space out wide to fall over for the title-winning try.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
While the Reds were slow starters in the two previous encounters between these two sides this season, they were first onto the scoreboard in the final through the boot of captain O’Connor after his opposite, Allan Alaalatoa, was penalised for not rolling away.
But the rest of the opening stanza was comprehensively dominated by the Brumbies. The tourists enjoyed 63 per cent of possession and a massive 72 per cent territory before halftime as the Reds were incapable of getting much front-foot ball.
And while the hosts missed just five of their 81 first-half tackles, they still couldn’t completely shut down the Brumbies attack, Rob Valetini in particular making regular dents in the defensive line with his surging runs.
It was off a Valetini charge that the Brumbies found their first points. A lovely decoy play the next phase allowed Noah Lolesio to find some space and put Tom Banks over the line under the posts.
Noah Lolesio celebrates Tom Banks’ try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Reds finally got the ball on attack 15 minutes later. Taniela Tupou won his second scrum penalty of the half, and Feao Fotuaika crashed over the line a few phases after the ensuing lineout, only to be held up by Nic White.
O’Connor took another three from the tee, but the Brumbies responded in kind straight off the kick-off through Lolesio, Jordan Petaia penalised for holding on as Valetini won the turnover.
With halftime approaching, Tupou turned villain at the scrum, pinged for angling in, and Lolesio added three more points to put the Brumbies up by seven at the break.
The second half welcomed a distinct change of momentum, with the Reds enjoying the better of the play in the ten minutes after the teams returned from the sheds.
O’Connor had a penalty come back off the woodwork, but a knock-on from Mack Hansen – on the field early after Andy Muirhead went off with an ankle injury – and scrum penalty shortly afterwards meant the lead was pulled back to just four points soon after.
James O’Connor adds another three points to his tally. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
With 20 minutes to go, the Brumbies were dealt a massive blow. Valetini, the best player on the field up until that point, was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Jock Campbell. While the initial contact was with Campbell’s chest, Valetini’s shoulder slipped up into the Queenslander’s head, and Nic Berry had little choice but to brandish a yellow card.
Soon after the margin was cut back to just a single point when O’Connor kicked truly once again, but at the same time the Reds lost the services of Petaia due to injury. They had earlier lost Harry Wilson to a bad head clash, while Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville was forced off the field with an injury of his own at the same time as Petaia.
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However, Reds fans hoping to see their side retake the lead against 14 men were disappointed when Angus Scott-Young took Lolesio high, allowing the young flyhalf to push the Brumbies’ buffer back to four points, leaving the score for the ten-minute period while Valetini was off at three apiece.
But any dismay among the home crowd was well and truly dispelled by the manic last few minutes and O’Connor’s match- and championship-winning try.
Reds 19 (James O’Connor try; O’Connor 1/1 conversion; O’Connor 4/4 penalties) def Brumbies 16 (Tom Banks try; Noah Lolesio 1/1 conversion; Lolesio 3/3 penalties)
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Michael Alaalatoa world class? You’re taking the pi$$. Good prop sure, but TT has it all over him in spades. As does his brother and about another 4 or 5 props in NZ.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
He is one of the two best THPs in Australia, but throwing him up against Kyle Sinckler, Zane Fagerson, Michael Alaalatoa as better? He will have a brain explosion and cost valuable minutes on the sideline. This'd be great if it changed sooner rather than later. The like of Jean Pierre Garuat, Enrique Rodriguez or Carl Hayman should be recruited to show the man the mastering of his art.
PeterK
Roar Guru
this is the penalty ad they went back to, remember it was at 79.30 , 30 secs before times up i.e till the bell. There were other ones where the same guy was over the line hands on the ground.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
We’re not talking about that one, it’s the ASY try held up, after the bell. Even so if that player is offside, the penalty is not taken from the site of the offence……either apply the laws or don’t………????
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Yes we have the cattle but so to do the Brumbies. For me that leaves it down to coaching.
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
Well Berry clearly thought there was but for those of us who want to understand why it’s hard to identify. This isn’t about why did the Brumbies lose – because they clearly lost the game when they over threw the last line out – if they’d taken that cleanly, they would have won. But they didn’t which created the winning opportunity for the Reds.
