After being blown out of the park in their last two outings, Les Kiss’ men finally showed the Suncorp faithful that they are genuine Super Rugby Pacific contenders. Having the Hurricanes put 50+ points on them at the Cake-tin, and then the Western Force a further 40+ at home, the Reds’ dressing room was a lot happier place to be last night after defeating last year’s premiers, the Crusaders 31-26, for the first time since 2012. In Filipo Daugunu’s 100 Super Rugby cap, he showed that he is a world-class winger, scoring a try of his own. Kiss said in the post-match conference that his versatility from 12 to 15 makes him a valuable asset.
16,000+ were on hand to witness two great adversaries throw everything, bar the kitchen sink, at each other in the muggy conditions at the Cauldron. The men from Christchurch opened the scoring through Vice-Captain, Christian Lio-Willie, in the 5th minute after both teams had been playing expansive rugby from the kick-off. Lang Park has been a favourite hunting ground for the Crusaders since their loss in the Super Rugby final in 2011. However, the ghosts of that era were on hand to inspire the Reds, including Digby Ioane, Scott Higginbotham, Jake Schatz, and James Hansen, as the Reds beat the Crusaders twice that year. Reds Captain Courageous, Fraser McReight, drew on that energy, having been a young schoolboy in the crowd that night. Ioane was proudly watching his former team break a 19-all deadlock in the last 10 minutes with a Daugunu runaway try in the 73rd minute to lead 24-19. Memories of Will Genia running away with a break to 50 metres out to break a 13-all deadlock 15 years ago to win the Super Rugby title.
Brisbane Rugby.com 