The Plus500 Brumbies have been beaten 26-7 by the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium in their final regular season game of Vodafone Super Rugby AU.
Though they had plenty of chances, the Brumbies were second best on the night and will have plenty to work on ahead of the Super Rugby AU Grand Final in two weeks’ time.The Brumbies came out looking threatening with the ball, but errors and ill-discipline which would plague the side in the first half gave the Reds the ascendancy.
Slick hands saw Queensland captain Liam Wright cross first try of the night, before James O’Connor added two penalty goals to give the home side an early advantage.
Tevita Kuridrani looked to have responded for the Brumbies after a series of sensational offloads, but a late tackle from Reds halfback Tate McDermott dislodged the ball.
That missed opportunity was followed up by the Reds second of the night, the Reds exploiting some space in the Brumbies defence, allowing Chris Feauai-Sautia to dive over in the corner.
O’Connor’s conversion made it 18-0 to the Reds. With time dwindling, the Brumbies went looking for their first points of the night.
A set-play saw the Brumbies sweep back left and Tom Wright’s offload found Pete Samu, and the pacy backrower wouldn’t be stopped, Samu getting the first Brumbies try of the night.
Bayley Kuenzle’s successful conversion meant it was 18-7 at the break.
After the interval, the Brumbies had the majority of possession, but time and again Dan McKellar’s charges couldn’t quite find the killer blow.
An O’Connor penalty in the 65th minute, after the Brumbies had had a chance to score at the other end, put one hand on the win for the Reds.
Although the Brumbies had several chances to get back into the game, the final pass just alluded the side all night, and Tate McDermott’s late try for the Reds just put a gloss on what was a well-earned win for the Reds.
The Brumbies now look forward to the Vodafone Super Rugby AU Grand Final at GIO Stadium on September 19.
Plus500 Brumbies 7 (T: P Samu; C: B Kuenzle) def by Queensland Reds 26 (T: L.Wright, C. Feauai-Sautia, T. McDermott; C: J O'Connor; P: J O'Connor 3)
