Reds tackle pants off Rebels - Super Rugby AU
The Queensland Reds have literally tackled the Melbourne Rebels' pants off in a season-restoring 19-3 bonus point win to reclaim second spot on the Super Rugby AU ladder. The Rebels peppered the Reds' line for almost 30 minutes to begin the second half for no reward.
Hulking forward Cabous Eloff was left exposing bright pink underwear to the Suncorp Stadium crowd when his shorts were ripped in another thwarted advance.
The Reds were tackled just four times in that period, losing hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa for repeated infringements along the way.
But they still managed the first points of the half, Hamish Stewart barging 35 metres in traffic to seal the result with five minutes to play.
The try was just reward for Stewart's solid defensive night and earned the Reds a bonus point to jump ahead of the NSW Waratahs with three rounds to play.
The Reds' stoicism came after leaking six tries last weekend against the Waratahs in a loss that dropped them to fourth and briefly out of the finals picture.
The Rebels could have left Brisbane on Saturday as competition leaders but instead dropped to fourth, two points behind the Reds and one behind NSW.
Reds back-rowers Liam Wright and Fraser McReight repelled the Rebels' best efforts while plucky halfback Tate McDermott made two try-saving tackles to set the tone.
Jock Campbell was electric at fullback, his probing kick return setting up Paenga-Amosa after winger Jordan Petaia had scored the Reds' first try.
Petaia was embraced after his dart over the line, the 20-year-old back in the fray after his father's death last week.
The Reds didn't exit unscathed though, centre Hunter Paisami left the field in the first half with another knee injury while Rebels playmaker Matt Toomua was replaced early in the second half after a head clash.
The Rebels have a bye next week, while the Reds will play the winless Western Force on the Gold Coast on Friday.
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Scott Robertson is within his rights to state a case. Richie Mo'unga would have made a huge difference to the All Blacks this year. To say he and Richie worked well together at the Crusaders is a massive understatement. 7 titles speaks for itself. He then guided Brave Lupus to the Japanese League title in 2024. It worked well when Richie's fellow Crusaders great Matt Todd and team mate ,was able to play for the All Blacks while in Japan in 2018.
Go to commentsBilly Harmon is a force of nature with the ball in hand. Great try . Scored one of best tries in his last season for Canterbury , ( for whom he was also the captain), against the Makos in the Quarter Final in Blenheim. He is a big loss for the Highlanders and Canterbury. Good enough to be an AB. Hopefully he comes back , as so many others have.
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