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The six-year drought the Reds could break with a win this weekend
By Online Editors
The Queensland Reds can go top of the Australian conference for the first time since 2013 when they meet the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby blockbuster on Friday.
The Rebels' grip on the conference is slipping after they lost a third straight game to welcome back the chasing pack over the weekend.
It sets up a mouth-watering second bout between Quade Cooper and Brad Thorn in Melbourne.
Queensland coach Thorn was just three days into his first pre-season as a Super Rugby head coach when he unceremoniously dumped veteran Cooper from the Reds squad in late 2017.
The move banished Cooper to Brisbane club rugby for 2018, but the 70-test playmaker returned through the Rebels this season and beat Thorn's men when they first met in round seven.
The Reds drew level with the Rebels on five wins after defeating the Sunwolves on Friday, and now sit two points adrift of the conference table toppers.
But if Queenslanders beat the Rebels they'll go top of the Australian conference for the first time in six years.
The Reds may have to do so without forward Harry Hockings who was sent off for stomping on the head of a Sunwolves player during the win.
Hockings will appear at a SANZAAR judicial committee hearing via video conference at 5pm AEST on Monday after being red carded for the incident.
The Brumbies snapped a three-game losing streak against the Blues and are second on points differential, after the Rebels left their run too late against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Waratahs squandered another chance to top the conference and instead slipped to fourth after wasting chances against the Bulls in Pretoria.
There are six rounds remaining in what is shaping as the closest Australian conference in history.
The Brumbies have played an additional game, but they face the bottom-placed Sunwolves twice, the first instalment in Canberra on Sunday.
The Waratahs meet the Lions in Johannesburg for the second leg of their South African tour.
There were two draws in round 12, with the Crusaders converting an after-the-siren try against the Sharks and Chiefs playmaker Marty McKenzie doing the same to the Highlanders.
The Jaguares forced their way into the top eight with a hard-fought win against the Stormers, which means all five teams in their conference are separated by just one win.
Two-time reigning champions the Crusaders remain on top of the overall ladder, six points clear of the Hurricanes and 14 ahead of the Bulls.
AAP
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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