‘A must-win game’: Playoffs ‘come a week early’ for Reds

Following their heartbreaking loss to the Highlanders on Friday, the Queensland Reds are gearing up for a “must-win” clash against a tough Fijian Drua side in Suva.

With their playoffs hopes in the balance, the Reds fell painfully short of their first win at Forsyth Barr Stadium in a decade.

The Reds were winning 28-30 with time practically up on the clock, but the Highlanders refused to throw in the towel.

Spurred on by the reliably vibrant Dunedin crowd in their last home of the Super Rugby Pacific season – and looking to send Aaron Smith off a winner at the venue – the Highlanders left it late.

Replacement halfback Folau Fakatava saw a gap down the short side and made the most of the opportunity – splitting Mac Grealy and Wallaby Jock Campbell.

Fakatava was inch-perfect in his execution of the match-winning score, as the All Black managed to remain in play and beat covering defender Suliasi Vunivalu to the try line.

With 28 seconds to run on the clock, Fakatava etched his name into Super Rugby history as the Highlanders’ hero when they needed it most.

The win saw the Highlanders surge up the ladder into eighth, while the Reds remain slightly ahead in seventh-place.

But there’s still one game to go – and every team except Moana Pasifika can make the playoffs.

As star backrower Harry Wilson discussed, the finals have come “a week early” for the Reds – and the same can be said about the Highlanders, Force, Fijian Drua and Rebels.

“It’s obviously going to be a big test for us over in Fiji but it’s at the point where it’s a must-win game,” Wilson said on Monday.

“The quarterfinals have come a week early and we’re really excited for it.

“We would’ve loved to secure a finals spot early but it is what it is and this weekend we’ve got to go there and get the win.”

The Reds may have only won one match this season, but every team in the competition was put on high alert earlier this month.

Against all the odds, the Queenslanders shocked the rugby world with a hard-fought 25-22 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in New Plymouth.

This team can play, and they showed that once again for about 79 minutes last weekend.

“We definitely do have a decent track record this year, we’ve travelled quite a lot,” he added.

“We’re a bit closer as a team when we travel away and I think our performances have kind of shown that.

“Obviously a tough loss on the weekend, a close one, and for us that’s not good enough, we want to win those games.

“If we get the win this weekend we know we can go on a little run.”

The Reds were dealt a cruel injury blow against the Highlanders though, with co-captain Liam Wright leaving the field with an injury. As he walked off, the flanker had the green whistle in his hand.

Later, the other co-captain Tate McDermott left the field with a concussion.

Wilson confirmed that Wright’s season was over, but suggested that McDermott could potentially be made available this week as he continues to go through the concussion protocol.

The Reds play the Fijian Drua at 2.35pm AEST on Saturday at ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji.