Reds' Super Rugby finals hopes end in quarter finals again as Crusaders make Queensland pay
The Reds have failed to progress past the first week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series for a fourth year in succession, with Queensland completely outclassed by the clinical Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.
The Queenslanders were never in the contest, with the Crusaders dominating all over the park in slippery conditions to win 32-12.
It was perhaps even a scoreline that flattered the visitors, who were trailing 27-0 in the 70th minute before scoring back-to-back consolation tries through replacement hooker Josh Nasser and star flanker Fraser McReight – both when the Crusaders only had 14 men on the field following flanker Ethan Blackadder being yellow carded for a swinging arm.
Fittingly, it was the Crusaders who scored the final try of the game, with replacement halfback Kyle Preston crossing over out wide to send Queensland packing again.
The Reds also lost at the same stage of the finals against Kiwi teams in New Zealand in 2022, 2023 and last year.
'Again we've fallen over at the quarter-finals (week one),' disappointed Queensland skipper Tate McDermott said.
'We'll continue to work out what we need to do to go forward.'
The Hurricanes led 12-0 at half-time, and the margin could have been greater such was the Reds' failure to value possession and a lack of discipline.
Poor handling from McReight led to the Hurricanes' first try in the 17th minute.
The Reds had won a lineout near their tryline, but McReight couldn't hold the ball, allowing Crusaders lock Scott Barrett to scoop it up and force his way over the line for a five-pointer.
The visitors continued to cough up possession and were again punished just before the half-hour mark when Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams proved too strong close to the line to extend his side's lead.
By half-time, the Queenslanders had already conceded six penalties compared to Crusaders' one.
The Reds were also hit with an injury blow, with flyhalf Tom Lynagh forced off in the 35th after suffering another head knock and subsequently failing his concussion test.
With no replacement No.10 on the bench, fullback Jock Campbell moved to flyhalf and replacement Tim Ryan, usually a winger, assumed the custodian role.
The procession continued after half-time with Crusaders half-back Noah Hotham and flyhalf Rivez Reihana each scoring tries to put the game to bed.
'You've got to give credit to the Crusaders. They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle,' McDermott said.
'They're really good at disrupting your ball and slowing you down, and they did a good job at that.'
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