'Destiny's out of our hands': Queensland sunk by Hurricanes in 'instant classic'
Updated . First published at
The Hurricanes leapfrogged the Queensland Reds into the top-four of Super Rugby Pacific in what commentator Sean Maloney described as an "instant classic" in Brisbane on Friday night.
The pulsating 31-27 victory left the Hurricanes (34 points) in fourth place on the ladder and the Reds (33) in fifth with one round to play.
"We're really disappointed with the result," Queensland captain Tate McDermott told Stan Sport.
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Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
"We played heaps of good footy but went to sleep for 10 minutes before halftime and couldn't get back into it."
McDermott scored two tries in a wonderful battle of attacking halfbacks against Hurricanes standout Cam Roigard.
Roigard scored a try of his own after capitalising on a fumble from Reds fullback Jock Campbell.
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The Hurricanes finished with five tries to three with powerful winger Fehi Fineanganofo's second of the night - a one handed finish in the left corner - proving the matchwinner.
Reds No.8 and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson impressed in his return from a broken arm while rising blindside flanker Joe Brial carried three Hurricanes defenders over the line for an extraordinary try.
Classy opensides Fraser McReight and Du'Plessis Kirifi also enjoyed a predictably torrid breakdown battle.
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"We'll take it," Hurricanes co-captain Kirifi told Stan Sport.
"It wasn't pretty, but similar to last week, we just found a way. That's what Monday and Tuesday are for, to review and get better.
"But right now, coming over here to Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium is almost a fortress for these Reds boys, so to come away with a win is a pleasure."
Du'Plessis Kirifi of the Hurricanes breaks away from the defence. Getty
The top six teams qualify for the finals.
The Reds finish their regular season at home against the Fijian Drua while the Hurricanes return to Wellington to host Moana Pasifika.
"Coming towards the pointy end, destiny's out of our hands at the moment. We'll see what happens next week and we've got a huge game against the Drua," McDermott said.
Billy Proctor of the Hurricanes breaks away from the defence. Getty
"The forward pack's been massive for us all year. The forwards are the heartbeat of the club at the moment and playing out of their skin – we've just got to give them a little bit more.
"I thought me and Tommy (Lynagh) probably didn't kick as well as we could have tonight and that put the team under pressure. We'll learn from that."
Queensland coach Les Kiss expressed some frustration with the officials without going into specifics.
Joe Brial of the Reds celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
The game was controlled by experienced New Zealand referee Paul Williams.
"The boys really put in a shift, we just couldn't get a break at the end there, in any form, to help us out," Kiss told Stan Sport.
"We'll take responsibility for the little things that we didn't get right in the first half. That little 10 minute period was costly.
"Sometimes those things happen. We'll look at what we have to. We've just got to manage that, don't we?
"I thought our kicking game went a bit awry, we lost a bit of game management, that gave them the chance. In the end it was five tries to three.
"I can't speak more highly of my boys, they kept going for the 80 minutes. But fair play to them, they've got the points."
In Friday's earlier game, the Crusaders jumped the ACT Brumbies to take top spot on the ladder with a nerve jangling 15-12 win over the Highlanders in Christchurch.
Crusaders winger Sevu Reece became the leading try-scorer in Super Rugby history, overtaking TJ Perenara on the all-time list.
And Highlanders pivot Cam Millar missed a penalty attempt that would have sent the game into extra time.
Saturday's games see the third placed Chiefs host sixth placed Moana in Hamilton before the ninth placed Western Force host the eighth placed NSW Waratahs in Perth.
"Definitely believe the finals are within grasp," Waratahs lock Fergus-Lee Warner said.
"We just need to put in two good performances to finish off the season, then the cards will fall where they will.
"I think their big goal would be to ruin our season. They're definitely going to throw some tricks at us.
"They've got nothing to lose, they can't make finals now, so they'll want to come and upset our run home."
Hurricanes 31 (Fineanganofo 2, Love, Proctor, Roigard tries; Love 3 con) Reds 27 (McDermott 2, Brial tries; Lynagh 3 con; Lynagh 2 pen)
