The Queensland Reds inflicted a heavy defeat on the Canterbury Crusaders yesterday with a stunning 41-20 Super 14 victory.
The Reds claimed a four-try bonus point victory to break an 11-year drought against the seven-time Super rugby champions.
Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper was the Reds’ hero with 31 points from two tries, three conversions and five penalty goals.
The Crusaders, sorely missing the leadership of All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, suffered their worst defeat in six years since crashing out 43-19 to the New South Wales Waratahs at home.
It was the Reds’ first victory over the Crusaders since their 36-23 win in Christchurch in 1999 and their first at home since 1998.
The champion New Zealanders turned in one of the worst performances in years but it was a magical night for the Reds, who have been the worst performing Australian province for the last three Super 14 seasons.
The Reds, with Cooper and scrum-half Will Genia in sparkling form, led 14-6 at half-time after Cooper started and finished a try in the 36th-minute.
Queensland gradually pulled away from the misfiring Crusaders with winger Digby Ioane charging on to a grubber kick from center Anthony Faingaa and racing away for a try and a 27-6 lead in the 57th minute.
Canterbury got back to 27-13 with a converted try to scrum-half Andrew Ellis in the 62nd minute, but the Reds pulled away again with another runaway try to Rod Davies minutes later.
BONUS POINT
The Reds sealed victory when Cooper picked up a dropped Ellis pass and strolled over for his team’s fourth try and a scoring bonus point six minutes from time.
The Crusaders gained a consolation try from Brad Thorn in the final minute with Dan Carter converting.
Queensland’s triumph was tempered by the likely long-term loss of skipper and Wallaby lock James Horwill with suspected damaged knee ligaments.
In an earlier Super 14 match yesterday, Paul Williams scored two tries as the Auckland Blues fired in the second half to clinch a tense 19-15 victory over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin.
The Blues redeemed last week’s second half capitulation against the Wellington Hurricanes as they overcame a 12-7 half-time deficit against their southern rivals.
Williams scored the Blues’ first two tries and was prominent in a backline full of attacking talent.
His second try and another to Rene Ranger in the 52nd and 56th minutes put the Blues on track to win in a competitive second half.
FRUSTRATING
For the Highlanders, it was a second frustrating loss in the opening two weeks of the season after they appeared on track for victory until midway through the second spell.
Michael Hobbs would have been the hero if the Highlanders had prevailed, tackling fiercely, scoring a try and making several telling breaks. However, he had a poor night kicking for goal, as did opposite number Stephen Brett.
The Blues made the early running scoring after eight minutes with a try to by Williams.
Four minutes later the Highlanders hit back through a try to Israel Dagg close to the sideline.
Midway through the spell Hobbs went over after Blues prop Tony Woodcock dropped the ball from a defensive lineout on the 22 as the visitors again lived up to their reputation for erratic form.
After the break, Williams’ second try came after a partially charged-down Highlanders kick put several Blues players onside and prop John Afoa made the initial charge to put the fullback into space with the tryline beckoning.
Ranger scored midway through the spell as the Highlander’s defense found itself outnumbered on the right flank, and only gritty defense denied the Blues another try in the last quarter.
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