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
I had to record the final - and a HUGE disappointment was Channel 9 stopped the recording 3 minutes before the end.. I was outraged.....
ken gargett
Guest
possibly why you are not a selector.
PeterK
Roar Guru
exactly what I predicted pre match, if it was close the reds bench would be the difference
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed it is unusual. But doesn’t mean there wasn’t a penalty.
He is 24 so maybe 3 more years before he matures as a prop.....Should be a great prop by the next WC
And The Chiefs scored 50 + points against them in the last round of the season where a win would have got the Rebels in the finals :laughing: Look where the Reds have gone since!!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
or throw to number 1 jumper uru who would of caught it easily instead went for a long throw to the back number 3 jumper, big risk for little gain.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
REDS! Man, what a result. Fitting JOC rocked over the line for the decider. Reds side best all season including their dominance of the still very good Brumbies. Excellent performance form the Ponies though who deviated from standard which paid dividends. Valentini should cop it but the reality is he was still excellent. He will be valuable in the green and gold. JOC is maturing but I still can't help think he is better suited to 12 or even 15 as an extra play-maker. Thorn deserves some plaudits too. He's got these guys humming. Thor needs to pack straight; he's good enough not to bore and will get penalised a lot more against the French. The real winner here though is Australian rugby with two decent teams vying like that. Rennie will have some difficult decisions to make and that's a good thing.
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Gday Dan what a final. I must admit I thought the game was over when the reds were held up over the line .....but another penalty and a couple more minutes of play. Winners are grinners it’s been the reds year but gee the Brums were tough. Player highlights for me was young rake Lonergan who plays like a flanker, dynamic and with all the test rakes not picked for the wallabies should start if fit. Frost at 6, I did not think he had that game in him, he was massive as was Valentini. The reds were workman like across the pitch, Joc and good on him he is the real deal, he was the stand out for me in a reds jumper. Petaia is an enigma. He should be part of the wallaby squad but can’t start. Appears to be going backwards in his development or his trying to hard, just to loose. I truely rate the guy but his error rate is to high. Last of all that reds backline, if I was asked at the start of the year what the reds backline would be in final it would not be the one picked. They all did there job, made there tackles I felt Stewart and Flook again got the better of there opposites and Bryce Hegarty his just getting better and better. Well done reds Brums can hold their heads high.
James GC
Roar Rookie
I have just.read through all of the comments on this thread and I'm baffled as to how anyone could think that Berry was favouring either side. I was at the game watching through red tinted glasses I have to say but that first half I thought the Reds were on the end of some Berry Crocker's. The no try one of them, but I can't believe of all the things that were commented on about missed or otherwise by the ref Was the blantent foul play by Frost (I think it was apologies if not) who well after the whistle not only tackles McReight but does it with no arms. To the whole crowds astonishment nothing happens that's about as worthy of a card and Wright judo throw tackle. As I said red tinted glasses though.
Fonga
Roar Rookie
Is there any need for the Trans Tasman comp now? I have no doubt all the positivity created to date will suffer a quick brutal death once we return to playing NZ sides. Does anyone really want to see a deflated brumbies side smashed in Christchurch next week or a Tahs v Saders game in the Gong? Prefer to skip straight to the tests against France. It’s been wonderful enjoying watching rugby again, let’s give NZ a miss.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
It was at worst a yellow, if there are people who genuinely think that’s a red, you’re absolutely kidding yourself. On Saturday afternoon that’s a penalty and stern word to the the skip. However I get people can be blinded by the super slow mos. But let’s not ever think it was in danger of a red. If his shoulder hits his chin/head in the first motion, sure happy for it to be a red under these new rules/desire to protect players. But he hit him in the chest and it rose up (unluckily I would add to because largely the weight difference between the two caused Jock to drop down). There was no malicious intent to hurt Jock. It was just a big hit. I’m all for protecting the head. But let’s be sensible. Otherwise old boys like me still playing may as well retire.
Double Agent
Guest
Bobby that's just about one of the stupidest things I've read on the Roar. Congratulations - that really takes some doing!! :laughing:
Double Agent
Guest
PET HATE!! Commentators on the evening game BLURTING OUT the result of the afternoon game. It's not the 80s anymore. We can record games or watch them on Stan when it suits us. Really appreciate it if the knuckleheads behind the mic could catch up.