The Queensland Reds will enter next weekend’s Super Rugby AU preliminary final in top gear after a slick 26-7 defeat of the Brumbies on Saturday.
Guaranteed top spot regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium, the Brumbies will await the winner of the Reds and Melbourne Rebels in the decider on home turf in a fortnight.
The Reds made sure they left an impression though, the victory coming after two closes losses to the Canberra side earlier this season and built on a slick first half and another supreme defensive effort.
The Brumbies’ incumbent Wallabies halfback Nic White and emerging star Tate McDermott waged a brilliant first-half battle in one of many jousts for a potential Wallabies jersey later this year.
James O’Connor was assured again in the No.10 for the Reds, while improved fullback Jock Campbell was central to both first-half tries.
He dummied and broke the line, flicking a pass to captain Liam Wright before laying on the assist for Chris Feauai-Sautia as the Reds burst ahead 18-0.
Pete Samu scored after the bell to finish the half but the Reds put the clamps on after that, keeping an opponent to one try or less for the third-straight game.
Flicked to the wing to finish the game, McDermott capped the win with a breakaway try as the Brumbies were guilty of poor handling and errant passing.
A 9,922-strong crowd – the highest Suncorp Stadium attendance for any code since sport was shut down by the coronavirus – relished the injury comeback of Hunter Paisami, who produced some thunderous defence when called on in the final 20 minutes.
More will turn up to watch the sudden death clash with the Rebels next Saturday, the nomadic Melbourne outfit sneaking into the play-off thanks to a last-minute try to beat the Western Force earlier in the day.