The NSW Waratahs’ finals hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow after a moment of brilliance from Filipo Daugunu set up Lachie Anderson for a dramatic late try as the Queensland Reds snatched a 28-21 victory in a pulsating interstate derby at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Key moments:
8′ – Henry O’Donnell scores opening try, converted by Edmed (7-0)
20′ – Jake Gordon crosses after Gleeson break, Edmed converts (14-0)
28′ – Tate McDermott scores from quick tap, Lynagh converts (14-7)
30′ – Daniel Botha yellow carded for dangerous tackle
37′ – Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii stretchered off after serious head knock
39′ – Richie Asiata scores from rolling maul, Lynagh converts (14-14)
44′ – Josh Canham yellow carded for high contact on Porecki
52′ – Taniela Tupou powers over for try, Edmed converts (21-14)
67′ – Taniela Tupou yellow carded for head-on-head collision
68′ – Josh Nasser scores from maul, McLaughlin-Phillips converts (21-21)
76′ – Lachie Anderson scores from Daugunu cross-kick, McLaughlin-Phillips converts (21-28)
In a match marred by a serious injury to Wallabies fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, it was Anderson’s 76th-minute touchdown that sealed an eighth victory in nine meetings for the Reds against their traditional rivals, a result that strengthens their grip on fourth place while leaving the Waratahs’ playoff aspirations hanging by a thread.
The match had begun with tremendous intensity from the hosts, who were desperate to maintain their perfect home record and revive their faltering finals campaign after back-to-back losses on the road. They raced to a 14-0 lead inside 20 minutes through tries to centre Henry O’Donnell and captain Jake Gordon, with the explosive ball-carrying of number eight Langi Gleeson proving particularly influential in the early exchanges.
The Waratahs forward pack, smarting from their recent defeat against the Brumbies in Canberra, responded with a brutally physical approach led by returning hooker Dave Porecki. That physical edge initially paid dividends as O’Donnell crashed over in the 8th minute following sustained pressure from the forwards. Tane Edmed’s well-struck conversion gave the hosts an early 7-0 advantage.
The lead doubled in the 20th minute when Gleeson burst through the line with a powerful carry, attracting multiple defenders before offloading to Henry O’Donnell. Gordon, ever alert, spotted a gap a phase later and darted through to extend the Waratahs’ advantage. Edmed’s conversion made it 14-0, and the home side appeared to be in complete control.
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The turning point came when Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight ripped the ball from Angus Bell to launch a length-of-the-field counter-attack. The Reds quickly transitioned from defence to attack, with Jock Campbell putting boot to ball and pinning the Waratahs on their own goal line. From the ensuing pressure, Reds captain Tate McDermott showcased his rugby intelligence with a lightning-quick tap penalty five metres out, catching the Waratahs’ defence napping to dive over for a crucial score. Lynagh’s conversion reduced the deficit to seven points.
The momentum continued to shift when prop Daniel Botha was shown a yellow card in the 30th minute for a dangerous lifting tackle on Josh Canham, leaving the hosts vulnerable with a player in the sin bin.
The match then took a concerning turn in the 37th minute when Suaalii suffered a serious head knock after accidental contact with teammate Andrew Kellaway’s knee during a cover tackle on Filipo Daugunu. The former NRL star lay motionless on the turf before being stretchered from the field in a neck brace, raising significant concerns for both the Waratahs and the Wallabies ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.
With the Waratahs temporarily reduced to 13 men due to Botha’s yellow card and Suaalii’s injury, the Reds capitalised on their numerical advantage when hooker Richie Asiata crashed over from a well-executed rolling maul on the stroke of half-time. The Waratahs defence, which had been solid at maul time until that point, couldn’t stop the Reds hooker as he continued his try-scoring form. Lynagh’s conversion levelled the scores at 14-all as the teams headed to the sheds.
The second half began with another disciplinary lapse, this time from the Reds, as lock Josh Canham received a yellow card for high contact on Waratahs hooker Dave Porecki. It continued a frustrating night for Canham, who had earlier been denied a try in the first half when he was judged to have made a second movement in attempting to reach the try line.
The hosts immediately exploited their numerical advantage as replacement prop Taniela Tupou demonstrated his game-breaking abilities. The “Tongan Thor” first dominated at scrum time, winning a crucial penalty to the delight of his teammates, before powering over from close range in the 52nd minute. It was a redemptive moment for Tupou, who had earlier in the week spoken candidly about his struggles with form, even questioning whether he still knew how to play rugby.
Edmed’s conversion pushed the Waratahs ahead 21-14 and raised hopes of a sixth consecutive home victory this season. The Waratahs appeared to have weathered the Queensland storm and regained control of the contest.
However, in a match defined by momentum shifts and disciplinary issues, Tupou himself was shown a yellow card in the 67th minute for a head-on-head collision with Reds centre Dre Pakeho. The referee deemed Tupou had made no attempt to lower his body height, leaving him no option but to send the prop to the sin bin for the remainder of the match.
The visitors wasted no time exploiting their numerical advantage, with replacement hooker Josh Nasser piloting a devastating rolling maul over the line to level the scores with 12 minutes remaining. McLaughlin-Phillips, on for Lynagh who had earlier left the field with a head knock, added the extras to make it 21-all.
The Waratahs had a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead when Andrew Kellaway broke through the Reds’ defence but failed to deliver a clean pass to replacement winger Darby Lancaster with the try line at his mercy – a costly error in the increasingly slippery conditions.
Minutes later came the decisive moment, as scrum-half Kalani Thomas, who had replaced McDermott, broke the line and sprinted into space to get the Reds into Waratahs territory. Daugunu then executed a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from 40 metres out that found Anderson, who scooped up the wet ball and raced away to score in the corner. McLaughlin-Phillips added the conversion to extend the margin to seven points.
Despite a frantic final assault from the Waratahs, including a contentious scrum deep in Reds territory where referee James Doleman waved play on despite the hosts appearing to have dominance, the Queensland defence held firm. The visitors forced a mistake from Langi Gleeson and kicked the ball clear to seal a victory that consolidates their position in the top four.
The statistics told the story of Queensland’s dominance, with the visitors enjoying 59% possession and carrying for over 500 metres throughout the contest, although they had to wait until the 76th minute to take the lead for the first time.
For the Waratahs, who have now lost five of their last six matches after a promising start to the season, the result leaves their playoff hopes in severe jeopardy with just three rounds remaining. They will likely have to win all their remaining matches to qualify for the knockout stages.
The match continued the recent trend of Queensland dominance in this fierce rivalry, with the Reds now having won eight of the last nine encounters between the traditional powerhouses of Australian rugby, including a dramatic 27-26 victory in Sydney last season.
But beyond the implications for both teams’ finals aspirations, the primary concern in the aftermath was the condition of Suaalii, who gave a brief thumbs-up to the crowd as he was stretchered away. With the British and Irish Lions series just seven weeks away, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt – who was in attendance at Allianz Stadium – will be anxiously awaiting further updates on the cross-code star’s health. McKellar later confirmed it was “just a concussion” and that Suaalii was “back at home recovering.”
As the Reds retained the Bob Templeton Cup and moved a step closer to securing their place in the Super Rugby Pacific finals, the Waratahs were left to rue what might have been in a match where they led for 76 minutes before Anderson’s late intervention crushed their hopes and potentially their season.
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