The Queensland Reds fell short in tonight’s Qualifying Final in Christchurch when beaten 32-12 by a clinical Crusaders side.
The Kiwi side put on the opening four tries for a 27-0 lead after a pre-game downpour had made wet, slippery conditions tricky for both teams in the five degree temperatures.
The Reds felt they were still right in the match when down 12-0 at half-time yet couldn’t find a quick strikeback play and now bow out of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific finals.
“It’s a despondent dressing room as you can imagine,” Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said.
“Firstly, the Crusaders leveraged their pressure well. The boys tried to find a way through that but couldn’t quite get it going.
“I’m proud of what we kept trying to do but we didn’t spend enough quality time down in their tryline area in the first half.
“It was too late into the second half when we did and we’d lost our No.10 (Tom Lynagh) by then.
“That’s the first maul try the Crusaders have yielded this season so that shows the intent of the boys. They didn’t give up.”
Both teams traded contestable high kicks early before the first clean break came after nine minutes when centre Josh Flook speared through two defenders on a 30m run.
“Josh was very good again. He showed his class,” Kiss said of Flook's strong two-game return from a hamstring injury.
The Crusaders pressured a Reds lineout close to the tryline to generate a Scott Barrett try after 15 minutes.
The Reds repelled a 5m lineout drive from the Crusaders midway through the half but the bridgehead set up was platform enough for All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams to burrow over.
The Reds were down 12-0 late in the half when Lynagh left the field after a head knock and failed to return. Fullback Jock Campbell stepped up and Tim Ryan came on at fullback.
A decisive moment arrived at the 55-minute mark when Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham chip kicked ahead from 30m out and won the race for the ball for a fine try and a 19-0 lead.
The Reds struggled for field position. When they did get some late in the game, they showed their capabilities.
On 69 minutes, replacement hooker Josh Nasser plunged over at the tail of a well-set rolling maul off a lineout.
With only minutes to play, No.8 Harry Wilson dabbed a neat kick through for backrow partner Fraser McReight, who dotted down for the try.
Wilson was again strong with 10 ball carries and almost as many tackles. Prop Zane Nonggorr put his body on the line for 19 tackles. Brial made 18 and combined with lock Josh Canham to hold up the Crusaders over the tryline when the match was still delicately poised.
Skipper Tate McDermott probed as a runner wth nine efforts and was always one of the Reds threats most likely to beat a tackle.
“I was proud of the fight. We tried our guts out. Playing into the breeze and with a few errors, I thought 12-0 down at half-time was not a bad position to make a return from,” halfback McDermott said.
“Credit to the Crusaders. They were the better side, very good in the collision areas and at disrupting.
“I know the boys are really disappointed. I’m really proud of the group and, looking at the season, there has been some incredible development in guys like Dre Pakeho and Joe Brial. Guys like Fraser (McReight) and “Wilso” (Harry Wilson) have played great footy again."
McDermott gave kudos to Super Rugby Pacific in 2025.
“I like top six. The way the season ran, it’s the best I’ve been a part of in terms of how close games were. That’s from a fan point of view as well,” McDermott said.
The Reds called on 38 players through their 15-game run.
“That’s one thing I’m very proud of. We had young men stepping up and we are very proud of the program delivering that depth,” Kiss said.
“However, this is the point we’ve stopped at each year and we’ve got enough good players and people in our professional staff to go further. We can do it.”
CRUSADERS 32
Tries: Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Kyle Preston
Conversions: Rivez Reihana 2
Penalty Goal: Rivez Reihana
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 12
Tries: Josh Nasser, Fraser McReight
Conversion: Filipo Daugunu
Half-time: Crusaders 12-Reds 0
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
